Microsoft Lays Off 9,000 in Ongoing Restructuring

Microsoft has announced a new round of layoffs, cutting approximately 9,000 jobs—just under 4% of its global workforce—as part of restructuring to increase agility and focus on artificial intelligence. The reductions impact various divisions, including significant cuts at Xbox and King, the studio behind Candy Crush. These layoffs, not attributed to poor performance, follow a previous round in May, bringing total job cuts to over 15,000 since January 2025. Microsoft continues to invest heavily in AI, planning $80 billion in AI infrastructure this year. The company remains financially strong, with an 18% rise in quarterly profit and a stock price near all-time highs. The layoffs reflect a broader industry trend as other major tech companies like Amazon and Meta also restructure for AI-driven market shifts.