Microsoft Is Struggling to Retain Women, Minority Employees
Female, Black and Latinx personnel are leaving at an increasing rate, undermining efforts to build a more diverse workforce.
Diversity is increasingly important for Microsoft, which is keen to ensure that its new artificial intelligence products are free from racial, gender and other biases.
Photographer: David Ryder/BloombergMicrosoft Corp.’s female, Black and Latinx employees are leaving at an increasing rate, a trend that’s complicating the company’s efforts to build a more diverse workforce.
Globally, women accounted for 32.7% of departures for the fiscal year that ended June 30, up from 31% in 2023, according to Microsoft’s diversity and inclusion report, which was released Wednesday and measures voluntary and involuntary departures. Black workers accounted for 10% of US exits, compared with 8.7% the previous year, while Latinx departures rose to 9.8% from 8%. By contrast, fewer male and Asian employees left last year than in 2023.