Meta is preparing to execute the first phase of its planned layoffs for 2026 on May 20, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, will initiate a sweeping workforce reduction as part of a broader restructuring strategy.
In the initial round, Meta will lay off approximately 10% of its global workforce, translating to nearly 8,000 employees, one of the sources confirmed. Furthermore, the company is planning additional layoffs in the second half of the year. However, executives have not yet finalized key details, including the timeline and scale of those cuts. Sources added that leadership may refine these plans depending on how artificial intelligence capabilities evolve in the coming months.
Notably, reports last month suggested that Meta could cut 20% or more of its global workforce. Despite these developments, the company has declined to comment on the timing or extent of the layoffs.
Meanwhile, CEO Mark Zuckerberg continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence, allocating hundreds of billions of dollars to transform the company’s operational framework. This move aligns with a broader trend among major U.S. technology firms prioritizing AI-driven efficiency. For instance, Amazon has reduced around 30,000 corporate roles in recent months, representing nearly 10% of its white-collar workforce. Similarly, fintech firm Block cut nearly half of its staff in February. In both cases, executives directly linked layoffs to productivity gains enabled by artificial intelligence.
According to Layoffs.fyi, a platform tracking global tech job cuts, 73,212 employees have lost their jobs so far this year. In comparison, total layoffs reached 153,000 in 2024, indicating a sustained wave of workforce reductions across the technology sector.
Importantly, Meta’s upcoming layoffs mark its most significant workforce restructuring since late 2022 and early 2023, when it eliminated approximately 21,000 jobs during what it termed the “year of efficiency.” At that time, the company faced declining stock performance and struggled with post-pandemic demand corrections following overestimated COVID-era growth.
Currently, Meta operates from a stronger financial position. However, executives are actively redesigning the organization to reduce management layers and enhance efficiency through AI-assisted workflows. As part of this transformation, the company is focusing on leaner structures and automation-driven productivity.
From a financial perspective, Meta’s shares have risen 3.68% since the beginning of the year, although they remain below their record high from last summer. In the previous fiscal year, the company generated over $200 billion in revenue and reported a profit of $60 billion, despite substantial investments in AI. As of December 31, Meta employed nearly 79,000 people, according to its latest regulatory filing.
In addition, Meta has recently undertaken internal restructuring initiatives. It has reorganized teams within its Reality Labs division and reassigned engineers across the company to a newly formed “Applied AI” organization. This unit is focused on accelerating the development of advanced AI agents capable of writing code and executing complex tasks autonomously.
Moreover, one source indicated that the company will transfer some employees to Meta Small Business, a unit established last month, as part of the ongoing restructuring efforts.
