Microsoft puts 60,000 jobs at risk worldwide as tech giant focuses on AI

Published: 19:30 EDT, 26 October 2026 | Updated: 19:30 EDT, 26 October 2026 Microsoft is offering voluntary redundancy to more than a quarter of its global workforce as it pours money into artificial intelligence.Its 6,000-strong UK staff will be among those in line for a 'buyout' package.Staff in the US, Canada and India will also be eligible, with 60,000 jobs at risk from a global workforce of 223,000.Those at vice-president level and below are affected, while some groups of employees, including some working on data centres, sales and marketing, are excluded. Amy Coleman, the company's HR head, said in a staff memo: '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.'It is the second voluntary buyout that Microsoft has offered employees this year. In April, the company reportedly offered around 7 per cent of its US work force the option to retire early. Around 30 per cent of those eligible took the voluntary retirement plan, according to CNBC.The company is expected to report its quarterly earnings this week.As major tech giants continue to spend heavily on AI-related investments, concerns persist about the impact of the technology on jobs. Microsoft is offering voluntary redundancy to more than a quarter of its global workforce as it pours money into artificial intelligenceNetflix is set to reportedly cut around 6 per cent of its workforce, or 1,000 jobs.Auction site eBay laid off 1,000 employees this month, adding to a previous round earlier this year which affected some 800 jobs.In May, Facebook owner Meta laid off around 10 per cent of its global workforce, impacting about 8,000 of its employees.Uber said in September that it would lay off around 10 per cent of its staff, affecting an estimated 3,000 employees. And Amazon announced 16,000 global job cuts in January.Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet and Meta are collectively on track to pour roughly £524billion into AI data centres, chips and computing infrastructure this year alone.