Global layoffs wave: The Walt Disney Company, Oracle Corporation, HSBC signal job cuts — Report

New Delhi: Entertainment giant The Walt Disney Company is planning to cut up to 1,000 jobs in the coming weeks, with the Disney layoffs 2026 expected to impact its marketing division the most, according to a report.

The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, said the planned job cuts were initiated before Josh D’Amaro assumed charge as chief executive officer in March.

The layoffs are expected to affect less than 1 per cent of Disney’s global workforce, which stood at approximately 231,000 employees at the end of fiscal year 2025.

As part of a broader cost optimisation strategy, Disney’s chief marketing officer, Asad Ayaz, is leading efforts to streamline operations under an internal initiative codenamed ‘Project Imagine’. The programme aims to consolidate the company’s global marketing functions and reduce expenditure.

Oracle layoffs 2026: Global workforce reduction underway

In a separate development, cloud computing major Oracle Corporation has reportedly initiated large-scale job cuts worldwide, adding to concerns over the global tech layoffs 2026 trend.

Employees across regions said they received early-morning emails notifying them of termination, with some messages sent as early as 6 am local time in the United States.

Reports suggest Oracle could lay off between 20,000 and 30,000 employees, representing nearly 18 per cent of its global workforce, although the company has not officially confirmed the figures.

HSBC job cuts: AI-led restructuring likely

Meanwhile, global banking major HSBC is also considering workforce reductions as part of a long-term restructuring strategy.

Under chief executive Georges Elhedery, the bank is exploring the use of artificial intelligence to streamline operations, particularly in middle- and back-office roles.

According to reports, non-client-facing positions in global service centres are likely to be most affected, though discussions remain at an early stage. HSBC had a workforce of around 210,000 employees at the end of 2025.

With multiple global corporations evaluating cost-cutting measures and AI-driven efficiencies, job cuts in 2026 are emerging as a key trend across the media, technology and banking sectors.

IANS