Just two months ago, Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO) announced a major expansion of its work force in RTP with the promise of more than 500 new jobs. Wednesday night, Cisco’s top executive disclosed plans to lay off some 6,000 workers across the company. It’s the second large round of job cuts to hit the firm in a year.

What impact the latest cuts will have on Cisco’s local hiring plans remains unclear. In the past, Cisco’s layoffs have been spread across multiple operations in various locations. The company said cuts would be made globally. 

The new layoffs represent 8 percent of the Cisco’s total employees. 

The RTP site represent the second largest corporate campus operated by the communications giant.

In an interview with Barron’s, Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers described the layoff as a “tough decision” but were needed for growth.

Recent WRAL TechWire coverage of Cisco:

  • In his own words: Why Cisco’s Chambers is cutting jobs. (WRAL TechWire Insider)
  • Cisco to expand in RTP with 550 new jobs
  • Cisco reportedly eyes reorganization
  • Cisco’s COO: ‘Thank God we had a crisis’ that triggered 2013 layoffs

“We’ve got to be aggressive to get to being the number one IT player,” said Chambers.

He said the cuts to be made now are “strategic” whereas a year ago cuts were made for ‘tactical” reasons.

In a speech in Raleigh last summer, Chambers described the job cuts as being one of the toughest decisions he ever had to make.

“Last year, frankly, we were surprised in the market and we had to focus on bringing down expenses,” he told Barron’s. “We ended up being remarkably successful last year, even given all the uncertainties.”

Because Cisco will be shifting focus as part of strategic moves, Chambers said some employees will lose out.

“I can’t move a hardware engineer and make them a security consultant,” he told Barron’s.

The announcement was made during a conference call discussing its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings.

The San Jose, California-based company on Wednesday reported a 1 percent decline in profit, to $2.25 billion, as revenue dipped to $12.36 billion from $12.42 billion. Its adjusted earnings for the three months ended July 26, its fiscal fourth quarter, came to 55 cents per share, which was two cents more than analysts expected, according to Zacks Investment Research.

During the conference call, Chief Financial Officer Frank Calderoni said the company estimates pretax charges of up to $700 million, with about $250 to $350 million recorded in the current quarter, for the restructuring.

Shares fell 25 cents, or 1 percent, to $24.95 in after-hours trading. The stock has risen 12 percent this year.