Microsoft Offers Buyouts to 60,000 Staff Across Four Countries

Microsoft on Monday said it would offer voluntary exit packages to about 60,000 employees, roughly a quarter of its global workforce, marking its second voluntary reduction effort of 2026. The company said the offer targets workers in parts of the business where staff may already be considering a move outside the company.

The buyout extends to qualifying employees at level 70 or below in the United States, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Microsoft keeps its employee rankings internal, but the salary and career database Levels.fyi shows levels 65 through 67 correspond to principal roles, and 68 through 70 are partner or distinguished level. Chief People Officer Amy Coleman said eligible groups were picked "based on each business's priorities, customer commitments and workforce needs." Microsoft did not give a specific reason for the package. The offer arrives as the company has spent recent years holding down costs while spending on AI infrastructure and data-center buildout.

This is the second voluntary workforce reduction Microsoft has run in 2026. In April, the company offered its first voluntary retirement package to 8,750 employees in the United States. In July, the Xbox division cut 3,200 jobs, about 20 percent of its gaming division. About 30 percent of employees eligible for the April package took it, Coleman said, which reduced the number of planned layoffs. The April offer went to long-tenured workers nearing retirement, while the current program opens to a much larger pool.

Coleman said the company will continue to evaluate its workforce plans.