Swedish telecom giant Ericsson said Thursday that it would cut around 1,600 positions in Sweden, the latest job cuts in the company’s efforts to “increase operational efficiency”.
“The proposed staff reduction is part of global initiatives to improve cost position while maintaining investments critical to Ericsson’s technology leadership,” the company said in a statement.
Ericsson said that “approximately 1,600 positions” could be impacted and that it had begun negotiations with trade unions.
The company currently has over 90,000 employees worldwide, with around 13,000 in Sweden.
It did not specify which divisions would be impacted by the cuts, but said other “initiatives to increase operational efficiency will continue”.
Per Norlander, a representative of the union Engineers of Sweden, denounced the cuts, saying they would be counterproductive in the long term.
“This hits the core operation of research and development,” Norlander told AFP, warning of the impact on the development of products the company would be selling in the years ahead.
The telecoms equipment maker is one of the world’s three biggest mobile network providers, along with China’s Huawei and Finland’s Nokia.
Ericsson has announced several cost-cutting measures, including laying off staff, in recent years.
Facing financial headwinds, Ericsson said in February 2023 it would slash 8,500 jobs worldwide.
