Microsoft Reportedly Pauses Fresh Hiring For Azure Cloud Segment Amid Broader Tech Layoffs Trend

Windows OS maker Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) has reportedly paused hiring in major divisions including its Azure cloud.  

The Information reported on Thursday, citing employees familiar with the matter, that company executives told managers to suspend new hiring in its North American sales groups as well.

The divisions that suspended hiring reportedly have tens of thousands of employees and managers have been instructed to halt the hiring of any new candidates who have not already been given a job offer, as per the report.

The company cited the need to restrain costs and improve margins for the decision, the report said, while also noting that it is routine for the company to slow hiring towards the end of its fiscal year in June.

The news comes on the heels of layoffs across the tech industry in order to offset large investments in artificial intelligence. 

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