Microsoft CEO says more jobs may go

REDMOND, Wash., May 6 (UPI) -- U.S. software giant Microsoft Corp. warned employees that further job cuts could be in the works, depending on the company's financial fortunes.

"As we move forward, we will continue to closely monitor the impact of the economic downturn on the company and, if necessary, take further actions on our cost structure, including additional job eliminations," Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said in a memo to Microsoft personnel Tuesday.

Microsoft began the second round of cuts this week, aiming at a total of 5,000 position cuts it announced in January, the Seattle Times reported Wednesday.

The company would not say how many jobs were eliminated in the recent round of cuts, but 1,400 jobs were cut in January, leaving 3,600 on the chopping block with a deadline for completing the downsizing set for July 2010.

In a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice sent to Washington's Employment Security Department, Microsoft said 1,200 of the job losses would take place in the state of Washington.