Overview
- On July 3, Microsoft announced another round of 9,000 global layoffs affecting under four percent of its workforce across divisions including gaming.
- Federal data shows 4,712 H-1B visa applications filed for fiscal year 2025 alongside more than 6,300 petitions for software engineering roles in Washington state.
- Reports indicate 82 percent of Microsoft’s 14,181 foreign labor requests this year propose wages below local market rates and are routed through outsourcing firm Integreon.
- Lawmakers and regulators have raised concerns over possible misuse of the H-1B program to replace U.S. workers and are considering investigations into wage levels and hiring practices.
- The company maintains that the layoffs will streamline operations for future growth while it invests $3 billion in its India business and plans to train ten million people in AI skills.