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Microsoft cuts 18,000 jobs – or everyone at Facebook, Twitter, Netflix and LinkedIn

Satya Nadella

Microsoft is slashing 18,000 jobs, let's put that number into perspective

Microsoft has announced massive job cuts, with around 18,000 people facing the axe. The larger than expected cuts amount to 14 per cent of its total workforce, with Microsoft slashing jobs after its acquisition of Nokia’s phone business. Microsoft wants to become a “leaner” company with CEO Satya Nadella claiming it is essential to be “more agile and move faster”. In an email to emloyees he said that having “synthesized our strategic direction” it was now important to slash thousands of jobs.

Following its acquisition of Nokia earlier this year Microsoft’s headcount totalled 127,000, with analysts seeing the company as bloated with middle management but the cuts were still more than double what was expected.

But how many people is 18,000? Let’s put it into perspective.

Enough people to fill 206 London double decker busses or 207 shiny new Routemasters

London Routemaster Bus

A capacity crowd at Loftus Road, home of the mighty Queens Park Rangers

Loftus Road, QPR

The entire population of the Hertfordshire town of Ware, birthplace of Foggy from Last of the Summer Wine

Ware, Hertfordshire

Half the population of the nation of Liechtenstein, a double landlocked micro-state in the middle of Europe

Schlossvaduz

Everyone that works at Twitter, Facebook, Netflix, LinkedIn AND Opera Software

Mark Zuckerberg

Go Microsoft!

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