Microsoft's total employment in sales, marketing, support, service and administrative roles ended up essentially flat in its recently completed fiscal year as the company cut back on hiring and cut jobs in the face of the tough economy.

The only categories showing an increase in the company's 10-K report, filed earlier today, were product research and development, which rose from 35,000 to 36,000 positions; and manufacturing and distribution, which rose from 4,000 to 5,000 people.

The company's rounding of the numbers to the nearest thousand makes it difficult to see subtle changes in employment levels, but the annual report provide a sense for which areas of Microsoft have been impacted most by its cost-cutting. Microsoft has previously given out relatively few details, apart from confirming plans to pull back or eliminate some of its smaller product groups.

Even the increase in R&D employment was relatively modest compared to years past. Last year, for example, the company's total employment in product research and development rose by about 4,000 positions. The numbers reported in the 10-K include direct Microsoft employees but not those who work for or with the company through third-party employment agencies.

Previously: Microsoft employment falls 3% since peak 6 months ago