Business ·
BT shrinks workforce by nearly 8,000 as cost cuts gather pace
The telecoms group reported a pre-tax profit of £1.1bn for the half-year to September, while its share price reached a five-year peak. Job reductions are part of a wider efficiency drive.
BT has reduced its headcount by almost 8,000 positions since late March, continuing an aggressive plan to strip out costs across the company. The latest figures show employee numbers dropped by 7,731 to 90,000, once staff linked to its international operations are excluded. That division is being moved into a separate venture alongside Verizon, the American telecoms firm.
The slimmed-down workforce figure does not count personnel attached to the global business being carved out. Before the partnership comes into effect, BT is pressing ahead with restructuring on a large scale, part of a strategy to make the group leaner and better able to compete.
Financially, the company posted a profit before tax of £1.1bn for the six months running to the end of September. Investor confidence appeared strong, with the stock touching its highest level in five years during the period, suggesting markets are rewarding the cost discipline.
While the cuts represent a significant reduction in staffing, BT has framed them as necessary for long-term health. The changes come as the telecoms industry faces pressure to invest in next-generation networks while keeping operating expenses under control.
Sources: The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/nov/05/bt-cuts-jobs-cost-saving-programme-profit-share-price
Source: The Guardian
Written with AI from the linked source