HTC today announced “a strategic adjustment of its workforce” by laying off 1,500 employees from its Taiwanese manufacturing division in order to “more effectively and flexibly” manage its resources and attempt to restore profitability. The layoffs are expected to be completed by the end of September.
As per its own data, the company employs 6,450 employees globally as of June this year, meaning that this layoff represents about a quarter of its workforce. In its press release HTC notes that it will aid all affected employees in finding a new job to fulfill its corporate responsibility.
In February earlier this year, the company merged its smartphone and VR divisions resulting in layoffs in the U.S. That move came just after the $1.1 billion deal with Google, which led Chialin Chang, HTC’s (now former) President of Smartphone and Connected Devices, to resign from his position.
HTC’s latest efforts in the smartphone business have received a lukewarm response so far, but the company says it remains committed to the mobile market. It will be interesting to see where things go from here but seeing that its best and brightest have already left, and a big chunk of the remaining talent is being laid off, the prospects don’t look as bright as one may like.