Meta lays off about 8,000 employees

Meta began laying off about 8,000 employees on Wednesday, May 20, as the Facebook and Instagram owner pushed ahead with a previously reported plan to cut roughly 10% of its workforce. Reuters reported on April 17 that the first wave would start on May 20 and that more cuts were expected later in 2026, citing three people familiar with the plans. Meta is also reassigning about 7,000 employees into artificial-intelligence jobs as it reorganizes around new AI groups, according to reporting reviewed by Bloomberg and NBC News. The layoffs amount to one of Meta’s largest job reductions since its 2022 and 2023 cuts. Meta had 76,834 employees as of March 31, 2026, according to its first-quarter earnings release, which means a 10% reduction would be roughly in line with the reported 8,000 figure. Meta has not publicly posted a broad layoff announcement on its newsroom pages this week. (money.usnews.com) ### Why are employees hearing about cuts now? Wednesday, May 20, was the date Reuters had previously identified for the first round of layoffs. The news agency reported last month that Meta planned an initial reduction of close to 8,000 employees, with additional cuts later in the year. CNBC reported on May 20 that Meta had commenced the layoffs and that Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg told employees in a memo that “success isn’t a given” in the AI era. (investor.atmeta.com) Singapore appeared to be among the first offices notified. The Next Web reported that employees there received layoff emails as early as 4 a.m. local time, matching social-media posts cited in the initial briefing. ### Where does the 8,000 number come from? Reuters reported on April 17 that Meta intended to cut about 10% of its global workforce, or close to 8,000 employees, in the initial round. (money.usnews.com) CNBC separately reported on April 23 that Meta planned to cut 10% of its workforce, about 8,000 employees, and cancel hiring for 6,000 open roles. TechCrunch also summarized Bloomberg’s reporting in the same terms. (thenextweb.com) Meta’s own filings provide the denominator. The company said in its April 29 first-quarter results that it employed 76,834 people at the end of March. That headcount makes the reported layoff total directionally consistent with a 10% reduction. ### What does the AI reorganization involve? (money.usnews.com) Bloomberg reported on May 19 that Chief People Officer Janelle Gale told employees in an internal memo that about 7,000 workers would be reassigned to new AI-related jobs. NBC News said those employees were being consolidated into four new organizations focused on artificial intelligence. Bloomberg said the groups would cover AI-related products including agents and apps, and that the structure would be flatter with smaller teams. (investor.atmeta.com) Meta has been signaling heavier AI investment for months. In its January 28 strategy post, the company said 2026 would be a year when AI “intensifies even further” across products and internal work. Meta also said in February that it was breaking ground on a 1-gigawatt data center campus in Lebanon, Indiana, representing more than $10 billion in investment. (bloomberg.com) ### How does this fit with Meta’s recent financial disclosures? Meta reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of $47.7 billion and net income of $16.6 billion on April 29. In that release, Zuckerberg said the company had “strong momentum across our apps” and referenced the release of the first model from Meta Superintelligence Labs. (about.fb.com) January 28 and April 29 are the two clearest company-set markers for what comes next. Meta’s January strategy post said AI would reshape how the company works in 2026, and Reuters reported on April 17 that additional layoffs were expected later this year after the May 20 first wave. (about.fb.com) (investor.atmeta.com)