Microsoft has announced another wave of layoffs this week, impacting various teams and locations across the company. As per reports, the layoffs have primarily affected product- and programme-management functions.
However, the exact number of affected employees has not been disclosed.
A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the layoffs to Wired Geek, stating that these organisational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing the business. The company also confirmed its commitment to continuing investments in strategic growth areas to drive future growth.
These layoffs came as Microsoft ended its fiscal year on 30 June, amid restructuring efforts. Similar layoffs occurred in 2023. This latest round follows earlier cuts in 2024, including nearly 2,000 jobs in the gaming division at the beginning of the year and around 1,000 positions last month, impacting roles within the Azure cloud unit and the HoloLens mixed-reality team.
In response to a string of high-profile cyberattacks in recent times, the company announced a major overhaul of its security processes, declaring security as its utmost priority. Satya Nadella, CEO, emphasised this shift in a memo to over 2,00,000 employees, urging a collective effort towards fortifying the company’s defenses.
The initiative, dubbed Secure Future Initiative (SFI), aims to embed security into every aspect of Microsoft’s operations, following three core principles: Secure by Design, Secure by Default and Secure Operations.
Over the past 18 months, Microsoft has laid off thousands of employees, mirroring a broader trend in the tech industry. According to layoffs.fyi, nearly 1,00,000 tech employees have been laid off so far this year, with about 2,60,000 layoffs in 2023.