Meta is planning to lay off approximately 10 percent of its employees in May, according to a memo from the company's chief people officer, Janelle Gale, as reported by Bloomberg. This move will affect around 8,000 workers. Additionally, Meta will close roughly 6,000 open positions, Gale stated.
Reasons Behind the Layoffs
The job cuts come as Meta continues to make significant investments in artificial intelligence, including substantial spending on hiring top talent and building data centers. In January, the company forecast capital expenditures of $115 billion to $135 billion for 2026, a sharp increase from $72.22 billion in 2025. Meta attributed this rise to supporting its Meta Superintelligence Labs efforts and core business operations.
Previous Reductions
Earlier this year, Meta conducted layoffs affecting hundreds of employees in recruiting, social media, and sales teams, along with cuts impacting about 10 percent of its Reality Labs division. Gale noted that these actions are part of a continued effort to run the company more efficiently and offset other investments. She acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating that it involves letting go of individuals who have made meaningful contributions to Meta.
Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton confirmed the accuracy of Bloomberg's report but declined further comment. Affected employees will be notified on May 20th. Gale acknowledged the unsettling nature of the nearly month-long ambiguity, saying the company is still working through details and cannot share more until later in May.
Future Cuts
Reuters reported last week that Meta was targeting May 20th for layoffs and indicated further cuts are planned for the second half of 2026. In March, Reuters mentioned that Meta was considering laying off 20 percent or more of the company.
