Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Paolo Bona via Shutterstock

Microsoft to cut thousands of jobs - but impact on Irish staff 'will be minimal'

The tech giant announced a major investment in its Irish operation earlier this year.

TECH GIANT MICROSOFT is planning to cut jobs worldwide – with one US outlet reporting as many as 3,000 jobs are to go at the company.

However, sources here have told TheJournal.ie that the effect on Irish jobs will be minimal.

Earlier this year Microsoft announced that it is to create 600 jobs as part of a major investment in Ireland bringing its Dublin-based workforce up to 1,800.

Microsoft said yesterday it would cut an unspecified number of jobs amid reports that US tech giant was reorganising its global sales operations.

“Today, we are taking steps to notify some employees that their jobs are under consideration or that their positions will be eliminated,” Microsoft told AFP. 

Earlier, CNBC television said the company would be cutting some 3,000 positions, mostly from its non-US sales staff.

A Microsoft spokesperson would not respond to queries on how many jobs would be affected here. However, TheJournal.ie understands that the impact on Irish-based staff will be minimal.

The layoffs come as the US software giant refocuses its sales force on making Microsoft a pivotal part of businesses relying on cloud computing.

“Like all companies, we evaluate our business on a regular basis. This can result in increased investment in some places and, from time-to-time, re-deployment in other,” the company said in a statement.

Microsoft had more than 121,000 employees worldwide at the end of March, according to its website.

Additional staff in Ireland

Microsoft announced in February that it is to create 600 jobs as part of its investment here. The company immediately started hiring 500 people at its newly established EMEA Inside Sales Centre in Dublin.

The further 100 jobs were scheduled to be added to existing finance, operations, engineering and sales departments. These figures would bring the number of Microsoft staff in Dublin up to 1,800.

Microsoft Ireland is also set to move into a new campus in Leopardstown before the end of the year, in a €134 million investment in the company.

Tech overhaul

Global Equities research analyst Trip Chowdhry said layoffs such as those taking place at Microsoft as symptoms of a technology industry undergoing a “major overhaul” caused by a shift to computing and online services being hosted in the internet cloud.

“At companies transitioning from the old world to the new world you will see layoffs accelerate; it’s a slow and gradual and painful experience for them.”

Microsoft has been shifting to a cloud-based model under Nadella, as the industry moves away from packaged software that once was the core of its business.

The tech company said revenue from its “Intelligent Cloud” rose 11% from a year earlier to $6.8 billion.

It is to release its earnings for the recently ended quarter on 20 July.

Microsoft cut 7,800 jobs in 2015, and 4,700 last year.

- With reporting by AFP

Read: Looking for a new job? Microsoft says it is hiring 600 people in Ireland

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
12 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Catherine Sims
    Favourite Catherine Sims
    Report
    Oct 13th 2013, 8:06 PM

    I only know its autumn as the younger daughter has changed into the onesie she lives in for the autumn winter months . It’s a bright blue onesie and she looks like a tall mutant smurf. I was desperate to send in her picture but she threatened to move back home permanently if I did so couldn’t take the chance . Bought as a joke for her a couple of years ago and I guess the joke is firmly on me as she lives in it the minute she gets home in the evenings lol

    83
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciaran O Connor
    Favourite Ciaran O Connor
    Report
    Oct 13th 2013, 8:07 PM

    Kicking leaves as you walk and the sound of crunching on the frost covered grass

    70
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Morticia
    Favourite Morticia
    Report
    Oct 13th 2013, 8:00 PM

    Lovely, lovely photies :-)

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Felicity finucane
    Favourite Felicity finucane
    Report
    Oct 13th 2013, 8:47 PM

    Beautiful pictures that make me feel lucky to live in such an amazingly picturesque country!

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute rotund jocularity
    Favourite rotund jocularity
    Report
    Oct 13th 2013, 8:16 PM

    I was fortunate enough to be driving through new hampshire towards maine a couple of years ago. Any bit of a hill on the highway gave you views of endless dappled forests. Genuinely amazing stuff. If you ever get the chance….

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Criminal
    Favourite Criminal
    Report
    Oct 13th 2013, 8:05 PM

    100 time better photos than the one in art galleries which they sellin for millions of dollars ….

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Susan Adams Stuart-Williams
    Favourite Susan Adams Stuart-Williams
    Report
    Oct 14th 2013, 8:04 AM

    These are so true to our everyday experiences.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thérèse
    Favourite Thérèse
    Report
    Oct 13th 2013, 10:28 PM

    Great photos. Nice to see something nice for a change!

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Lane
    Favourite Dermot Lane
    Report
    Oct 13th 2013, 10:57 PM

    I’m still trying to pretend it’s summer!

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Susan Adams Stuart-Williams
    Favourite Susan Adams Stuart-Williams
    Report
    Oct 14th 2013, 8:06 AM

    I find it sooo hard to start wearing jackets.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daffy the Bear
    Favourite Daffy the Bear
    Report
    Oct 14th 2013, 1:16 AM

    Shroom season! Yay!

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Susan Adams Stuart-Williams
    Favourite Susan Adams Stuart-Williams
    Report
    Oct 14th 2013, 8:07 AM

    I wish I could tell the edible ones cos we have some huge ones in the fields round us.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Happy Man
    Favourite Happy Man
    Report
    Oct 13th 2013, 9:57 PM

    It’s nearly winter.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tayto79
    Favourite tayto79
    Report
    Oct 14th 2013, 4:52 AM

    The mushrooms abive the pug loik very like liberty caps aka magic mushrooms. .

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rugby DadaiO
    Favourite Rugby DadaiO
    Report
    Oct 14th 2013, 4:36 AM

    My children have grown up but some of the pictures brought back memories of them playing in the leaves.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Byrne
    Favourite Anthony Byrne
    Report
    Oct 14th 2013, 11:26 AM

    That little pug is so cute. Glad he wasn’t starred in love hate. There would have been a public out-cry. … Oh wait …

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shit you not
    Favourite Shit you not
    Report
    Oct 14th 2013, 8:17 AM

    Mushies!!!!!!:):):):):):

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds