- Oracle began fresh job cuts on Monday, affecting employees across several teams, according to internal sources.
- The company's headcount fell by 21,000 (13%) during fiscal 2026, leaving about 141,000 staff before the latest reductions.
- Larry Ellison scrapped a pre-arranged trading plan that would have allowed selling up to 50 million shares worth roughly $7.5 billion.
- No official reason was given for the layoffs or the cancellation of the selling plan.
Oracle Corp (NYSE:ORCL) kicked off another round of job reductions on Monday, as confirmed by three employees who were among those let go and an internal email reviewed by Business Insider. The move was widely anticipated, with a source familiar with the situation telling the publication last month that the company was preparing for additional workforce cuts to trim payroll expenses while taking on billions in debt to build out AI infrastructure.
The latest layoffs hit some teams particularly hard, with an internal document indicating that certain groups would see reductions reaching double-digit percentages. While Oracle had roughly 141,000 employees before this round, the company has already shed 21,000 workers over the past fiscal year—a 13% drop—according to a recent corporate presentation. As of Monday afternoon, Oracle’s press office had not responded to requests for comment.
Why Is Oracle Cutting Jobs Again?
The company’s aggressive push into artificial intelligence has come with a hefty price tag. To fund the massive data centers and hardware needed for AI workloads, Oracle has piled up enormous debt. That financial pressure is now forcing management to streamline operations and cut staffing costs, even as it continues to invest heavily in growth areas. Sources told Business Insider that the reductions are part of a broader strategy to align cost structure with the company’s AI-focused roadmap.
Employees affected by the recent wave took to social media and professional forums like LinkedIn, Reddit, and Blind on Monday to share their experiences. Many expressed frustration, noting that the layoffs felt abrupt despite earlier warnings. Others pointed out that this is just the latest in a series of global AI restructuring hits that have been happening throughout the year. The company’s workforce has been shrinking steadily, and the new wave only adds to the uncertainty.
Larry Ellison Halts Stock Sale Plan
In a separate development, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has canceled a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that would have allowed him to sell up to 50 million shares of Oracle stock until October 24. At the valuation cited in the filing, those shares would have been worth approximately $7.5 billion. The plan was adopted on June 22, 2026, and its cancellation was disclosed in a filing dated September 11.
Oracle has confirmed that no shares were sold under the plan, and the company has not provided any public explanation for Ellison’s decision. No alternative selling arrangement has been revealed either. This move comes at a time when Oracle’s stock has been under pressure due to concerns about AI spending and thinning margins.
What This Means for Oracle’s Future
The combination of job cuts and the canceled stock sale paints a picture of a company in transition. On one hand, Oracle is doubling down on AI, betting that its cloud infrastructure will pay off in the long run. On the other hand, it’s tightening its belt to manage the immediate financial strain. The 13% reduction in headcount over the past year is a clear signal that management is serious about controlling costs.
For employees, the uncertainty is far from over. The internal document hinted that further reductions could be on the horizon, depending on how the business performs in the coming quarters. Meanwhile, investors are watching closely to see whether Oracle can balance its ambitious AI investments with the need to maintain profitability.
As the dust settles, the big question remains: will these cuts actually help Oracle achieve its goals, or will they only add to the turmoil? Only time will tell, but for now, the company is clearly steering toward a leaner, more focused operation.
