Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to approximately 60,000 employees globally, representing roughly a quarter of its workforce, in what marks the company's second voluntary workforce reduction effort in 2026. The program targets employees at level 70 or below across the US, India, Canada, and the UK, as the company seeks to manage costs amid heavy investment in AI infrastructure and data centers.
Background
Microsoft has been aggressively investing in AI infrastructure and data centers over the past several years while also managing workforce costs. This follows previous layoffs at Xbox and a smaller voluntary retirement package offered to US employees earlier in 2026.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Oct 27, 2026 at 06:36 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10