Jobs & Opportunity

Technology and software sectors support a knowledge economy which is very effective in creating high-value jobs and economic opportunity. Across the globe, IT innovation has had a dramatic effect on the long-term growth and prosperity of economies. IT innovation is also an important contributor to economic recovery, and addresses critical societal concerns, such as healthcare, education, and the environment.

Microsoft has a significant economic impact in the places we do business. Our business model relies on a network of partners that are tremendously valuable to their communities, and generate further innovation, growth and opportunity:

• In 2009 we directly employed 93,000 full-time staff, 56,000 in the United States and 37,000 internationally.
• We have nearly 700,000 local partners—most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises—which develop, market, retail, and service our products.
• Our local partners and the Microsoft ecosystem employ 14.9 million people, make approximately $537 billion of their own revenue, and invest $175 billion in their local economies¹.
• Revenues generated by Microsoft partners remain in local communities: for every dollar of revenue made by Microsoft, local partners make $8.70 for themselves and their local economies¹.
• We also support start-up software companies with free products, guidance and visibility among potential investors and clients through Microsoft BizSpark. We helped 23,000 start-ups in the first eleven months of the program, which are supported by a network of 1,800 venture capital partners, government agencies and incubators.

The Economic Impact of Microsoft

The IT industry contributes to global economic growth and, together with the innovation it fosters, is an essential driver of competitive 21st century economies.

A 2009 study by research firm IDC found the software industry is an especially important part of the IT sector, helping stimulate economic recovery, growth and job creation. IDC also discovered that about 14.9 million IT jobs worldwide are related to the business activities of the Microsoft ecosystem, an inter-dependent ecosystem of nearly 700,000 local companies that partner with us as developers, distributors, retailers and service providers.

National and local communities particularly benefit from our partner-driven business model, which creates jobs and spurs innovation. For every dollar of revenue made by Microsoft, local partners around the world on average will make $8.70 in 2009. Local partners will generate local revenues for themselves of $537 billion in 2009.

Learn more about how the global technology industry, the software sector, and Microsoft’s business model create jobs and drive local economic growth:

• IDC White Paper
• Asia Pacific study
• Central and Eastern Europe study
• European Union study
• Latin America study
• Middle East and Africa study
• North America study

The IDC studies are available for the following countries (PDF file, up to 250 KB)

Our Forward-Looking Goals

• Continue supporting the employment of approximately 15 million people worldwide through our partner-based business model.
• Work with governments to create regulation, infrastructure and skills that support the growth of local software businesses.
• Develop Biz Spark opportunities for 30,000 new ventures by the end of fiscal year 2010.

Related Links

• The Economic Impact of Microsoft and the IT Industry
• Microsoft BizSpark