Nokia layoffs 2026: Company trims 20% global workforce; 14,000 employees impacted |Report

Nokia will soon cut thousands of jobs, reducing its workforce by 20%, according to a report by Moneycontrol on Friday.

Nokia currently has around 74,000 employees worldwide. This means that over 14,000 roles will be affected globally, the report added.

The layoffs come amid broader restructuring efforts at the company. The company’s India workforce will also be impacted, alongside significant leadership changes.


Mobile networks remain Nokia's core business, but the company has been investing in AI, including its acquisition of US optical networking firm Infinera last year.

Nokia leadership changes

Samar Mittal recently joined Nokia as the business head for India. Meanwhile, Vibha Mehra is set to join the firm as country manager, effective April 1.

Mittal will be responsible for executing the company’s go-to-market strategy and shaping its engagement with telecom operators, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud providers, and mission-critical enterprises. He will also focus on strengthening partnerships, identifying growth opportunities, and aligning the company’s portfolio with evolving market needs.

Mehra will lead Nokia’s overall presence in India, overseeing communications strategy and government and public relations. She will also drive site strategy, people initiatives, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) priorities.

Nokia’s financial position

Nokia reported third-quarter profit, which was ahead of market expectations as of October last year, driven by strong optical and cloud demand, including AI-focussed data centre sales.

Comparable operating profit in the quarter through September reached 435 million euros ($507 million).

The Finnish networks' sales in India surged 75% year-on-year (YoY) in the first quarter of 2025.

Also Read: Nokia looks to amp up 5G gear deployment in 2026