Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has confirmed that hundreds of staff will be laid off as the tech giant continues to focus on higher growth areas.
Some 276 staff will face job losses in Washington, Microsoft said, though the company is yet to confirm the full extent of the cuts and areas affected.
“Organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing our business,” Microsoft said in a statement. “We will continue to prioritize and invest in strategic growth areas for our future and in support of our customers and partners.”
Microsoft boss Satya Nadella had announced 10,000 roles would be cut in January, as the wider technology sector reeled in the face of increasing economic uncertainty.
Since these cuts were anticipated to be finalised by March, the latest cuts mark a fresh bid from Microsoft to reduce numbers.
Growing online activity during the pandemic had led to higher spending by tech companies, with growing uncertainty since last year leading firms to retrench.
According to tracking website Layoffs.fyi, over 200,000 tech sector employees have lost jobs so far this year, with 165,000 having been cut in 2022.
Though Microsoft is yet to lay out the full extent of its latest cuts, staff in sales and customer roles have already taken to social media to announce job losses.