Microsoft to cut another 9,000 jobs as global tech layoffs continue in 2025

Dubai: Microsoft will lay off approximately 9,000 employees, or just under 4% of its global workforce, as part of what it calls ongoing “organizational changes” to stay competitive in a fast-evolving market.

The latest round of job cuts — confirmed by the company on Wednesday — will affect teams across multiple business units and geographies, including sales, Xbox, and other key divisions, according to people familiar with the matter.

“We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company and teams for success in a dynamic marketplace,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in an email.

The tech giant, which employs 228,000 people worldwide as of June 2024, has conducted several smaller layoffs this year, including more than 6,000 in May and at least 300 in June. A performance-related cut was made in January affecting under 1% of staff.

This wave of layoffs follows a broader trend in the software industry, with companies like Autodesk, Chegg, CrowdStrike, and others trimming staff throughout 2025. Earlier on Wednesday, payroll firm ADP reported the U.S. private sector shed 33,000 jobs in June, underscoring continued uncertainty across business sectors.

Microsoft’s largest layoff in history came in 2014, when it cut 18,000 jobs following its acquisition of Nokia’s devices and services unit.