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Oracle announced major layoffs on March 31

The move comes as the company seeks to raise money for its massive data center infrastructure buildout

Other tech companies including Amazon, Microsoft and Meta have recently laid off thousands of employees

Oracle, the software corporation chaired by Larry Ellison, announced major layoffs on Tuesday, March 31, multiple outlets reported.

The full extent of the global layoffs is unclear, according to Business Insider, but those affected include software engineers in Oracle’s cloud computing business, according to the outlet, which cited LinkedIn posts. As of May 2025, the company employed 162,000 full-time employees, according to public filings.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that the scope of the layoffs is unclear. The outlet noted that “some employees said internal metrics show the count of reductions thus far in the thousands.”

Oracle shares have fallen 27% this year, according to CNBC, amid investor fears AI technologies will replace traditional software tools; however, top Oracle executives have sought to downplay these fears, with executives telling investors the company is “very, very good” at cost-cutting, Business Insider reported.

According to CNBC and WSJ, TD Cowen analysts found that cutting 20,000 to 30,000 employees could lead to $8 billion to $10 billion in incremental free cash flow.

The move comes as the company is seeking to cut costs to fund its increased AI infrastructure spending, Business Insider and CNBC reported.

In January, Business Insider reported that Oracle, in conjunction with OpenAI, aimed to raise $500 billion for their data center infrastructure initiative, dubbed Stargate. In February, Oracle announced that they were raising up to $50 billion in debt and equity to fund the buildout.

Affected employees received an email memo from Oracle leadership on Tuesday, Business Insider reported.

“After careful consideration of Oracle’s current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role as part of a broader organizational change,” the memo reads. “As a result, today is your last working day.”

“We are grateful for your dedication, hard work, and the impact you have made during your time with us,” the notice continues.

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The layoffs at Oracle come on the heels of similar workplace slashes at Amazon, Microsoft and Meta, Business Insider reported.

Oracle declined PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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