US computer maker Dell on Monday announced the cut of 5% of its global workforce, or around 6,650 positions, becoming the latest technology group to announce a wide-ranging social plan.
The Round Rock (Texas) group had 133,000 employees at the start of last year, nearly a third of whom were based in the United States.
“What we do know is that market conditions continue to erode and the future is uncertain,” Dell co-chief operating officer Jeff Clarke said in a memo to employees.
“The measures we have taken to preempt the effects of the recession — which allowed us to string together several strong quarters in a row — are no longer sufficient,” he added.
Dell’s revenue fell 6% in the third quarter of its staggered fiscal year 2023, according to results released in late November.
Sales of products (desktops, laptops, workstations), which represent the bulk of the group’s commercial activity, fell by 10%.
Group executives pointed to falling demand for PCs amid high inflation and rising interest rates in the United States and the rest of the world.
From Alphabet (Google, YouTube) to Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) via Microsoft, Amazon and Twitter, several pillars of the technology sector have announced major workforce reductions in recent months.
According to the specialized site Layoffs.fyi, just over 88,000 tech employees have lost their jobs since the beginning of January worldwide, not counting Dell’s announcement on Monday.