Meta layoffs begin May 20
- Meta will start cutting roles on May 20 as part of a broad restructuring tied to its AI pivot. - The first phase will cut about 8,000 jobs, roughly 10% of Meta's workforce. - The move reallocates resources toward AI and creates organisational disruption that often drives demand for operational consulting support (qz.com).
Meta plans to start a new round of layoffs on May 20, with about 8,000 jobs set to go in the first wave. (reuters.com) Reuters reported that the initial cuts equal roughly 10% of Meta’s global workforce, and that more layoffs are being planned for the second half of 2026. Meta declined to comment on the timing or size of the cuts, according to Reuters. (reuters.com) Meta employed nearly 79,000 people as of December 31, 2025, its annual filing said. A 10% reduction would be the company’s biggest workforce move since its 2022 and 2023 “year of efficiency” cuts, which eliminated about 21,000 jobs. (sec.gov, reuters.com) This time, the cuts are landing while Meta is still posting huge revenue. The company reported $200.97 billion in 2025 revenue and $72.22 billion in capital expenditures for the year, with Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg saying in January that he was focused on “advancing personal superintelligence” in 2026. (meta.com) Reuters reported in March that Meta was considering layoffs affecting 20% or more of staff as it tried to offset heavy artificial intelligence infrastructure spending and prepare for more work being done by AI-assisted employees. A March Reuters report also said no final number or date had been set at that point. (reuters.com) Investors had already been told to expect a much bigger artificial intelligence bill. Reuters reported in March that Meta expected capital outlays of as much as $135 billion in 2026, roughly double the prior year’s spending, to build the computing capacity needed to train and run AI models. (reuters.com) The new cuts extend a pattern across big tech, where executives are tying headcount reductions to artificial intelligence spending and automation. Reuters said Amazon had trimmed 30,000 corporate employees in recent months and Block had cut nearly half its staff in February while linking the moves to AI-driven efficiency. (reuters.com) For Meta employees, May 20 now looks like the start of a longer reset rather than a one-day event. Reuters reported that executives may still adjust later rounds depending on how artificial intelligence capabilities develop through the year. (reuters.com)
