Microsoft has announced a voluntary buyout programme covering approximately 60,000 employees worldwide as the technology giant seeks to reduce costs while continuing to invest heavily in artificial intelligence.
The company confirmed on Monday that the offer would be available to eligible employees in the United States, Canada, India and the United Kingdom, potentially affecting around 27 per cent of its global workforce.
According to a Microsoft spokesperson, the programme will apply to employees at vice-president level and below across selected teams. However, certain departments, including some data centre operations, sales and marketing teams, will be excluded.
The initiative forms part of Microsoft’s broader efforts to manage operating expenses and adapt its workforce as investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure and related technologies continues to grow.
In a memo to employees, Amy Coleman, Microsoft’s executive vice-president and chief people officer, described the programme as part of the company’s evolving approach to organisational change.
“The Voluntary Exit Offer reflects an important part of how we’re evolving our approach to change: creating greater flexibility and, where possible, more ways for employees to shape their next chapter,” Coleman said.
The announcement marks Microsoft’s second voluntary departure programme this year.
In April, the company reportedly offered early retirement packages to approximately seven per cent of its workforce in the United States.
According to CNBC, around 30 per cent of employees eligible for that earlier programme accepted the voluntary retirement offer.
The latest initiative is considerably broader in scope, extending to multiple countries and covering more than a quarter of Microsoft’s employees worldwide.
Regulatory filings show that Microsoft employed approximately 223,000 people globally at the end of June, compared with 228,000 at the end of 2025.
The reduction reflects a decline of around 5,000 employees during that period, although the company has not indicated how many workers it expects to accept the latest buyout offer.
The announcement comes as major technology companies face growing pressure to balance substantial expenditure on artificial intelligence with profitability and operational efficiency.
Microsoft has been expanding its AI capabilities and supporting infrastructure, making workforce costs an important consideration as the company allocates resources towards emerging technologies.
The voluntary nature of the programme means eligible employees will be able to decide whether to accept the departure terms rather than face an automatic termination of employment.
Microsoft is expected to release its quarterly financial results later this week, when investors will be watching for further details about the company’s spending, profitability and artificial intelligence strategy.