Panasonic is to slash 10,000 jobs, roughly 4% of its global workforce, as part of a major productivity initiative aimed at boosting operational efficiency across its international operations. The planned cuts will affect 5,000 roles in Japan and 5,000 overseas, primarily within sales and indirect functions.
The move marks a significant step in Panasonic’s efforts to restructure its workforce, with the company stating it will “reevaluate the number of organisations and personnel actually needed” to improve efficiency. The reductions will be executed in compliance with labour laws and regulations in each affected region, mostly within the financial year ending March 2026.
The electronics giant, which employs nearly 230,000 people worldwide, said it is focusing on aligning its personnel structure with business demands, especially amid changing global market conditions. The decision to streamline follows similar workforce realignment trends across the electronics and manufacturing sectors.
Panasonic, once a symbol of Japan’s post-war tech boom, is undergoing internal transformation to stay competitive in a fast-evolving global economy. This workforce optimisation initiative signals a shift in how legacy firms are responding to productivity pressures through leaner staffing models.