Employees were from multiple businesses and locations and half of those fired "are mobile or work from home."
IBM commented: "We are constantly rebalancing our workforce. That means reducing in some areas and hiring in others -- based on shifts in technology and client demand. This flexibility allows IBM to remain competitive and relevant in an industry that is constantly changing. And given the competitive nature of our business, we do not publicly discuss the details of our staffing plans."
The company has sifted its workforce globally and there have been steady layoffs in the U.S. since 2007. That year, the company had 121,000 employees and that number has fallen to about 98,000 as of today. Globally, the company has 425,000 employees.