Meta announces massive global layoffs: 8,000 jobs cut

Meta Platforms has begun a major round of layoffs, cutting around 8,000 jobs--nearly 10 percent of its global workforce--as part of a sweeping restructuring aimed at accelerating its shift toward artificial intelligence (AI), company sources said on Wednesday.

The layoffs began early Wednesday at 4am local time, with employees across regions receiving termination emails in phases. Workers in North America were instructed to work from home during the process, in line with company protocol, according to reports.

An internal memo reviewed by Reuters said the company is moving toward a “flatter” organisational structure to speed up decision-making and improve efficiency. Meta’s Head of Human Resources, Janelle Gale, said teams are being reorganised into smaller “pods” to streamline operations.

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Alongside the job cuts, around 7,000 employees are being reassigned to new roles focused primarily on artificial intelligence initiatives, reflecting Meta’s growing investment in the sector.

The restructuring comes as Meta increases its capital expenditure to between $125 billion and $145 billion in 2026, with major spending planned for data centres, in-house chips, and AI model training.

Employee sentiment, however, has reportedly declined. According to internal and external workplace tracking platforms, overall employee satisfaction has dropped significantly compared to previous years, raising concerns over company culture.

Reports also suggest internal debate over new monitoring tools under the “Model Capability Initiative,” which allegedly track keyboard and mouse activity. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg has said the data is used solely to improve AI systems and not for employee surveillance.

Further layoffs in additional departments are expected in the coming weeks as Meta continues its restructuring process.