Microsoft offers buyouts to 60,000 employees amid AI spending surge

Microsoft is extending voluntary buyout offers to approximately 60,000 employees, a move that affects roughly one-quarter of its global workforce. The program allows eligible staff in the United States, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom to leave the company with financial support and career resources. Only workers at the vice president level or below qualify for the offer.

The company announced the initiative on Monday. Amy Coleman, Microsoft's chief people officer, stated in a memo to employees that the offer provides a supported path for those considering a future outside the organization. Eligible workers received notification via email on the same day.

This exit program accompanies a major increase in capital expenditure. Microsoft expects to spend $175 billion on artificial intelligence infrastructure in 2026, a figure that includes data center investments. Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood disclosed this spending plan during a July earnings call with Wall Street analysts.

The current buyout is the second such offer made this year. In May, reports indicated the company planned to offer buyouts to about 8,750 U.S. employees, or 7% of its domestic workforce. Later, in July, Microsoft cut 4,800 jobs, representing about 2% of its global headcount.

Headcount figures from regulatory filings show the company had 223,000 employees at the end of June. This number is down from 228,000 at the end of 2025. According to Agence France-Presse, about 27% of the current workforce is eligible for the new offer.

The program is designed for mid-level workers during a limited period. It aims to provide financial padding for departing staff while reducing labor costs for the company. However, not all mid-level employees are included. Workers in data center operations, sales, and marketing are ineligible, according to a company spokesperson cited by Bloomberg.