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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedOctober 26, 2026Miami-Dade County

Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees amid heavy AI spending

Photo: WPLG Local 10 – Main Feed

Microsoft is offering voluntary exit packages to approximately 60,000 eligible employees across Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The workforce reduction effort coincides with massive corporate spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers.

Artificial IntelligenceEmploymentCorporate FinanceTechnology
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Why It Matters

About 27% of Microsoft's global workforce is eligible to participate in the voluntary buyout program, which comes as heavy industry spending on AI infrastructure pushes up costs for computer hardware and electricity.

Key Facts

  • Microsoft offered voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees, representing about 27% of its global workforce.
  • The voluntary exit offer is available to eligible employees in Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
  • Chief People Officer Amy Coleman announced the buyout offer in a blog post on Monday.
  • Microsoft had approximately 223,000 full-time employees at the end of June.
  • Shares of Microsoft Corp. hit an all-time high and rose about 1% on Monday.
  • In May, Microsoft planned to offer buyouts to about 8,750 people, or 7% of its U.S. workforce.
  • In July, the company cut 4,800 jobs, or about 2.1% of its global workforce, including workers at its Xbox video game business.
  • Global investment in data centers to power artificial intelligence is likely to top $700 billion this year.
  • Increased AI infrastructure spending has driven up prices for memory chips, computer processors, other equipment, and electricity.
  • Microsoft introduced an AI assistant called Copilot and an AI character named Mico in October 2025.

Who's Mentioned

locationUnited States“Country where eligible employees can receive the voluntary exit offer.”locationIndia“Country where eligible employees can receive the voluntary exit offer.”locationCanada“Country where eligible employees can receive the voluntary exit offer.”OrganizationXbox“Video game business division at Microsoft that experienced job cuts.”otherMico“Artificial intelligence character introduced by Microsoft.”locationUnited Kingdom“Country where eligible employees can receive the voluntary exit offer.”otherCopilot“Microsoft's AI assistant.”PersonAmy Coleman“Chief People Officer at Microsoft who wrote the blog post detailing the buyout o”locationRedmond“City in Washington where Microsoft is based.”locationWashington“State where Microsoft is headquartered.”OrganizationMicrosoft“Software giant offering voluntary buyouts to employees.”