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Bloodiest tech industry layoffs of 2011

Cisco, RIM, Nokia among top tech companies that thinned their ranks in 2011 to boost financials, refocus

By Bob Brown, Network World
November 03, 2011 03:11 PM ET

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Job cuts in the U.S. technology industry in 2011 are down significantly from a year ago andturnover levels in IT shops have returned to pre-recessionary levels, but that doesn’t make the tens of thousands of people in the United States who have been laid off from electronics, telecommunications and computer industry jobs feel much better.

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Cisco, HP, RIM and others have been among those cutting their workforces this year to reduce costs, refocus or eliminate overlap in the wake of buyouts. Here’s a rundown of this year’s biggest technology industry layoffs (not all in the U.S.):

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Cisco Whacks 6,500 Jobs

Cisco said in July it would eliminateabout 9% of its regular, full-time workforce and some 15% of those of VP level and up. Cisco is taking drastic measures to slash operating costs by about $1 billion and to return its focus to core routing and switching businesses after posting disappointing results and watching its stock tumble. CEO John Chambers called for widespread changes in an internal memo earlier this year. In April, the company said it would close down its Flip video division and fold its Umi consumer video systems into the enterprise telepresence business.
Nokia hitches wagon to Windows Phone, obliterates 3,500 Jobs

Nokia has had at least a couple of big jobs cuts in 2011, announcing in September it would cut 3,500 jobs as it restructures to align business with its plans to put its full weight behind Microsoft Windows Phone technology, moving away from Symbian. Job losses will take place at a manufacturing plant in Romania being shuttered by year end, and others will take place next year. The changes are painful, yet necessary, and will turn Nokia into a "more dynamic, nimble and efficient challenger," CEO Stephen Elop said in a statement.  

These recently announced cuts are on top of another 4,000 cuts announced earlier this year. In April, Nokia said it will outsource Symbian activities to Accenture, transferring 2,800 employees to the company in the process, and cutting about 4,000 jobs.