Meta targets May 20 for first wave of layoffs; additional cuts later in 2026 Meta plans to lay off approximately 8,000 employees on May 20, 2026, representing about 10% of its global workforce, according to sources cited by Reuters. The initial round of job cuts is part of a broader restructuring effort as the company increases investment in artificial intelligence initiatives. Further layoffs are expected later in the year, though details regarding timing and scale have not been finalized. The layoffs reach amid Meta’s strategic shift toward AI development, including plans to spend $135 billion on capital expenditures in 2026. The company has been working to keep pace with competitors such as OpenAI and Anthropic in the AI space. Meta’s workforce stood at nearly 79,000 employees globally as of December 31, 2025, based on company filings. Meta executives have indicated that future rounds of cuts could be adjusted depending on the progress of its AI capabilities. A spokesperson previously characterized early reports about the layoffs as speculative, though subsequent reporting has confirmed the May 20 timeline for the first wave. The company’s stock rose nearly 2% in trading following the announcement of the layoff plans. Meta undertook a significant workforce reduction in late 2022 and early 2023 during its “year of efficiency” initiative, which eliminated more than 20,000 positions. The upcoming layoffs would mark the largest single round of job cuts since that period.
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