As we'd reported in the past Microsoft have started cutting its workforce. Till now the count has touched 800, and is on its way to touch 5,000 in near future. Though we're against large scale layoffs, Microsoft believes the layoffs were necessary in order to "increase efficiency and prioritize focus areas."

The firm said, “Earlier this year, we announced that in order to reduce costs, increase efficiency and prioritize our focus areas, we would eliminate approximately 5,000 positions by June 2010. Today, we are eliminating around 800 positions spread across multiple businesses and locations and have completed our reduction plan sooner than we had anticipated 11 months ago. At the same time, we continue to hire in priority areas, but also understand that continuing to manage our businesses closely, as we always do, can mean additional headcount adjustments.”

[via Tom's Hardware]