Microsoft has confirmed that it has no plans to layoff employees in its India operations, despite global reports of small-scale job cuts within the company. Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia, stated that the company is actively creating more jobs in India, emphasizing its engagement in numerous projects across the region.
Globally, Microsoft is reportedly reducing less than 1% of its workforce, citing performance-based considerations. With a total workforce of 2,28,000 employees worldwide, approximately 20,000 are based in India. The current downsizing is minimal compared to past layoff, such as the elimination of 10,000 roles in early 2023 and 1,900 jobs from its gaming unit in January 2024 following the $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Reports of layoff coincided with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s recent visit to India, during which he announced a $3 billion investment in cloud and AI infrastructure over the next two years. Nadella highlighted India’s leadership in AI innovation and the potential for AI to drive productivity and accessibility across industries. Microsoft is partnering with the Indian government, as well as companies like RailTel, Apollo Hospitals, Bajaj Finserv, Mahindra Group, and upGrad, to accelerate AI advancements under the IndiaAI Mission.
Puneet Chandok reiterated Microsoft’s commitment to using AI to unlock new opportunities and ensure access to the resources communities need to thrive in the AI era.
Despite this challenging global landscape, Microsoft’s steadfast focus on India as a growth market and its substantial investments in AI and cloud infrastructure signal a commitment to innovation, job creation, and long-term growth in the region.
Globally, the tech sector has faced significant layoffs in 2024, with major players like Meta, Amazon, Alphabet, Accenture, and Dell cutting thousands of jobs due to economic pressures and declining demand. These cost-cutting measures have raised concerns about job security across the industry.
