Microsoft officials said this week the company is cutting 3% of its global workforce. The force reduction, which equates to more than 6,000 jobs, is part of an effort to streamline operations by reducing management layers, Techrepublic.com reported, citing an Associated Press report. Software engineering and product management roles were among the most impacted.
The job cuts span multiple levels, teams, and geographies, with a focus on managerial positions, according to Bloomberg. Of the employees based in Washington, about 1,500 affected employees worked at Microsoft’s offices, while 475 were remote workers. Business divisions, including Xbox and LinkedIn, were among those affected.
The company is “building high-performing teams and increasing our agility by reducing layers with fewer managers,” Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood said during an April earnings call.
The layoffs were described as “organizational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace,” an anonymous company spokesperson told The Associated Press.
Hood said Microsoft’s total headcount in March 2025 was 2% higher year over year compared to March 2024.
First quarter sales for Microsoft were strong, with profits exceeding Wall Street expectations in recent weeks.
