Microsoft Offers Buyouts to 60,000 Employees — a Quarter of Its Workforce — as AI Spending Hits $190B
nordicinst · x · 2026-10-27
Per the New York Times, Microsoft has offered voluntary, time-limited buyout packages to roughly 60,000 employees — about a quarter of its workforce — as it reins in costs to fund its AI push.
- This expands on the company's first-ever buyout in April, when 8,600 long-tenured US employees were offered early retirement and about 30% accepted, leaving over the summer.
- Microsoft expects only a sliver to accept; industry buyout acceptance rates typically run 3–5%.
- Chief People Officer Amy Coleman framed the program as giving employees more control over their future while meeting different business needs.
- Microsoft has told investors to expect roughly $190 billion in 2026 capital expenditures, mostly on data centers and chips — joining Big Tech peers in trimming headcount to bankroll the AI race.
Related event: Microsoft Offers Voluntary Buyout to Up to 60,000 Employees Amid AI Push(33 posts)→
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