Intel faces labor shortage, welcomes the old employees back

Intel began a massive layoff in 2015 that continued into 2016, laying off about 13,000 employees in an effort to cut costs. In the process, former Intel CEO Brian Krzanich also issued a controversial rule prohibiting the rehiring of laid-off employees.

At the time, the rule angered not only the employees who were fired but other employees who stayed. Because some of the fired employees received good performance reviews, but ultimately not only lost their jobs but also were permanently rejected by Intel, suffering considerable frustration. Even if Intel opens up future jobs, it can’t find trusted and experienced former employees. According to The Oregonian, Intel has quietly removed this rule recently and welcomes these old employees back to fill vacant positions at Intel.

Intel is doing this for the simple reason that Intel is in a difficult time recruiting. Intel’s new semiconductor capacity expansion plan needs to recruit a large number of engineers, but there is a shortage of talents in this area in the market, not to mention Intel’s high recruitment requirements. It’s not certain how many former Intel employees have returned to the company because of this, but it is clear that Intel’s need for talent is very urgent at this stage.

Intel’s current CEO Pat Gelsinger is likely to push for the removal of the rule. Since taking office, several former Intel employees have been brought back to key positions, and a new talent investment plan has been launched to reduce attrition rates and attract new talent. Of course, Pat Gelsinger himself is also a veteran returning to Intel, and he has had outstanding achievements in innovation and development in the past.

“A number of years have passed since the 2015/2016 restructuring and those impacted may have new and additional skills that are valuable to Intel’s current business strategies,” the company said in a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive this week. “In most instances, those impacted by the 2015/2016 restructuring in the U.S. are eligible to apply for open roles,” Intel said.