Adidas has officially confirmed that it is carrying out layoffs at its technology hub in India, affecting approximately half of its local workforce. The sportswear multinational described the move as part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at streamlining operations and aligning costs with current business priorities.
While the company has not disclosed the exact number of employees impacted or the specific city housing its Indian tech centre, industry estimates suggest the reductions could involve several hundred workers across its India operations. Staff were reportedly informed through internal communications and meeting notifications in recent weeks.
The cuts come amid a period of intensified competition for Adidas in the global athletic-apparel market. Rivals including Nike, Under Armour, and a growing wave of domestic Indian brands have been capturing market share, pressuring Adidas to reduce expenses and refocus its strategy. The company has previously outlined plans to restructure various divisions worldwide to improve profitability and adapt to changing consumer behaviour.
India has become an increasingly important location for Adidas's back-office, software development, and digital operations. Over the past decade, the company expanded its Indian presence significantly, hiring dozens of engineers, data analysts, and support staff. The current round of reductions represents a sharp reversal of that growth trajectory and raises concerns among employees about the future scale of Adidas's India operations.
Labour experts note that the fashion and sportswear sector has seen a wave of workforce reductions globally in recent years, driven by shifting retail dynamics, e-commerce competition, and the need to modernise legacy systems. Workers affected by the Adidas cuts may face challenges in a job market where demand for mid-level technical roles has also softened across multiple industries.
