Jim Cramer sends a blunt message on Microsoft layoffs

2025 has been a tumultuous ride so far, to say the least.

First there's the big news of President Trump's tariffs and their ever-changing status, which has been on most people's minds ever since they were formally announced on April 2.

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Tariffs have sent the business world into an uproar as some of the world's biggest companies struggle to pivot the way they function in order to avoid the brunt of the new levies.

Because of the unpredictable climate, businesses are hesitant to plan ahead, with many altering their guidance for the year. In the meanwhile, consumers are already spending less and pulling back, also unsure how to behave.

On top of all this chaos, big companies continue to make staff cuts. Disney announced its fourth round of layoffs in less than a year on June 2 as a part of CEO Bob Iger's 2023 goal to cut Disney's costs by $7.5 billion.

Amazon also laid off roughly 100 employees from its smart devices division in May. The retailer has also been on a cost cutting spree, cutting 27,000 jobs since the start of 2022.

Microsoft made a layoffs announcement this week as well, saying it would cut its workforce worldwide by 3% in a restructuring move. The tech company employees roughly 228,000 people, which translates to about 6,500 jobs lost.

The tech workforce is once again reeling at this news, but CNBC's Jim Cramer had something to say about it that comes off as fairly callous given the circumstances.

Jim Cramer has strong opinions about Microsoft.

Image sources: Getty Images

Jim Cramer weighs in on Microsoft

After the news about the Microsoft layoffs hit, Cramer took to X to share his take on the whole situation.

“Story this morning about Microsoft and layoffs,” Cramer tweeted. “I think these are people who are not needed in the new generative ai world.”

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Cramer touches on a nerve here, as the news has carried repeated warnings of 50% of white collar workers losing their jobs as AI takes over.

That said, Microsoft has been heavily investing in AI. In January, the company announced that it would pour $80 billion into data centers to handle its AI workloads.

In early January, Microsoft announced it was aiming to spend more than $80 billion this fiscal year on data centers that were capable of handling artificial intelligence workloads.

In the comments of Cramer's post, his followers were quick to return his serve with similar sentiments.

“I'm waiting for AI to replace Jim,” wrote X user InspotsPark.

“'People who are not needed' Imagine hearing that from a tv personality who makes millions a year for being wrong,” X user DairyQu64778493 said.

Rather than criticize Cramer, some commenters focused on the topic at hand: AI.

“AI is planting the seeds of its own demise,” X user Financial Guru replied, retweeting a prior post from his own account that reads, “If AI automates all jobs, demand could collapse as unemployment strips people of income, potentially crashing companies reliant on consumer spending.”

X user Secret Diary shared a longer response with many thought-provoking points.

“Layoffs dressed as “AI progress” are not innovation — they’re attrition masked as evolution. What @jimcramer calls “not needed” are real people with real skills now cast aside because machines are cheaper and corporate margins matter more than human dignity,” it reads.

“The rise of generative AI isn’t just a tech shift — it’s a restructuring of power. Fewer people. More control. A future where creativity is outsourced, autonomy is automated, and those who built yesterday’s world are told they have no place in tomorrow’s. Let’s not confuse downsizing with advancement. Let’s not pretend these layoffs are about optimization — they’re about obsolescence by design. The question isn’t whether AI will take jobs. It’s who decides who gets replaced, who profits, and who’s left behind — and what kind of society we become when efficiency outranks empathy.”