Microsoft is offering voluntary exit packages to about 60,000 employees—more than a quarter of its global workforce—as it looks to restrain costs while expanding its artificial intelligence infrastructure. The programme comes alongside projected capital expenditure of $175 billion for calendar year 2026.
Who can apply for an exit package
Announced on Monday, the programme is open to eligible employees at level 70 and below within participating teams in Canada, India, the United Kingdom and the United States. The offers cover several major parts of the business, according to a person familiar with the initiative.
- AI Experiences
- Copilot
- Finance
- Human resources
- Xbox
- Windows + Devices
Marketing, commercial business and security are not included, the person said. Microsoft described the initiative as time-limited and said eligible staff would receive more information.
In an internal memo, Chief People Officer Amy Coleman said the packages would give financial assistance to employees looking to pursue opportunities elsewhere. She also said the initiative would help participating divisions adapt staffing to their changing business needs.
AI investment puts spending in focus
Microsoft continues to direct substantial investment towards AI data centres and advanced computing chips. The scale of that spending has prompted investor questions about the returns the company will generate from its growing capital commitments.
The company is due to release its first-quarter financial results after markets close on Wednesday. Its shares rose about 1% on Monday following the buyout announcement, bringing their gain this year to approximately 10%.
Another step in workforce restructuring
The new offers follow an earlier voluntary buyout initiative covering roughly 9,000 employees, equivalent to about 7% of Microsoft's US workforce. Microsoft said the latest programme draws on experience from a previous voluntary retirement scheme.
In July, the company also announced plans to cut 4,800 jobs, or approximately 2.1% of its worldwide workforce, through a restructuring of its Xbox gaming operations. That plan included divesting up to five studios.
Microsoft's annual filing put its global full-time workforce at approximately 223,000 as of June 30, 2026. The latest offer makes about 60,000 employees eligible to apply for a voluntary departure; it is not an announced total of completed exits.
