June 30 (Reuters) - Microsoft ( MSFT ) is planning to cut

under 2.5% of its workforce in the latest round of layoffs that

could be announced as early as next week, Business Insider

reported on Tuesday, citing sources.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

U.S. companies have continued to trim headcount in recent

months, with a fresh wave of layoffs across the technology,

media and finance sectors as firms rein in costs, while

investing heavily in AI infrastructure.

Here are a few details:

* The layoffs will impact thousands of roles, including

sales and consulting, as well as jobs at the Xbox gaming

division, the Business Insider report said.

* Microsoft ( MSFT ) declined to comment on the report.

* Microsoft ( MSFT ) had roughly 228,000 full-time employees as of

June 30, 2025, according to an SEC filing last year.

* Xbox, which raised prices of its gaming consoles

worldwide, citing a deepening global components crisis, is

planning major layoffs and significant cuts to marketing and

other budgets, Bloomberg News reported earlier this month.

* The Windows maker is also considering options for its Xbox

gaming unit, including a potential spinoff or restructuring as a

wholly owned subsidiary, The Information reported earlier in

June.

* In July 2025, the company said it would lay off nearly 4%

of its workforce, in one of its largest layoffs in recent years.

* Across the technology sector, Meta announced

plans this year to cut 10% of its workforce, and Amazon ( AMZN )

laid out plans to eliminate roughly 16,000 jobs globally.