IBM Announces 3,900 Job Cuts

IBM joined the wave of layoffs by technology companies on Wednesday, saying it will shed 3,900 workers.

The company described the cuts as mainly a result of earlier asset sales rather than a weakness in its business. In 2021, IBM spun off its legacy technology services business as a separate company, Kyndryl. And last year, IBM sold off its health care data analytics business.

The company said it would take a charge of $300 million in the first quarter to pay for employee severance costs.

IBM announced the layoffs during a conference call reporting its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2022. Operating profits and revenue were in line with analysts’ forecasts, and operating earnings per share of $3.60 matched the consensus of analyst estimates, as compiled by Refinitiv.

IBM’s quarterly revenue of $16.7 billion was higher than the Wall Street estimate of $16.4 billion — and a 6 percent increase in constant currency — but was flat when adjusted for a strong dollar.

IBM reported solid growth in its businesses selling cloud, artificial intelligence and data analysis software. The company’s consulting business grew by only half a percentage point, including the foreign-exchange impact.

In after-hours trading, IBM shares slipped about 2 percent. In the regular session, the company’s shares closed down 73 cents, to $140.76 a share.