Meta begins employee layoffs: Here’s what we know so far about the job cuts

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has commenced a substantial round of layoffs, impacting approximately 4.000 employees across the United States, Europe, and Asia. This move aligns with CEO Mark Zuckerberg's strategy to intensify the company's focus on artificial intelligence (AI). Representing about 5% of Meta's global workforce, these unemployment reflect an industry trend among tech giants striving to prioritize technological advancements.

The decision to reduce staff follows Meta’s efforts to reallocate resources towards AI initiatives in an internal memo, he emphasized the importance of "raising the bar" by swiftly removing underperforming employees. This approach mirrors similar cost-cutting measures undertaken by other major technology firms, including Microsoft and Amazon, in response to evolving market conditions.

Performance-based reductions and organizational restructuring

The layoffs are being executed based on employee performance evaluations. According to an internal memo from Meta's Vice President of Human Resources, Janelle Gale, affected workers are being notified via email and will lose access to company systems shortly thereafte. Employees in countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are exempt from this round of layoffs due to local labor regulations.

Alongside workforce reductions, Meta is restructuring its organization to better align with strategic priorities. This includes consolidating divisions, such as merging the Facebook and Messenger teams, and integrating the Reality Labs division, which focuses on virtual and augmented reality, into the company's core operations.

Accelerated hiring in AI and machine learning

Despite the notice, Meta is ramping up recruitment for roles in AI and machine learning. Peng Fang, Vice President of Engineering for Monetization, emphasized the urgency of hiring machine learning engineers, who are pivotal to Meta’s 2025 business strategy. The company plans to conduct intensive interview sessions to attract top talent in this field. Zuckerberg has projected a $65 billion investment in AI for the year, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to innovation.

Employee sentiment and future outlook

The layoffs have generated anxiety among Meta coworkers, with concerns about job security and the fairness of the performance evaluation process. The internal memo acknowledges the potential disruption caused by these changes and advises managers to work closely with their teams to provide clarity and support during the transition.

As the platform navigates this period of transformation, it aims to balance workforce optimization with strategic investments in AI and machine learning. By streamlining operations and focusing on high-priority technological advancements, the company seeks to position itself for sustained growth in an increasingly competitive tech landscape.