Microsoft slashes 10,000 jobs, the latest in a wave of layoffs – By Bobby Allyn & Mary Yang (NPR) / Jan 18, 2023
Microsoft plans to lay off 10,000 employees, as it seeks to cut costs amid growing concerns about a widespread economic downturn, the company announced on Wednesday.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the company is “seeing organizations in every industry and geography exercise caution as some parts of the world are in a recession and other parts are anticipating one,” in a note to employees posted online and in a regulatory filing.
The cuts represent a little less than 5% of Microsoft’s global workforce of 221,000 employees. The company began notifying affected workers on Wednesday, and plans to complete the layoffs by the Spring, according to the note. It was not clear which divisions would see cuts.
Like other major tech companies, Microsoft embarked on ultra-rapid hiring during the global pandemic. Since 2019, Microsoft has hired about 75,000 workers.