ASML Holding NV to Eliminate Approximately 1,700 Positions.

In a move that highlights the paradox of modern corporate scaling, ASML Holding NV, the backbone of the global semiconductor industry, announced on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, that it will eliminate approximately 1,700 positions. The Paradox of Success: Profits vs. RestructuringThe announcement of the layoffs was juxtaposed against a blockbuster fourth-quarter earnings report that saw ASML shatter previous records. The company logged orders totaling €13.2 billion in the final months of 2025, a figure that nearly doubled analyst expectations. By simplifying the reporting lines and reducing the layers of middle management, ASML aims to return to a “fast-moving culture” where decision-making is localized and technical hurdles can be cleared without waiting for multiple committees to weigh in. Ultimately, ASML’s leadership views this moment as a rare opportunity to “sharpen the saw” while the company is at its most profitable.