Samsung Downsizes Workforce For First Time in 7 Years Amid Global Restructuring

Samsung witnessed a reduction in the number of employees last year in its first manpower cut in seven years due mainly to its restructuring in China, South Korean newspaper Herald reports citing figured published by the company. From the report: The number of employees of the world's largest smartphone and memory chip manufacturer fell 5.2 percent to 308,745 last year from 325,677 the previous year, the data said. By region, domestic employees dropped 3.8 percent to 93,204, and those abroad declined 5.8 percent to 215,541. As of the end of last year, the percentage of the employees at Samsung's companies abroad dropped 0.4 percent to 69.8 percent. The number of Samsung employees in China fell 17.5 percent to 37,070 last year from 44,948 the previous year, while those in North and South America surged 8.5 percent to 25,988.

Post-boom reduction?

[__aaclcg7560]

You would think that the exploding batteries would have reduced Samsung's headcount sooner. Bad enough that the Galaxy Note Fan Edition is a refurbished Note 7 [theverge.com] (presumably without exploding battery). If you're carrying spare batteries on the airplane, don't forget to carry them in an explosion-proof bag [amzn.to].

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

Explosion proof, right. Most of those type of bags can't even properly handle an actual fire when they're tested. Batteries RARELY (as in never) actually explode. They burst and burn but don't make an explosion.

That's not even the worst thing though. Imagine all those toxic fumes escaping in to the confines of a cabin on a plane.

Re:

[__aaclcg7560]

Imagine all those toxic fumes escaping in to the confines of a cabin on a plane.

I would probably pack spare batteries in the checked luggage. If one did go kablooey in the unpressurized cargo hold, the bag should contain the splatter from contaminating everything else.

Re:

[thegarbz]

Bad enough that the Galaxy Note Fan Edition is a refurbished Note 7

Why bad enough? There were many people who loved these phones save for one somewhat sub-optimal feature which has been removed for the fan-edition.

If you're carrying spare batteries on the airplane...

You'll be just fine.

Re:

[OneHundredAndTen]

Maybe those made redundant got an explosive Samsung in compensation.

Re: Post-boom reduction?

[dougdonovan]

the investors say yes or no. the execs and down...do not matter.

Galaxy 7

[manu0601]

I was surprised Samsung could handle the galaxy 7 debacle without damage. I guess this is a consequence.