ASML Layoffs: Europe’s one of the most valuable semiconductor companies, ASML, is preparing for a significant organisational overhaul that includes removing several management roles as it seeks to streamline operations and boost efficiency. The development, first reported by Business Insider on April 21, is part of a broader transformation within the chipmaking heavyweight. ASML’s earlier announcement in January was to eliminate up to 1,700 positions and revamp its internal structure to prioritise engineering functions. The move was driven by feedback from both employees and clients, who flagged concerns about the firm’s overly complex and inefficient setup. As part of the restructuring, the company is also redefining senior technical roles. Architects, key figures responsible for overseeing projects, will see their responsibilities more clearly outlined, aiming to improve coordination and execution across teams. ASML is expected to implement a six-week hiring freeze during the summer as it recalibrates its workforce strategy. Separate internal documents indicate that the number of roles impacted in the United States has been reduced from 300 to 185. Globally, the company has a workforce of around 44,000 employees. In a February letter to staff, CEO Christophe Fouquet acknowledged concerns among employees regarding the transformation’s impact. “We realise that we will continue to grow at a fast pace and will need people on the operations side to help us achieve that growth,” Fouquet wrote. He also noted plans to create approximately 1,400 new engineering roles during the transition. The restructuring is set to affect a wide range of management and coordination positions, including Department Manager, Group Leader, Team Leader, Project Lead, Chief Product Owner, Product Owner, Scrum Masters, Main Delivery Owner, Release Train Engineers, Program Manager, and Project Cluster Manager. However, an ASML spokesperson clarified that the plans are not yet final and added that the impact in the United States has already been scaled back. Despite the internal changes, ASML continues to benefit from strong market demand. The company is the only manufacturer globally producing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines at scale, critical tools used in the production of advanced semiconductor chips powering smartphones, computers, and AI data centres. The surge in artificial intelligence adoption has further boosted demand for ASML’s machines, which can cost up to $400 million and are used by major chipmakers such as TSMC and Intel. Even as it cuts certain roles, ASML expects to open “several hundreds” of new positions, particularly in AI, manufacturing, and customer support. Priority for these roles may be given to employees affected by the restructuring. The company is currently in discussions with unions and its work council to determine the timeline and structure of the proposed layoffs. She is working as a Chief Copy Editor at Times Now’s Business Desk, where she covers key developments in the stock market, Indian corporates across se... View More