Samsung Electronics (SE) has decreased its global workforce for the first time in 7 years. According to the company’s Sustainable Report 2017, the total number of employees working in 80 countries was 308,745 as of the end of 2016, representing a 5.2% decline from a year ago (325,677 employees).
The decline is the first since 2009, and the largest decline since SE began publishing its sustainability report. The number of employees in Korea decreased to 93,204 (a 3.8% drop), while overseas it decreased to 215,541 (a 5.8% drop). The number of employees overseas began outnumbering those in Korea in 2011.
China experienced the largest decline in the number of SE employees where it plunged 17.5 % to 37,030 last year compared to a year ago (44,948). However, the company increased its workforce in North and Latin America by 8.5% to 25,988.
SE explained that the company sold its printer division to Hewlett-Packard and the number of workers in Korea decreased accordingly. The decrease in other countries is attributed to the production adjustment in Asia, including China.