April 23, 2026
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced plans to lay off approximately 7,900 employees, or 10% of its workforce, on May 20, as part of a restructuring effort tied to its aggressive artificial intelligence investments.
The cuts will affect nearly 8,000 employees globally, with an additional 6,000 currently open positions left unfilled, according to corroborated reports. The company, which had around 79,000 employees at the start of the year, is reallocating resources toward AI development, with planned capital expenditures reaching $115 billion to $135 billion for the year.
Layoffs and Unfilled Positions
The job reductions mark one of the largest workforce cuts in Meta’s history, following a series of layoffs in recent years. The decision to eliminate roughly 10% of roles was disclosed internally and confirmed by multiple sources. Alongside the layoffs, Meta will halt hiring for approximately 6,000 vacant positions, further tightening its operational budget.
The move comes as the company shifts focus toward artificial intelligence, a sector where it has faced stiff competition from rivals like Microsoft Corp. Meta’s leadership has emphasized AI as a cornerstone of its long-term strategy, with billions earmarked for infrastructure and research.
Heavy Investment in AI
Meta’s planned capital expenditures of $115 billion to $135 billion underscore its commitment to dominating the AI space. The figure represents one of the largest single-year investments in the company’s history, signaling a pivot from its earlier metaverse-focused initiatives.