Microsoft offers voluntary exit packages to 60,000 staff

Microsoft is offering voluntary exits to about 60,000 employees, roughly a quarter of its workforce, as it cuts costs while investing heavily in artificial intelligence. The offer covers selected staff up to vice president level in the United States, Canada, India and Britain; some groups, including employees in data centers, sales and marketing, are excluded. It is the company’s second voluntary buyout offer this year, after about 30% of eligible employees reportedly accepted an early-retirement plan in April. Microsoft had 223,000 employees globally at the end of June, down from 228,000 at the end of 2025.