Microsoft to lay off nearly 4 percent of its workforce

Microsoft said in a statement that even in the best of times, workforce adjustments are made regularly to align with strategic needs.

In the statement, it was noted that management layers will be reduced in order to become more agile, and unnecessary repetitions will be minimized by simplifying processes, products and roles to increase efficiency.

The statement said that these changes are expected to affect less than 4 percent of the company's total workforce, while the US press reported that the layoffs cover approximately 9,000 employees.

"We continue to implement the organizational changes necessary to best position the company and teams for success in a dynamic market," a Microsoft spokesperson said.