Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees
Microsoft has launched a voluntary buyout program covering approximately one-quarter of its global workforce across four countries.
Microsoft has extended a voluntary exit offer to roughly 60,000 employees in the United States, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The program is open to staff members at internal career levels of 70 and below.
Chief People Officer Amy Coleman stated that the selection of eligible business units was driven by operational priorities and workforce requirements. While the company has not provided a specific rationale, the move follows sustained periods of heavy capital expenditure toward AI infrastructure and data-center expansion.
This initiative marks the company's second workforce reduction effort this year. Earlier in 2026, Microsoft offered retirement packages to 8,750 employees and implemented layoffs within its Xbox division affecting 3,200 staff. The current program significantly expands the scope of previous workforce consolidation efforts.