Meta layoffs 2026 mark the company’s biggest workforce reduction since 2023 as AI investment reshapes how the tech giant operates
Meta is about to make thousands of people redundant. The social media giant plans to cut around 8,000 jobs this week, representing roughly 10 percent of its total workforce. The Meta layoffs 2026 round is the largest since the company’s “year of efficiency” restructuring in late 2022 and early 2023, when Meta eliminated around 21,000 roles. Moreover, this time the cuts come alongside a massive bet on artificial intelligence that is fundamentally reshaping the company’s structure.
Layoffs Expected on Wednesday
Meta plans to send layoff notices in waves across regions, according to an internal memo from Chief People Officer Janelle Gale. Notices will go out in three waves starting at 4 a.m. local time in different regions. Furthermore, employees in North America were told to work from home on Wednesday. Meta had 77,986 employees at the end of March, according to company filings.
Managers and Open Roles Targeted
The cuts heavily target managerial roles. Meta is pushing toward flatter teams and smaller working groups. Gale told employees that many parts of the company can now operate with smaller, faster-moving teams with greater ownership. Additionally, Meta has closed 6,000 open roles as part of the same restructuring effort. Therefore, the total impact on headcount is significantly larger than the 8,000 figure alone suggests.
Thousands to Move Into AI Work
Not everyone is losing their job. Meta also plans to move around 7,000 employees into new AI-related initiatives. These include Applied AI Engineering and Agent Transformation Accelerator XFN, both part of Meta’s broader “AI for Work” efforts. Furthermore, both teams focus on building AI agents capable of performing tasks currently handled by human employees. A separate group called Central Analytics will measure productivity and analytics for agent development.
More Cuts Could Come Later
This week’s round may not be the end. Reuters previously reported that Meta is planning additional cuts later this year. However, the timing and scale remain unconfirmed. Executives may adjust those plans depending on how quickly AI capabilities develop internally.
AI Spending Keeps Rising
The restructuring arrives as Meta dramatically increases its AI infrastructure spending. The company now expects 2026 capital expenditures to reach between $125 billion and $145 billion. That is up from an earlier forecast of $115 billion to $135 billion. Moreover, Meta reported first-quarter revenue of $56.31 billion, up 33 percent year on year, while costs rose 35 percent to $33.44 billion.
Employee Backlash Grows
The changes have created real tension inside the company. More than 1,000 employees signed a petition against mouse tracking software used to train Meta’s AI models. Others protested through office flyers and posts on Meta’s internal Workplace platform. Furthermore, some employees criticised leadership for not addressing layoff plans sooner after earlier reports surfaced. Finally, Meta declined to comment on the restructuring plan publicly.
