Meta announced on April 23, 2026, that it will lay off nearly 8,000 employees by May 20, representing about ten percent of its global workforce.
The layoffs coincide with Meta’s plan to invest up to 135 billion U.S. Dollars in AI infrastructure this year
The company disclosed the cuts in an internal email to staff, citing the require to improve efficiency and offset rising expenses. Meta had approximately 79,000 employees at the start of 2026, meaning the layoffs will affect close to one in ten workers. Around 6,000 currently open positions will not be filled.
Meta’s personnel chief confirmed employees face four weeks of uncertainty before the cuts take effect
Janelle Gale, Meta’s head of human resources, acknowledged in the leaked email that staff would experience a period of uncertainty lasting four weeks. The company decided to share the preliminary plans early after leaks threatened to spread incomplete information. Meta stated the restructuring aims to streamline operations while advancing its AI ambitions.
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Why is Meta cutting jobs while investing heavily in AI?
Meta says it seeks to become more efficient and balance costs as it channels tens of billions into AI development, including data centers and computing power.
How many employees does Meta currently have?
Meta employed roughly 79,000 people worldwide at the end of 2025, according to its internal figures cited in the announcement.
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