Ireland to escape brunt of Microsoft job cuts

5 Nov 2009

The impact of Microsoft’s 800 additional job cuts will be minimal in Ireland, a spokeswoman has said. Some 32 jobs will be affected but at the same time 27 new jobs are being created in Dublin.

Last night, it emerged that the world’s largest software company is planning to reduce its international workforce by 800 to complete the 5,000 job cuts it announced in January.

A spokeswoman for Microsoft said the company’s 1,200-strong permanent Irish workforce will see 32 positions eliminated in the Irish operations.

Redeployment

“However, most of these are going to be redeployed elsewhere in the Microsoft organisation. The local operations are also currently recruiting for 27 new positions.”

The spokeswoman said that the 32 affected workers will have the opportunity to apply for some of the 27 roles.

“It will depend on the roles. The vast majority of the people affected will have the opportunity to redeploy elsewhere in Microsoft and the company will be making additional hires.”

Asked in what part of Microsoft the cuts will fall, the spokesperson said the roles are spread right across the Microsoft business.

Global reorganisation

“The net impact of job cuts will be minimal in Ireland and will be distributed across the business. This is part of a global reorganisation and will have no impact on (the Microsoft offices in) Sandyford.”

In January, Ireland got off lightly with just 20 job cuts, but by May it was revealed it was cutting 60 positions but creating 40 new jobs at the same time.

In September, Microsoft opened its new US$500-million data centre in west Dublin, which will host many of its cloud-based Azure applications.

Microsoft’s European Development Centre played an integral role in the building of the software giant’s latest operating system, Windows 7, and was responsible for 1 million copies reaching 25,000 stores in 42 countries.

By John Kennedy

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com