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San Francisco Chronicle
7 days ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Intel to cut 107 Silicon Valley jobs and shut automotive unit as global layoffs begin
Intel, the Silicon Valley-based semiconductor giant, announced Tuesday it will cut 107 jobs across four facilities in Santa Clara as part of a sweeping global downsizing effort. The layoffs, set to take effect July 15, mark the first phase of a broader plan to reduce up to 20% of the company's factory workforce under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan. The job reductions will impact employees at Intel's Robert Noyce Building, along with nearby sites on Juliette Lane and Laurelwood Road, according to filings with California's Employment Development Department. The company reported that 76 positions will be eliminated at its Mission College Boulevard headquarters alone. The global cuts are part of Intel's broader efforts to eliminate more than 10,000 jobs, primarily in Intel's Foundry division, which includes both factory floor technicians and advanced chip researchers. The restructuring comes amid a prolonged slump in sales, missed opportunities in the artificial intelligence chip sector, and intensifying competition from rivals like Nvidia. 'These are difficult actions but essential to meet our affordability challenges and current financial position of the company,' Naga Chandrasekaran, Intel's vice president of manufacturing, wrote in a company-wide memo earlier this month. 'It drives pain to every individual.' In addition to the factory reductions, Intel will shutter its automotive division and lay off most of the unit's employees. Although not a central part of its business, Intel has said that more than 50 million vehicles are equipped with its processors. 'As we have said previously, we are refocusing on our core client and data center portfolio to strengthen our product offerings,' Intel said in a statement. The moves follow a first-quarter loss of $821 million and a headcount drop from 125,000 in 2023 to approximately 109,000 today.
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Why JAM needs re-coding for robust social protection
In her book Recoding America, Jennifer Pahlka recounts her experience co-leading the Employment Development Department (EDD) task force in California during Covid-19. Covid relief was delayed by weeks due to a backlog stemming from outdated technology and rigid rules. For example, minor name mismatches could trigger a manual review, significantly delaying relief payments. We are often surprised when we first read about such systemic failures in a technologically advanced nation. But this is a global problem, a combination of technological choices, government contracting modalities, and rigid administrative processes. At a very different point in our technological journey within government, we face similar challenges in India, as a recent piece about India's first Aadhaar recipient highlights; Ranjana Sonwane received her monthly entitlements only in April, after a wait of nine months, because of an error linking her bank account to her Aadhaar. We are fortunately at an earlier starting point regarding technology in the Indian State; many of these systems for enhancing frontline welfare delivery are yet to realise their full effectiveness. At the same time, full-stack solutions are already emerging and have even matured across many states in India. The struggles of even a single citizen should motivate us to envision a more robust social protection system, especially given the maturity of supporting digital public infrastructure, such as the linkages between Jan Dhan bank accounts through Aadhaar and UPI protocols on mobile devices (JAM trinity). It is helpful to start with the fundamentals. Why do eligible citizens sometimes get excluded from receiving their rightful entitlements? As Pahlka shows us, technology is only part of the problem. Instead, a core challenge lies in how technology is designed and deployed to identify eligibility. If we begin with the assumptions that most citizens are likely to cheat to receive entitlements they do not deserve, we end up building extremely rigid processes and benchmarks that raise the administrative burden on citizens in terms of documentation, proof, and visits to government offices, that eventually only impacts the poor, educationally and technologically unprepared citizen. As a policy implementation organisation, through our work at Indus Action, we have found that it takes nearly 10 high-touch transactions, including more than three visits to government offices, to secure access to entitlements like scholarships, pensions and maternity benefits. Solving this problem requires combining new technological solutions and reframing the core problem. Let's reframe first, and adapt our strategy to one where we are comfortable living with a small degree of inclusion errors. Some undeserving citizens might get access to entitlements, but lowering the bar for inclusion will help lakhs of marginalised citizens. Technology allows us to check these inclusion errors if we think innovatively. From