Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees to control costs and fund its AI ambitions, amid questions about whether it can keep pace with rivals. Eligible staff are on participating teams in the US, Canada, India and the UK at level 70 and below; according to a source, these include Copilot and AI staff, along with finance, HR, Xbox and Windows + Devices, while marketing, commercial business and security are excluded. Cascade Insights CEO Sean Campbell said the offer could let employees who think the company is falling behind reach the job market ahead of peers while keeping employer support. Microsoft had 223,000 full-time workers as of June 30, 2026, and forecasts about $175 billion in capital expenditures and finance leases for calendar 2026. The move follows a buyout offer to about 9,000 U.S. employees earlier this year and about 4,800 job cuts in July, ahead of its first-quarter earnings report after markets close Wednesday.
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▼ Likely negativeMicrosoft
Relevance: medium
| Market | US stocks |
|---|---|
| Sector | Information Technology |
| Industry | Systems Software |
| Market cap | $3.9T |
| Close on 10/26/2026 | 532.75 |
| Change that session | +1.57% |
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Related news
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Microsoft is offering buyouts to about 60,000 eligible employees in the U.S., Canada, India and the UK who have an experience level of 70 or below, with those who accept leaving at the end of the year. Chief people officer Amy Coleman said the program reflects how the company is evolving its approach to change by creating more flexibility for employees, building on its Voluntary Retirement Program earlier this year. The move follows American Express's plan to eliminate 5% of its global workforce and Barclays' plan to cut about 5,000 jobs, with AI cited as a main reason in both cases. Meanwhile, initial U.S. unemployment claims fell to 194,000 in the week ending Oct. 17, one of the lowest levels in more than five decades. However, about 1.94 million Americans had been unemployed for 27 weeks or longer in September, representing 27.1% of all unemployed workers.
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Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to employees worldwide, according to a memo from chief people officer Amy Coleman. The “Voluntary Exit Offer” is available to employees on select teams in the US, Canada, India and the UK “at level 70 and below,” so some senior staff may be included, and around 60,000 employees are reported to be eligible. The time-limited program offers financial support and career planning resources. In July, Microsoft cut around 4,800 roles, or roughly 2.1% of its global workforce at the time, mostly in its commercial and Xbox divisions. The company also offered an early retirement option this year, and more than 30% of eligible employees chose to participate.
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