Microsoft continues down the warpath, making cuts both big and small across its organization for the fifth month in a row. The Microsoft layoffs this time are minor, with only around 42 jobs being axed in Redmond. The link between the Microsoft job cuts and the company’s AI investments is clear to see, but the evidence doesn’t soften the blow for employees. Microsoft layoffs, for the fifth month in a row, add to the consistent anxiety that employees are operating under, fearful of what’s to come next.

While downsizing announcements are never easy on employees, the prolonged cuts at the company are particularly harsh, leaving workers to stew in their workplace survivor’s guilt and wonder when the company will come for their roles next.

Microsoft Layoffs Announced for the Fifth Month in a Row

New reports from the Seattle Times confirmed that Microsoft was entering its fifth consecutive month of layoffs, albeit on a smaller scale this time around. The Microsoft Redmond job cuts add up to around 42 workers, but this brings the number of cuts among Washington-based employees to over 3,200, and the total number of employees affected by layoffs since May 2025 to over 15,000.

Microsoft’s job cuts in May and July measured 6,000 and 9,000, respectively. The number of cuts mentioned in filings for June and August was far smaller, but the impact on employees has been consistently harsh. The Redmond job cuts at Microsoft appear targeted at fields like product management, engineering, and legal teams, so they are sufficiently spread out and indicate a desire for additional efficiency. However, the news isn’t any easier on employees.

“Organizational and workforce changes are a necessary and regular part of managing our business,” a spokesperson for the business previously stated. “We will continue to prioritize and invest in strategic growth areas for our future and in support of our customers and partners.”

Why Are Microsoft’s Ongoing Layoffs So Noteworthy?

From LinkedIn to Xbox, each segment of the company’s business has been affected by layoffs in 2025. Microsoft’s job cuts have been linked to its AI ambitions, with an investment of $80 billion announced for 2025.

The company has doubled down on how central AI is to its operations, even asking employees to utilize the tool sufficiently if they hope to get an A-plus on their performance reviews. The company’s investments in AI are unsurprising considering how central this tech has become for the industry, but the scale of Microsoft’s layoffs has been particularly noteworthy.

It also bears mentioning that the drive for efficiency and growth does not appear to stem from a place of combating business struggles. Fiscally, the company is thriving. Microsoft reported its quarterly revenue results for the last part of its 2025 fiscal year in June, and they were certainly impressive. With $76.4 billion in revenue and $27.2 billion in profit, the company’s financial performance has been nothing short of impressive, making the cuts all the more telling for employees.

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