over a decade of work with governments across India, we have learnt that there are three key challenges in welfare delivery that new systems and technology can solve. The first is discovery: How can governments discover the eligible citizen instead of the other way around? Second, documentation: How can the government design rules and leverage existing data to validate eligibility for low exclusion/inclusion errors? And third, delivery: How can governments fast-track applications upon eligibility check and redress grievances to ensure on-time and quality delivery of entitlements? Luckily, we have enough bright spots from within India for these three significant challenges. Regarding discovery, states now have better quality information to discover vulnerable citizens. States can estimate spatial and household-level vulnerability through family ID linkage across department databases and auto-validate eligible citizens into relevant schemes. For example, states such as Punjab, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir are providing validation tokens to workers who have finished 50 plus days of MGNREGA building and other construction jobs, making them automatically eligible for construction workers' entitlements administered by the labour department. On the burden of documentation, apart from leveraging validations of other departments (for example, birth/death registries; school-going age/grade), the rules governing eligibility can be reviewed to move towards exclusion-based targeting or targeting vulnerable households instead of individuals. For instance, all informal workers can be broadly divided into three archetypes: Farmers, construction workers and other e-Shram registered informal workers like domestic workers and gig workers. Once the family ID is linked to the key occupational information (like KAALIA ID for farmers in Odisha or shramik ID with labour departments), eligibility matching can provide a report of schemes that could be compounded to the family during crucial life-cycle moments. Finally, on the burden of delivery, we need look no further than passport seva and other government to citizen (G2C) services that have been transformed with commitments to operational excellence metrics like TATs (turnaround times) and SLAs (service level agreements). The RTPS framework and Bihar model provide the ambition for delivering grievance redress services for major G2C entitlements in all states. With the latest developments in Gen AI, it is possible to reach India's digitally unprepared citizens through voice in their Indic language, eliminating text barriers. Whether we hear about one citizen not receiving access, or view this as a systemic failure, we have a critical opportunity for learning to iterate better delivery systems and move towards universal access. We have experienced Covid-19 and find ourselves today increasingly unsettled by climate-related shocks. The next time a public health or climate emergency occurs anywhere across India, we can, through our DPI infrastructure for states, immediately release social protection grants to an auto-validated and eligible set of vulnerable citizens. This future is almost here if we act on every error to iterate on our delivery systems. Tarun Cherukuri and Rahul Karnamadakala Sharma are with Indus Action, a policy implementation organization. The views expressed are personal.
Miami Herald
09-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Bay Area hit hard by federal job cuts
As the Trump administration pursued a massive downsizing this year, the Bay Area lost more federal jobs than any other part of California, according to seasonally adjusted numbers compiled by Beacon Economics and the state Employment Development Department. Over the first four months of the year, California lost 1,200 federal jobs, data shows. Of those losses, the Bay Area accounted for 600 of the cuts - adding to the region's continuing job woes. "Most people don't realize the federal government is a major employer and job driver," said Russell Hancock, president of San Jose-based think tank Joint Venture Silicon Valley. The Bay Area lost federal jobs this year at a pace that was nearly three times that of the state as a whole, and nearly twice the federal government's employment decline nationwide. Federal totals dropped 1.4% in the region in 2025 compared to a decline of 0.5% in California and 0.8% nationwide. The East Bay led the nine-county region with 300 federal job cuts in 2025 for a decline of 2.3%. The San Francisco-San Mateo metro area shed 200 federal positions, representing a 1.4% decline, and the South Bay had no change in its totals. Overall, the U.S. government eliminated 23,000 federal jobs nationwide this year. The cuts in the Bay Area arrive at a time when the job markets in both the state and region have floundered. "The loss of federal jobs creates another headwind for the region as it attempts to sustain some positive momentum on overall employment," said Jeff Bellisario, executive director of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute. The Bay Area lost 14,700 total nonfarm payroll jobs in all categories over the first