Microsoft Offers Voluntary Buyouts to 60,000 Workers as AI Reshapes Its Workforce
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Microsoft has offered voluntary exit packages to roughly 60,000 employees — about a quarter of its global workforce — as the company redirects spending toward artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Microsoft announced on Monday, October 26, 2026, that it is offering voluntary buyout packages to approximately 60,000 employees, representing around 27% of its total global workforce. The company had about 223,000 employees worldwide at the end of June, down from 228,000 at the end of 2025. The offer is open to workers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and India at vice president level or below, and is available for a limited period of time. Employees in data-centre, sales, and marketing roles are excluded. Chief People Officer Amy Coleman announced the programme in a memo, saying it gives eligible staff who may be considering leaving a supported path to do so. The move is Microsoft's second voluntary exit offer in 2026; in May, the company offered packages to roughly 8,750 US staff, and in July it cut a further 4,800 jobs — about 2% of its global workforce — including many workers in its Xbox video game business. CFO Amy Hood said during a July earnings call that Microsoft plans to spend $175 billion on AI infrastructure in 2026 alone, including investments in data centres.
