Microsoft Plans Thousands Of Job Cuts As Stock Suffers Worst Start In Years

Microsoft Plans Thousands Of Job Cuts As Stock Sufers Worst Start In Years describes how Microsoft faces pressure from both hiring freezes and a broader business “reset,” alongside concerns about AI spending. Microsoft shares were down about 21% year to date as of Tuesday’s close, tracking what the article calls one of the worst starts in roughly two decades. Coverage points to a cloud and sales hiring freeze and a reset of the Xbox unit, with Business Insider saying the company may announce another round of job cuts as early as next week. The report says the next layoffs could affect thousands across sales, consulting and Xbox, but would be smaller than last year’s reductions. The article estimates the round at around 2.5% of Microsoft’s roughly 220,000 employees. Last year, Microsoft cut 6,000 jobs in May and 9,000 in July. A separate Bloomberg report cites payroll declines averaging about 28,000 jobs per month this year in financial and information sectors where AI adoption is fastest.