Meta Platforms plans to cut about 8,000 jobs, or roughly 10% of its workforce, with layoffs set to begin on May 20, according to internal memos cited by Bloomberg, CNBC and the Los Angeles Times. The company also plans to stop hiring for 6,000 open roles.
The move lands just as the owner of Facebook and Instagram ramps up spending on artificial intelligence, raising a bigger question: can tech groups fund the AI race while keeping headcount lower?
The reported cuts matter because they show how major technology companies are reshaping their workforces after years of hiring growth. Across the sector, companies are trying to lower costs while directing more money into data centres, AI models and automation tools.
What Happened
Employees were told in a Thursday memo that job cuts would start on May 20. The memo said the company would not fill 6,000 open positions. Bloomberg first reported details of the internal note, while other outlets later reported the same plan.
"This is not an easy tradeoff and it will mean letting go of people who have made meaningful contributions to Meta during their time here," Janelle Gale, chief people officer, said in the memo cited in media reports.
"I know this is unwelcome news and confirming this puts everyone in an uneasy state, but we feel this is the best path forward, given the circumstances," Gale said in the memo.
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Why Now
The company has linked the cuts to efficiency and the need to fund other investments. Several reports said Meta is increasing spending on AI infrastructure, products and talent.
Reuters reported last month that Meta had considered broader layoffs that could affect 20% or more of staff, though no final figure had been set at that time. A spokesperson called that report speculative.
Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has also said AI tools are changing how work gets done, with some projects requiring fewer people than before, according to Reuters.
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Past Cuts
This is not the first major reduction. Meta cut more than 20,000 roles in 2022 and 2023 during what it called the "year of efficiency".
The company also cut 3,600 jobs last year in performance-based reductions, and more than 1,000 workers earlier this year in parts of its Reality Labs business, CNBC reported.
As of Dec. 31, Meta had about 78,865 employees globally, according to its latest annual report cited by CNBC.
What Next
Meta is scheduled to report first-quarter earnings next week alongside Alphabet Inc., Amazon and Microsoft. Investors will likely watch for updates on spending, hiring plans and the pace of AI investment.
The broader signal is clear: in 2026, strong revenue alone may not protect jobs if companies believe AI can deliver more output with fewer workers.
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