Microsoft planning to slash thousands of jobs worldwide - report

Software giant Microsoft are preparing to cut tens of thousands of jobs, according to reports.

Microsoft which employs 6,000 people in the UK is believed to be contemplating cutting roughly 5 per cent of its workforce, approximately 11,000 jobs worldwide.

A Wall Street source told Sky News that they would be surprised if the job cuts don’t go deeper.

It remains unclear if UK jobs are at risk from the proposed changes.

The reported layoffs would be the latest in the US technology sector, where companies like Amazon and Google have announced retrenchment exercise in response to slowing demand and a deteriorating economy.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It comes as Microsoft is likely to receive an EU antitrust warning about its $69 billion bid for “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard, people familiar with the matter said, that could pose another challenge to completing the deal.

The European Commission is readying a charge sheet known as a statement of objections setting out its concerns about the deal which will be sent to Microsoft in the coming weeks, the people said.

The EU antitrust watchdog, which has set an April 11 deadline for its decision on the deal, declined to comment.

Microsoft said: “We’re continuing to work with the European Commission to address any marketplace concerns. Our goal is to bring more games to more people, and this deal will further that goal.”