Microsoft’s headcount remained approximately steady at 228,000 employees during the past year, reflecting minor changes rather than significant shifts. The composition of roles within the company, however, underwent notable transformation, influenced by ongoing workforce dynamics and organizational goals. As of June 30, the global employee count had decreased slightly from the previous year by about 1,000 roles, dropping to 80,000. This decline occurred in the product research and development and general administration roles, while employment in the operations and support roles increased by 3,000, bringing the total to 89,000. Sales and marketing roles, however, experienced a noticeable drop as well—employee numbers fell by 1,000, reducing the workforce to 44,000, while general and administration roles declined by 1,000, reaching 15,000. In addition to these significant changes, the company announced that 1,000 employees would leave in May, resulting in a total reduction of approximately 6,000 workers. This move follows earlier announcements in July, during which roughly 9,000 workers were affected. The layoffs occurred as Microsoft continued to navigate its 2025 fiscal year with record profits and strategic investments in AI and supply chain efficiency. The company has since indicated that it has maintained a flat year-over-year increase in employment, though the specific numbers are still scheduled to be disclosed. Microsoft’s CEO has recently disclosed detailed figures in a memo titled “The Enigma of Layoffs in Microsoft’s History,” where they addressed the situation in greater depth.
