Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to approximately 60,000 employees, representing roughly one-quarter of its global workforce, as the company accelerates spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. The buyout program, announced on Monday, is available to eligible workers in Canada, India, the United Kingdom and the United States, with only employees at the vice president level or below able to participate. Microsoft said the offer gives workers considering leaving the company a chance to make that transition with financial support and career-planning resources.
The move reflects Microsoft's massive financial commitment to AI technology. Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood said in July that Microsoft expects to spend $175 billion on AI infrastructure, including data center investments, in 2026 alone. The buyout offer is designed to reduce labor costs while the company channels resources toward these infrastructure projects.
This is the second voluntary exit program Microsoft has offered its workforce this year. In May, the company offered buyouts to approximately 8,750 people, representing 7% of its U.S. workforce. The company also cut 4,800 jobs in July, about 2% of its global workforce, including many workers in its Xbox video game division. Microsoft employed 223,000 people globally at the end of June, down from 228,000 at the end of 2025, according to regulatory filings.
Amy Coleman, Microsoft's chief people officer, announced the program in a memo to employees, saying it provides eligible workers with a new option for making their transition. The offer is available for a limited time only. Some business units have been excluded from the buyout offer, including employees focused on data centers and those working in sales and marketing, according to company statements. Eligible employees will receive notification about the offer by email on Monday.