A major development has emerged from global technology giant Meta, as the company has confirmed plans to reduce its global workforce by 10 percent. Ending weeks of speculation, Meta led by CEO Mark Zuckerbergis preparing to lay off approximately 8,000 employees as part of a strategic shift toward artificial intelligence (AI).
According to a statement issued by Chief Human Resources Officer Janell Gale, the affected employees will officially exit the company on May 20. In a significant move, Meta has also decided to freeze hiring for around 6,000 previously approved vacant positions, effectively pausing future recruitment.
Gale acknowledged that the information about the layoffs was leaked to the media earlier than planned, which forced the company to accelerate its internal communication to employees. Notably, Meta is not alone in facing such restructuring. Other major tech companies such as Oracle, Amazon, and Microsoft have also implemented large-scale layoffs as part of their transition toward AI-driven operations.
Industry experts suggest that this may only be the beginning. Reports indicate that after this initial phase of 8,000 layoffs, Meta could proceed with a second phase involving an additional 8,000 job cuts. If implemented, this would reduce the company’s total workforce by nearly 20 percent. Earlier, the company had already laid off around 700 employees associated with its Metaverse project.
The rationale behind these decisions is clear: Meta aims to reallocate capital and resources to invest heavily in future technologies, particularly AI. By reducing workforce size and cutting operational costs, the company is attempting to free up significant capital for these investments.
Previously, Zuckerberg had stated that by 2026, AI would fundamentally transform the way people work. While the company is investing billions of dollars into new technologies, some of its policies have sparked controversy. There are allegations that Meta is monitoring employees’ computer activity including mouse movements and keyboard usage to assess productivity, leading to strong opposition from staff.
However, Meta has announced certain relief measures for affected employees. In the United States, laid-off workers will receive 16 weeks of base pay, along with an additional two weeks’ salary for each year of service. Additionally, the company will cover their healthcare expenses for up to 18 months.
