Microsoft has laid off over 300 additional employees this week, intensifying its workforce restructuring efforts just weeks after executing one of its largest job cuts in recent years. The latest round of layoffs was confirmed through a notice filed with Washington state authorities, dated June 2, underscoring the company’s ongoing strategy to reallocate resources toward artificial intelligence and cloud-driven innovation.
These job cuts follow the elimination of 6,000 positions last month, making this the second-largest wave of reductions since the company laid off 10,000 employees in 2023. With the latest move, the number of layoffs at Microsoft’s Washington-based operations alone now totals approximately 2,300.
While the previous round of layoffs primarily impacted software engineers, Microsoft has not disclosed which specific roles were affected this time. As of June 2024, the company had a global workforce of around 228,000 full-time employees, with nearly 55% based in the United States.
A Microsoft spokesperson commented, “We continue to implement organisational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace.”
Although the company has not explicitly linked the new layoffs to its growing AI investments, reports indicate that Microsoft is aiming to trim “unnecessary” managerial layers, with middle management appearing to be disproportionately affected.
Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, Microsoft is steadily streamlining its internal structures in a bid to remain agile and competitive amid rapid technological evolution.
In a recent internal town hall, CEO Satya Nadella emphasized that the earlier layoffs were not performance-driven but part of a broader shift in priorities. “This was not about people failing. It was about repositioning for what comes next,” he stated, underlining the company’s continued pivot toward AI-led innovation.
