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Intel Corporation revealed during its latest quarterly conference call with financial analysts that the headcount at the company had been reduced by more than 2,000 during the quarter to approximately 88,000. This equates to a 12 percent reduction from the same time last year. 

“When we began this program we were on a two to three-year program,” remarked Andy Bryant, CFO, Intel Corporation during the conference call. “We only gave you a headcount number for about halfway through. So we did expect to continue to drive it lower. It was included in this expected $1 billion savings for '08. We think we're essentially on - maybe a little ahead - in terms of headcount reduction.”

A year ago, Intel announced a major restructuring effort that included two phases of reductions in the workforce. The initial phase focused on marketing and IT functions while the second phase focused on IC design and manufacturing.

Intel has announced workforce reductions at some of its manufacturing facilities such as in Leixlip, Ireland and the closure of a 200mm fab in Colorado, USA with a loss of 1,000 jobs.

However, the target for headcount reductions was stated in September last year by Intel to be in the region of 92,000 by mid-2007.

With the headcount now at approximately 88,000, Bryant’s comments indicate that further reductions are planned well into 2008. The company did not indicate what the revised headcount target would be in 2008 and beyond.