Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is preparing to lay off about 8,000 employees by next month. This represents roughly 10 per cent of its global workforce and will be the company’s largest round of job cuts since its 2022–23 restructuring, when about 21,000 roles were eliminated.
The first wave of layoffs is scheduled for 20 May, with additional cuts expected later in the year. While the exact timing and scale of future reductions are not yet confirmed, executives are said to be monitoring developments in artificial intelligence (AI) before finalising plans. Reports suggest that overall job losses in 2026 could reach 20 per cent or more of Meta’s workforce.
Meta currently employs nearly 79,000 people worldwide. The company is investing heavily in AI, reorganising teams to focus on AI-driven products and efficiency. Engineers have reportedly been moved into a new Applied AI division, which is tasked with building systems that can write code and perform complex tasks. Some staff are also being shifted into Meta Small Business, a unit created recently as part of the restructuring.
The layoffs come at a time when other major tech firms are also reducing staff., including Amazon and Block. Many of these cuts are linked to efficiency gains from AI adoption.
Media reports say that more than 73,000 tech workers worldwide have already lost jobs in 2026, following 1,53,000 cuts in 2024. Meta’s latest move highlights how large technology companies are reshaping their structures, reducing management layers, and relying more on AI, even while reporting strong revenues and profits.