Meta Platforms is initiating a significant workforce reduction, with approximately 8,000 employees, or 10% of its global staff, slated for layoffs starting May 20. This move is part of a broader restructuring as the company aggressively pivots towards artificial intelligence, with additional cuts anticipated later in the year or in 2026.
What happened
Meta Platforms is preparing for a major round of companywide layoffs beginning May 20. This initial phase will affect approximately 8,000 employees. The restructuring follows earlier targeted reductions, including cuts within the Reality Labs division in January and March. This round marks a shift to a companywide effort, impacting various divisions such as Reality Labs, Facebook social, recruiting, sales, and global operations.
How many employees affected
Approximately 8,000 employees are expected to be affected in this initial wave of layoffs. This represents about 10% of Meta's total workforce, which stood at nearly 79,000 as of December last year.
Why layoffs happened
The layoffs are primarily driven by CEO Mark Zuckerberg's aggressive push into artificial intelligence. Meta is investing heavily in AI development, aiming to reshape its operations, streamline decision-making, and reduce management layers. The company's vision is to create a leaner organization where AI-assisted workers handle more tasks, with some roles being automated. This strategic shift is intended to reallocate resources towards growth areas and improve operational efficiency.
Company background
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has undergone multiple rounds of restructuring in recent years. In late 2022 and early 2023, the company eliminated about 21,000 positions during what it termed the “year of efficiency.” Unlike previous cuts driven by financial downturns, Meta is currently in a strong financial position, having generated over $200 billion in revenue and $60 billion in profit last year, even while investing heavily in AI infrastructure.
Industry impact
Meta's layoffs reflect a broader trend across the technology sector, where companies are increasingly linking job cuts to efficiency gains enabled by AI. Other major tech firms, such as Amazon and Block, have also reduced their workforces, explicitly crediting AI-driven efficiency. According to Layoffs.fyi, over 73,000 tech workers have been laid off globally this year, following 153,000 in 2024.
What's next
Additional layoffs are planned for the second half of the year or in 2026, though their exact timing and scale remain undecided and may be recalibrated based on AI advancements. Meta has already reorganized teams within its Reality Labs division and created a new
Source: technology.org, firstpost.com, chosun.com, newelectronics.co.uk, thenextweb.com, benzinga.com, mexc.com, calcalistech.com, malaysiasun.com