Meta cuts 8,000 jobs

Meta Platforms is beginning layoffs this week that are expected to eliminate about 8,000 jobs, according to an April internal memo first reported by Bloomberg and described by CNBC. The cuts start Wednesday, May 20, and amount to roughly 10% of Meta’s workforce, CNBC reported. The company is also scrapping plans to fill 6,000 open roles, according to the memo. Business Insider reported that employees had spent weeks waiting to learn whether they would be affected. ### Why are the cuts starting now? April 23 was the date CNBC said Meta told employees that layoffs would begin on May 20. The memo said the company was reducing headcount by about 10% and canceling thousands of open requisitions as part of a broader reorganization tied to artificial intelligence spending and efficiency efforts. May 19 was when Business Insider described the week as “reckoning week” for workers left in limbo since the April notice. That report said employees had known for weeks that cuts were coming but not who would be affected, extending uncertainty across teams. ### How large is this round compared with Meta’s workforce? About 8,000 jobs is the figure cited by CNBC for the current round. (cnbc.com) CNBC said that represents about 10% of Meta’s workforce and that the company also dropped plans to hire for 6,000 open positions. CBS News separately reported that Meta confirmed layoffs would start on May 20 and said the cuts were intended to make the company more efficient and offset other investments. (businessinsider.com) March 31, 2026, is the end date for the quarter in which Meta reported results on April 29. In that earnings release, Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said the company had “strong momentum across our apps” and cited the release of the first model from Meta Superintelligence Labs, underscoring the scale of the company’s AI push as the layoffs begin. (cnbc.com) ### What has Meta said about its spending priorities? April 29 was when Meta reported first-quarter results and updated investors on spending. The company said it expected 2026 capital expenditures of $72 billion to $80 billion, up from its prior outlook, as it continued to build AI capacity. Zuckerberg said in the release that Meta had a “milestone quarter” and pointed to AI product development as a central priority. (sec.gov) Meta’s annual filing for 2025 also said the company intended in 2026 to focus investment on AI, Reels and its discovery engine, wearables, monetization, youth, platform integrity, community support and infrastructure capacity. That filing provides the company’s own description of the priorities alongside which the job cuts are being made. (sec.gov) ### Which parts of the company are under pressure? CNBC reported that the layoffs span functions as Meta reshuffles teams and trims roles tied to older or less central work. The report framed the cuts as part of a companywide push deeper into AI, rather than a reduction limited to one business line. (sec.gov) Business Insider’s reporting on employee reaction described the period between the April memo and this week’s cuts as “28 days of hell,” reflecting how broadly the uncertainty spread inside the company. That account said workers responded internally with questions, concerns and jokes as they waited for decisions. (cnbc.com) ### What comes next for Meta after the layoffs? September 23 and 24 are the dates Meta has set for its Connect conference, where the company says it will present this year’s program announcements, speakers and featured technology. The event is the next named milestone on Meta’s public calendar after the May layoffs and comes as the company continues to center product and infrastructure spending on AI. (africa.businessinsider.com) (meta.com)