Microsoft announces job cuts, plans to axe 1% of underperforming workforce in 2025: Report

Microsoft has begun the year with small-scale layoffs across various departments, citing performance as the primary criterion. A spokesperson for the company told CNBC, “At Microsoft, we focus on high-performance talent. We are always working on helping people learn and grow. When people are not performing, we take appropriate action.”The job cuts, affecting less than 1% of its 228,000 employees, are part of a broad effort to enhance performance management. Business Insider reported that these layoffs also include employees in the security division. According to sources, managers have spent months evaluating staff performance across all levels, including senior positions.

While the company is letting go of underperforming employees, many of the vacated positions may be refilled, ensuring that the overall workforce size remains relatively stable.

This is not Microsoft’s first round of layoffs in recent years. In 2023, the company cut approximately 10,000 jobs, representing about 5% of its workforce. That year, its Xbox gaming division also saw minor job reductions.

In 2024, following the $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft dismissed nearly 2,000 employees from its gaming division to eliminate redundancies. Further layoffs during the summer affected its Azure cloud computing unit, initially targeting 1,500 roles, with approximately 1,000 employees ultimately laid off.

The broader tech industry has experienced significant downsizing since 2023, with companies like Google and Microsoft prioritising efficiency and performance amid economic pressures. Although it’s early in 2025, analysts expect such workforce reductions to continue as companies refine their strategies.

AI Skilling Programme for Rural India

Amidst the restructuring, Microsoft is making significant investments in artificial intelligence skill development. During a visit to New Delhi as part of the Microsoft AI Tour, Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announced a collaborative initiative with India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).The programme aims to train 500,000 individuals in rural India in artificial intelligence skills. “There’s tremendous progress in AI skilling in India,” Nadella stated, emphasising the country’s vital role in the global AI landscape. This initiative is designed to empower underserved communities by equipping them with cutting-edge technological expertise.

Microsoft’s Strategic Outlook

Despite workforce adjustments, Microsoft remains focused on growth opportunities in artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The company’s partnership with OpenAI, in which it has invested over $13 billion, underscores its ambition in the AI sector. While tensions with OpenAI have emerged, Microsoft’s AI-driven products, such as the Microsoft 365 Copilot assistant, continue to develop and gain traction.

In October 2024, Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood indicated that revenue growth from Microsoft Azure, supported by AI infrastructure, is expected to accelerate in early 2025. These initiatives signal the company’s dual focus on operational efficiency and innovation.