Microsoft to cut 18,000 jobs over next year

Microsoft Corp. is planning to cut up to 18,000 jobs over the next year, or 14 per cent of its workforce, the company announced on Thursday.

It’s not yet clear if Canadian jobs are affected, but many of the layoffs are expected to come from the Nokia and Xbox units.

Microsoft is looking to cut costs with an aim to simplify.

The company said that of the up to 18,000 cuts, 12,500 of them will be professional and factory jobs.

With the Nokia deal, the Microsoft’s workforce rose from about 99,000 last year to 127,000 as of June.

The company anticipates charges of $1.1 billion to $1.6 billion over the next four quarters, which includes $750 million to $800 million for severance and related benefit costs.

Microsoft’s stock rose slightly in Thursday premarket trading in New York.

With files from The Associated Press

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