Meta is cutting roughly 8,000 employees—about 10% of its workforce—as the social media giant doubles down on artificial intelligence investments. The layoffs are set to begin May 20, according to an internal memo.
Chief People Officer Janelle Gale informed staff that the reductions are part of a broader effort to operate more efficiently while funding heavy spending on AI infrastructure. “I know this is unwelcome news and confirming this puts everyone in an uneasy state, but we feel this is the best path forward, given the circumstances,” Gale wrote in the communication obtained by Bloomberg News.
A Meta spokesperson confirmed the memo’s contents but declined to comment on the specific number of job cuts.
“This is not an easy tradeoff, and it will mean letting go of people who have made meaningful contributions to Meta during their time here,” Gale said. Employees being laid off will receive severance packages and career support services, including immigration assistance for those who need it.
The staffing shift comes as other major technology companies restructure workforces amid surging AI expenditures. Microsoft offered voluntary retirement to approximately 8,750 employees—roughly 7% of its U.S. workforce—according to Bloomberg.
Meta’s latest cuts follow earlier workforce reductions. The company eliminated 11,000 positions in November 2022, representing about 13% of its staff at the time, and subsequently cut another 10,000 roles. As of December 31, Meta employed nearly 79,000 people globally.
Meta shares traded around $659, down roughly 2.3% in recent trading.