Microsoft Voluntary Exit Packages: 60,000 Staff Eligible

Quick Answer: Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, roughly a quarter of its workforce, as it cuts costs while spending heavily on AI. The offer targets select teams at vice president level and below, and it is the company’s second buyout this year. Microsoft is not listed on Bursa Malaysia, but the move shows how AI spending is reshaping big-tech headcount.

Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, the company said on Monday. The Microsoft voluntary exit packages come as the tech giant seeks to cut costs while pouring money into artificial intelligence.

For Bursa Malaysia investors, the news is a global signal rather than a local listing. Microsoft does not trade on the exchange.

What Are the Microsoft Voluntary Exit Packages?

Microsoft voluntary exit packages offered to 60,000 staff — Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees.

Who is eligible? Staff on select teams in the United States, Canada, India and Britain at vice president level and below qualify. Some groups are excluded, including some working on data centres, sales and marketing.

Around 27% of the workforce is eligible for the new buyout offer. Amy Coleman, executive vice president and chief people officer, told employees in a memo that “the Voluntary Exit Offer reflects an important part of how we’re evolving our approach to change.”

How Did Microsoft’s April Early Retirement Offer Perform?

In April, Microsoft reportedly offered around 7% of its US workforce the option to retire early. About 30% of those eligible took the plan, according to CNBC.

The current offer reaches a far wider pool, about 27% of staff. It is the second voluntary buyout Microsoft has offered employees this year.

Why Is Microsoft’s Headcount Shrinking?

223,000 employees globally at the end of June
228,000 employees at the end of 2025
Nearly 5,000 jobs cut in July, heavily targeting the Xbox gaming division

The headcount figures come from regulatory filings. The July cuts came before the new offer, which shows the reduction is continuing.

How Much Is Microsoft Spending on AI in 2026?

Microsoft spent US$41 billion between April and June. It expected to increase spending to US$50 billion between July and September.

The company cut its forecast for total calendar 2026 spending to US$175 billion, down from US$190 billion. CFO Amy Hood said around two-thirds of spending goes towards “short-lived assets,” specifically chips, due to customer demand for “both AI and non-AI infrastructure.”

Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet and Meta are collectively on track to pour roughly US$700 billion (RM2.86 trillion) into AI data centres, chips and computing infrastructure this year.

Why Did Meta Cut 8,000 Jobs While Amazon Cut 16,000?

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has warned of mass job losses from AI. Several tech employers have already cut staff this year.

Meta: cut around 10% of its global workforce, about 8,000 employees, in May. In April it cancelled plans to hire 6,000 people and moved 7,000 staff into AI workflow roles.
Amazon: announced 16,000 global job cuts in January.
Uber: said in September it would lay off around 10% of staff, an estimated 3,000 or more.
Netflix: will reportedly cut around 6% of its workforce, or 1,000 jobs.
eBay: laid off 1,000 employees earlier this month, after 800 jobs earlier this year.

Is Microsoft Stock Listed on Bursa Malaysia?

No. Microsoft is listed in the United States, so Malaysian investors need overseas market access to hold its shares. Readers comparing options can start with Trading Account Types in Malaysia.

Microsoft is expected to report quarterly earnings later this week. Investors may want to watch how many staff take the buyout and whether the 2026 spending forecast changes.

Key Takeaways

Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 staff, roughly 27% of its workforce.
Headcount fell to 223,000 at the end of June, from 228,000 at the end of 2025.
The 2026 calendar spending forecast was cut to US$175 billion from US$190 billion.
Quarterly earnings are expected later this week, a key checkpoint for the buyout and AI spending plans.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not financial advice. Microsoft is not listed on Bursa Malaysia. Always do your own research before making any investment decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Microsoft listed on Bursa Malaysia?

No, Microsoft is not listed on Bursa Malaysia. Malaysian investors who want exposure to its shares need overseas market access through a broker.

How many Microsoft employees are eligible for the voluntary exit offer?

Around 27% of Microsoft’s workforce is eligible, which is about 60,000 employees. Eligibility is limited to select teams at vice president level and below in the US, Canada, India and Britain.

How much is Microsoft spending on AI in 2026?

Microsoft cut its calendar 2026 spending forecast to US$175 billion, down from US$190 billion. About two-thirds of that spending goes to short-lived assets, mainly chips.

What happened in Microsoft’s April early retirement offer?

Microsoft offered around 7% of its US workforce the option to retire early in April. About 30% of those eligible took the plan, according to CNBC.

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