Layoffs announced globally by Microsoft once more - Microsoft to eliminate numerous positions globally
Microsoft, the Washington-based tech giant, has announced another round of layoffs affecting thousands of employees worldwide. This latest round, announced in July 2023, follows an earlier round of layoffs in May, totaling approximately 15,000 cuts this year [1][2][3].
The layoffs are part of "organizational changes" aimed at repositioning Microsoft and its teams for a changing market environment. Although the exact number of jobs cut at the beginning of the year is not specified, it is reported that around 2,000 jobs were cut in early 2023 [1][2][3].
Despite these layoffs, Microsoft's workforce had been growing significantly in the years leading up to 2024, with a 63% increase compared to 2019, amounting to a higher total number of employees [1][2][3]. This growth was a strategic decision to expand the company's capabilities and was one of the factors that contributed to Microsoft's continued growth and success.
The increase in Microsoft's workforce was not limited to a specific department or team, but was company-wide. The growth trend continued until at least 2024, with Microsoft having more employees than it did in 2019.
Since 2021, Microsoft has been steadily reducing its workforce. The total number of job cuts since the beginning of the year is approximately 12,000, and considering previous reductions since 2021, the total number of job cuts since that period is at least in the tens of thousands, although exact cumulative figures for the entire period are not provided explicitly in the sources.
These developments come as Microsoft continues to navigate a rapidly evolving market landscape, with the company focusing on streamlining its operations and shaping itself for future growth.
[1] Microsoft Announces Layoffs of Around 6,000 Employees in May 2023. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/19/microsoft-announces-layoffs-of-around-6000-employees.html
[2] Microsoft Announces Further Layoffs of Thousands of Employees. (2023, July 1). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-announces-further-layoffs-thousands-employees-2023-07-01/
[3] Microsoft's Latest Round of Layoffs: What We Know So Far. (2023, July 5). Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/5/23715245/microsoft-layoffs-2023-round-2-thousands-jobs-cut-sales-xbox
- In an attempt to adapt to the changing market environment, Microsoft plans to renew thousands of locations worldwide, focusing on business finance and strategic positioning, following the thousands of job cuts announced earlier this year.
- Despite the ongoing job cuts and continuous organizational changes, Microsoft is predicted to have more thousands of employees worldwide, even surpassing its 2019 workforce numbers, given the significant growth it had been experiencing in the years preceding the layoffs.
