SAN FRANCISCO, July 6 (Xinhua) — U.S. technology giant Microsoft said on Monday it is eliminating about 4,800 positions worldwide, or around 2.1 percent of its global workforce, as part of its latest restructuring efforts.
The company confirmed the job cuts in an internal message to employees, saying the move comes as the business adapts to rapid changes in the technology industry and seeks to streamline operations.
The layoffs will primarily affect its commercial sales division and Xbox gaming business, the company added.
Amy Coleman, Microsoft’s executive vice president and chief people officer, said in a message to employees that the company’s business is changing amid the rapid evolution of technology and customer demand, and the organization must adapt accordingly.
She stressed that the layoffs are not a direct result of artificial intelligence (AI) replacing workers.
Microsoft said it will provide severance packages, healthcare benefits and career transition assistance to affected employees.
The company also noted that a voluntary retirement program introduced earlier this year helped reduce the scale of the layoffs.
The latest workforce reduction comes as major technology companies continue to invest heavily in AI while seeking to control costs and improve efficiency.
According to its annual report, Microsoft had about 228,000 full-time employees worldwide as of June 2025.
