Report finds telco jobs fall as labour costs rise

Global telecom employment fell 2.1% year-on-year in Q2 2026 to about 4.2 million people across 145 operators, according to MTN Consulting. Labour costs per employee rose 6.8% to roughly $62,500, and the report found no measurable link between AI adoption, job cuts and wider margins.

• Employment across 145 operators fell from 4.3 million to 4.2 million in a year
• Labour cost per employee rose 6.8% to about $62,500
• Telefonica cut headcount 19.3%, the steepest industry reduction
• Fewer than 20% of operators grew revenue or cut opex by over 5%