Meta’s Biggest Layoff Since 2023 Lands in May, Hitting 8,000 Workers

Meta Platforms plans to lay off about 8,000 workers, or roughly 10% of its workforce, on May 20. 

The company said the cuts are designed to improve efficiency and offset growing investments in areas such as artificial intelligence. The layoffs add to a broader trend of AI-driven job reductions sweeping the tech industry.

Meta’s 2026 Job Cuts Hits 10% of Workforce

Chief People Officer Janelle Gale outlined the move in a Thursday memo. Meta will also halt plans to fill 6,000 open roles. 

“We’re doing this as part of our continued effort to run the company more efficiently and to allow us to offset the other investments we’re making,” Gale wrote.

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The reductions will be Meta’s largest since 2023. The company cut 11,000 workers in November 2022. Another 10,000 roles followed months later. About 2,000 more jobs were trimmed in two earlier rounds this year. 

According to three sources cited by Reuters, Meta is also preparing another round of layoffs in the second half of the year, though the timing and scale have yet to be finalized. The sources said executives could revise their plans depending on how AI capabilities evolve.

Microsoft Offers Voluntary Retirement to 7% of US Workforce

Microsoft has also disclosed voluntary buyouts for about 7% of its US employees. The program marks the first of its kind in the company’s 51-year history.

Outlined in a Thursday memo, the one-off retirement offer is open to US employees at the senior director level or below whose combined age and tenure at the company total 70 or more. Those who qualify, along with their managers, will be briefed on the specifics on May 7.

Restructuring is sweeping through the tech sector. Earlier this month, Oracle cut roughly 30,000 jobs, while Amazon, Block, and several crypto firms have also made reductions. 

Notably, even governments are also racing to deploy AI agents inside public services. The UAE issued a directive to move half of its federal government sectors, services, and operations onto agentic AI within two years.

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