Intel's Asia Pacific group PR manager Mark Miller confirmed to Computerworld Australia the number is 1000 worldwide, but "we're not breaking it out by country, region or business unit."

Miller said the layoffs were part of the company's "whole efficiency" program, which is an effort to make the company more efficient and is designed to help with decision making by removing managers through Intel's decision making process.

"Our management [headcount] is growing faster than our employee population," Miller said, adding that unless there is a specific business need, Intel is not hiring at this time.

"Intel has about 103,000 employees worldwide, so it's less than one percent," he said.

Miller was also coy about the percentage of managers this 1000 represents.