In a continued effort to streamline operations and sharpen its competitive edge, Microsoft has laid off over 300 employees, primarily from its Washington headquarters, in the latest round of job cuts. According to The Seattle Times, this reduction represents less than 1% of the company’s global workforce.
In an official statement, the tech giant explained the decision as part of “necessary organizational changes” designed to better position the company in a dynamic market. The layoffs have predominantly impacted software engineers and product managers, key roles that are being reassessed as part of Microsoft’s broader structural optimization.
This latest move follows a more significant workforce reduction in mid-May, when Microsoft laid off approximately 6,000 employees, or about 3% of its total staff. That wave marked the second-largest job cut by the company after its major 10,000-employee layoff in 2023.
A Microsoft spokesperson clarified that these decisions are part of a strategic plan to reduce layers of management, improve efficiency, and realign resources to core priorities. The company also confirmed that some performance-based layoffs were carried out in January 2024, signaling a consistent shift towards a leaner organizational model. As Microsoft continues to recalibrate in response to evolving market conditions and technological demands, further changes across teams and geographies may still be on the horizon.
