Microsoft Halts Hiring in U.S. Consulting Unit Amid Cost-Cutting Efforts

Microsoft has decided to pause hiring within its U.S. consulting unit as part of a broader effort to reduce costs, according to a report by CNBC on Tuesday. The move is intended to help the tech giant manage its expenses while continuing to prioritize investments in artificial intelligence (AI).

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced plans to invest $80 billion in fiscal year 2025, primarily focused on developing data centers for training AI models and deploying AI and cloud-based applications. To support these efforts, Microsoft has implemented a series of cost-saving measures within its consulting division. This includes halting new hires and refraining from filling open roles. Derek Danois, a consulting executive at Microsoft, informed employees of the decision in an internal memo.

In addition to the hiring freeze, the memo emphasized strict cost management, instructing employees to refrain from expensing travel for internal meetings, encouraging the use of remote sessions instead. The consulting division, part of Microsoft’s broader Customer and Partner Solutions organization, is also reducing marketing and non-billable external resource spending by 35%.