The Redmond Company has quietly disclosed figures concerning its fiscal year 2005 hiring fiesta. In the context of an increase in competition, Microsoft has amassed a record braking 10.081 employees worldwide during the fiscal year ended on June 30. The sum represents the biggest growth Microsoft has experienced since its launch. In comparison with Microsoft's rival from Mountain View, the software giant massive one-year increase tops Google's total working force, exceeding by more than twice employment predictions made at the start of FY2005.

Just in the Seattle area, Microsoft has managed to boost its ranks with 3,938 employees. And while in the same period of last year Microsoft was expecting to add just under 5,000 people globally, according to market projections, the Redmond Company has bested all statistics and as of now employs a work force of 71,553 persons, out of which, a massive 33,333 engage in daily activities only in the Seattle are.

Microsoft has faced criticism in the past regarding its financial policy to throw money at any problem in hope that it will offer a solution and for similar recruitment frenzies that would fuel its growth to mammoth proportions, beyond any reasonable scale of efficient personnel management. Another concern regard the actual decrease in the quality as quantity becomes Microsoft's main focus.