Nokia Restructuring to Result in Job Cuts in India

Key Figures:

• 74,100: Nokia's global workforce as of 2025
• 20%: Potential job cuts in India as part of global restructuring
• 17,708: Nokia's permanent employee base in India as of 2025
• 2026: Year in which Nokia's restructuring plan is expected to be implemented

Company Overview: Nokia is undergoing a significant restructuring effort, unveiled in November 2025, to simplify its operations and align with emerging AI-driven demand. The company plans to reduce its global workforce by up to 20% over time, with a similar scale of reductions expected in India.

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Leadership Changes: Effective April 1, 2026, Samar Mittal has been appointed as India Country Business Leader, and Vibha Mehra has taken on the role of India Country Manager. Tarun Chhabra has exited his position as India country head.

Restructuring Plan: Nokia's restructuring plan involves simplifying the company into two primary segments: Network Infrastructure and Mobile Infrastructure. Businesses outside core priorities have been grouped separately for potential divestment or review. This marks a shift from the structure introduced in 2023, which was dismantled due to its failure to deliver desired results.

Impact on India Operations: The restructuring is expected to result in job cuts, particularly among roles created after the 2023 overhaul. The company's permanent employee base in India rose slightly to 17,708 in 2025 from 17,270 in 2024. However, sources indicate that employees in non-core businesses will be impacted globally and in India, as they are not part of core priorities.

Global Job Cuts: Nokia has already proposed additional job cuts across Greece and Italy, adding to reductions in Germany and France. Rival Ericsson has also been reducing headcount, cutting around 5,000 jobs over the past year.

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