four months of 2025. Over the same time, California lost 32,300 total payroll jobs, official reports from the state Employment Development Department show. "There is little doubt that federal government job losses will be an important contributor to the labor market malaise that already appears to be falling over the Bay Area," said Scott Anderson, chief economist with BMO Capital Markets. In sharp contrast, state and local government agencies have increased hiring, but that may soon change. "We're likely to see job declines in state and local governments beginning in July with the new fiscal year, and possibly before," said Michael Bernick, an employment attorney with law firm Duane Morris and a former director of the state EDD. He said some local and state agencies are not filling vacant positions. The increases occurred despite frequent warnings that belt-tightening and layoffs loom as California and local public agency officials warn about budget shortfalls. "Continued government job gains at the state and local level in the Bay Area are more than making up for the loss of federal jobs in the region," Anderson said. "There will be more belt-tightening ahead. State and local governments don't have the same luxury of papering over their budget shortfalls with massive borrowing." In addition, state and local government agencies have yet to feel the effects of cutbacks from federal programs whose dollars might support a certain level of staffing, some experts warn. "The gains in state and local government jobs are likely temporary," said Steve Levy, director of the Palo Alto-based Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy. "Slower economic growth and federal grant cuts will hit budgets in the Bay Area, the state and the nation." In the U.S., federal employment reached what appeared to be an all-time high of roughly 3.015 million jobs in January. But starting in February, that number decreased for three consecutive months as President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk attempted to trim the federal workforce. "Firing huge numbers of federal employees won't decrease the need for government services," Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, the nation's largest union that represents federal workers, said in February. "It will just make those services harder or impossible to access." Reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that federal job cuts in the Washington, D.C., metro area were at a significantly greater pace than the nation as a whole. According to an assessment of employment totals posted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, D.C., shed 3,300 federal government jobs in 2025. Similarly, Virginia lost 5,100 positions, a decline of 2.6%, while Maryland shed 5,300, a drop of 3.3%. Job losses within the federal government could become far worse in the months ahead, some experts warn. "These numbers are the tip of the iceberg," Levy said. "The majority of federal job cuts are not reflected in the April data." The federal employee separation and downsizing procedures are among the reasons behind the relatively modest job losses. "A good number of federal workers whose jobs are being eliminated are formally still on administrative leave," Bernick said. "We should see the federal job cuts more fully reflected in the national and state monthly jobs reports in the next few months." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
India Today
01-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
LinkedIn follows Microsoft and lays off 281 employees, most are software engineers
The latest wave of job cuts in Silicon Valley has now finally reached LinkedIn, the professional networking giant best known for helping people find jobs. Now, ironically, it is finding itself in the position of handing out pink slips. According to a filing with California's Employment Development Department this week, LinkedIn is letting go of 281 employees in the state. These cuts come hot on the heels of Microsoft's broader announcement earlier this month that it would trim around 6,000 jobs globally, roughly 3 per cent of its total workforce. As a Microsoft-owned company, LinkedIn hasn't been time around, the pink slips landed particularly hard on software engineers, though others weren't fully immune. Roles like senior product managers and talent account directors were also affected. According to the reports, the layoffs were communicated to employees on May 13, with many taking to LinkedIn itself to announce their new 'open to work' a moment of deja vu for LinkedIn staff, although the tone is markedly different. In 2023, when the company let go of 716 employees, CEO Ryan Roslansky personally addressed the decision in a heartfelt internal memo. Fast forward to 2025, there is no word from him so far. With no public comment yet, speculation is rife about whether more job cuts are on the horizon. Layoffs have become something of a gloomy tech sector trend this year, with companies like Meta, Google, and Autodesk all slimming down their workforces. While reasons vary—from restructuring to AI investments and claims of underperformance—the message is