July 18, 2025 /SemiMedia/ — Intel has laid off at least 5,400 employees in Oregon, reducing its workforce in the state to around 18,000 — the lowest level in more than a decade — as part of an ongoing global restructuring effort.

The layoffs are expected to continue, according to people familiar with the matter, marking a significant contraction in a region that has long served as the center of Intel’s advanced semiconductor research and manufacturing operations.

Intel’s Oregon campuses have historically supported more than 23,000 workers and played a pivotal role in the company’s development of next-generation chip technologies. The sharp reduction is likely to impact the local economy, with many of these high-paying jobs contributing significantly to state tax revenues and supporting related industries.

Despite the cuts, Intel said in a July 14 statement that “Oregon will remain a critical hub for Intel’s global research, technology development, and manufacturing.”

In April, reports surfaced that newly appointed CEO Lip-Bu Tan was preparing to reduce the global workforce by as much as 20% to streamline operations and cut costs. Intel had already announced the elimination of about 15,000 positions globally in August last year.

For thousands of affected employees in Oregon, the continued downsizing presents not only economic hardship but also deep uncertainty about the future of one of the region’s largest and most influential employers.