Microsoft offers voluntary exit packages to 60,000 workers

Microsoft has offered voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, as the tech giant seeks to cut costs while pouring money into artificial intelligence.

The company announced this in a on Monday, October 26, 2026.

Staff on select teams in the United States, Canada, India, and Britain at vice president level and below will be eligible, while some groups of employees, including some working on data centers, sales, and marketing, are excluded.

“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,” the executive vice president and chief people officer, Amy Coleman, told employees in a memo.

It’s the second voluntary buyout offer that Microsoft has offered employees this year.

Nigerian oil tycoon Indimi loses $60m on Jaiz Bank shares

In April, the company reportedly offered about seven per cent of its US workforce the option to retire early.

About 30 per cent of those eligible took the voluntary retirement plan, according to CNBC.

Microsoft had 223,000 employees globally at the end of June, down from 228,000 at the end of 2025, according to regulatory filings.

27 percent of Microsoft’s workforce is eligible for the new buyout offer.

The company is expected to report quarterly earnings later this week.