BUSINESS

California: Cisco cuts 471 Bay Area jobs

▪

Read, Watch or Listen

SAN JOSE, California — Cisco Systems Inc. is laying off 471 employees across its Bay Area offices as part of a previously announced global restructuring and shift toward artificial intelligence-focused products and services. Newly processed California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filings, dated Friday, June 26, 2026, show that the job cuts will take effect on July 13, 2026, and provide the first location-specific details of the company’s plan. The reductions span three major Northern California campuses and mark one of the largest single sets of layoffs disclosed in the most recent round of WARN notices filed with the state. The largest impact will fall on Cisco’s San Jose headquarters at 170 West Tasman Drive, where 236 employees are scheduled to lose their jobs. Another 154 workers will be cut from the company’s Milpitas site at 560 McCarthy Boulevard, while 81 positions will be eliminated at its San Francisco office at 500 Terry A. Francois Boulevard. While the state filings do not list specific job titles, internal accounts and industry reports indicate that software engineering, product management, design, and business operations roles are among those affected. The layoffs form part of a broader plan, outlined by Chair and CEO Chuck Robbins in May 2026, to eliminate nearly 4,000 positions worldwide, or about 5 percent of Cisco’s workforce.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

May 2026 Cisco announces global restructuring plan
May 2026 CEO outlines nearly 4,000 job cuts
May 2026 Plan targets about five percent workforce
June 26, 2026 WARN notices processed by California
June 26, 2026 Layoff locations and counts disclosed
July 13, 2026 Bay Area layoffs scheduled to begin
July 13, 2026 San Jose headquarters sees largest reductions

Why This Matters to You

If you're a Cisco employee, you might be affected by these layoffs. Check your company email and HR communications. If you're in the tech industry, this shift towards AI could affect job trends. Keep your skills updated.

The Bottom Line

Cisco is cutting jobs to focus on AI. This is part of a global trend. It's a tough time for those affected, but it could also mean new opportunities in AI. Worth forwarding if you know someone in tech.