Microsoft to lay off 4% of workforce in latest round of job cuts

Microsoft is laying off just under 4% of its workforce in a new round of job cuts, the company said Wednesday.

The cuts will affect 9,000 workers across the company, as it continues to make moves to trim its staff. 

“We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company and teams for success in a dynamic marketplace,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News. 

The latest round of layoffs comes after the company slashed more than 6,000 jobs in May and June, in an effort to streamline operations. The previous job cuts were intended to flatten the organization “by reducing layers with fewer managers,” Microsoft Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood said on an April earnings call.

As of June 2024, the Redmond, Washington-based company employed 228,000 people worldwide, according to company data. 

Wednesday’s move jibes with the organization’s overarching goal to cut the number of managers per team. It also comes as Microsoft encourages employees to lean on new technologies and capabilities to focus on meaningful work, a company spokesperson said.