clear: the industry is transforming rapidly, and not everyone's role is of the biggest disruptors? Artificial intelligence. With AI tools now capable of generating code, debugging, and even suggesting product improvements, many companies are quietly rethinking how many engineers they actually need. It's a bittersweet twist—engineers building tools so effective that they might be coding themselves out of a job. Focusing on AI and how it affects jobs, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman clearly stated that AI is not a friend and whoever thinks this way will surely be harmed. He said, 'I don't think any AI tool today is capable of being a friend. And I think if it's pretending to be a friend, you're actually harming the person in so doing.'For LinkedIn, which employs over 18,400 people worldwide, the layoffs may indicate a strategic pivot. Once seen as a dependable cog in Microsoft's machine, the platform might now be undergoing a rethink as automation and economic uncertainty prompt tech giants to 'streamline operations.'While AI promises efficiency and innovation, it also raises uncomfortable questions about job security, even in fields previously considered safe.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Shame on them': Salary hikes for Sacramento officials spark criticism
'Sacramento mayor, council salary increases amid budget talk,' ( May 14) Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty and city council members clearly do not prioritize serving their constituents. They could have worked within the charter rules to route more money to public safety and less into their own pockets. Shame on them. Barbara Stockman Sacramento Opinion 'Newsom calls for cities, counties to adopt policies eradicating homeless encampments,' ( May 12) It boggles the mind that Gov. Gavin Newsom thinks that banning homelessness will make the problem go away. It will take a coordinated, multi-faceted effort — without egos, turf wars or NIMBYism — to solve the problem. Like when California ignored the Employment Development Department and Department of Motor Vehicles debacles, those problems did not fix themselves. What world does the governor live in? Daniel W. Christensen Folsom 'Newsom calls for cities, counties to adopt policies eradicating homeless encampments,' ( May 12) If Gov. Gavin Newsom is going to advocate for policies beloved by the GOP, including not funding social programs, he should change parties officially. PJ Evans Chatsworth 'California has highest estimated Alzheimer's cases in US. These counties have the most,' ( Aug. 3, 2023) California Alzheimer's Disease Centers are in trouble, with some at risk of closure by July, leaving many with Alzheimer's unserved. Established 40 years ago at university medical centers, California's 10 Alzheimer's Centers leverage federal research dollars to expand access to diagnosis, treatment and training for primary care providers. They're critical educational centers for caregivers, medical students and communities of color, who are disproportionately affected and face challenges accessing experts and care. These centers have been consistently underfunded, while demand for their services grows. If they close, patients will face longer wait times and travel longer distances for appointments. State legislators must increase funding for these centers. Without action, we'll lose critical infrastructure and risk being unprepared to serve an aging population. Mark White Sacramento '340B fails Black Californians and helps corporations profit,' ( May 7) NAACP California/Hawaii State Conference President Rick Callender's op-ed claims 340B no longer helps low-income Californians. In decades of practicing medicine and leading a health care organization that served millions of low-income patients, I've seen nothing like it. In California, hospitals used hundreds of millions of dollars in 340B savings in recent years to keep clinics open and medications accessible. UC San Diego and UC Davis alone reported over $560 million combined. That funding supports cancer treatment, prenatal care and prescription access for people who often have nowhere else to turn. 340B isn't perfect, but it is working. If we cut 340B, we won't be fixing a problem. Instead, we'll be cutting off cancer treatment, closing clinics and leaving people without life-saving medicine. Dr. Mario Molina Arlington, Va. 'CA must stop using forever chemicals that harm our health,' ( Aug. 11, 2023) Senate Bill 682 seeks to broadly ban perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, without fully assessing individual risks. It is a costly and premature measure that threatens over 500,000 jobs and nearly $150 billion in gross domestic product. These substances are essential to sectors like aerospace, semiconductors and air conditioning technology. A sweeping ban would burden small and mid-sized businesses, increasing prices and risking job losses. Legislators should reject SB 682 and, instead, back targeted, science-driven regulations that protect public health without jeopardizing California's economy and innovation. Kevin Fay Executive director, Sustainable PFAS Action Network
