Microsoft has eliminated approximately 15,000 roles since May. The company’s CEO said layoffs are the “enigma of success.”

The cuts at Microsoft reflect an overall trend across the tech industry, with over 80,000 positions eliminated in 2025, according to one count.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s memo strikes a delicate balance, acknowledging the human cost of change while steering Microsoft toward an AI-driven future that promises growth, but not without sacrifice.