Microsoft Cuts 6,000 Jobs, Trimming 3% of Global Workforce

Microsoft is shedding roughly 6,000 positions—about 3 percent of its 228,000-strong workforce—in a move that spans every level, team, and region. The company said the cuts will “best position Microsoft for success in a dynamic marketplace,” hinting that even high-performing quarters can’t shield it from the need to stay lean as competition intensifies. Washington state filings show nearly 2,000 roles disappearing at the Redmond headquarters alone.

The decision lands just weeks after Microsoft posted $25.8 billion in quarterly profit and notched fresh share-price highs, underscoring a paradox of modern tech: stellar earnings don’t always equal head-count stability. Executives say the goal is to flatten management layers and realign go-to-market incentives so Azure and its fast-growing AI services can outpace rivals. It’s the biggest contraction since 2023’s 10,000-job cull and follows smaller, performance-based trims in January.

Microsoft isn’t alone. Amazon, CrowdStrike, and other tech heavyweights have also pared staff while chasing efficiency in an AI-first era. CEO Satya Nadella told analysts that platform shifts demand tough choices; today’s move signals a bet that slimmer lines of command will speed decision-making and protect margins. Investors seem unruffled—shares remain near record territory even as thousands of employees brace for transition packages.