According to Reuters, Meta Platforms plans to lay off about 8,000 workers, representing roughly 10% of its workforce, effective May 20. The company stated that the layoffs are intended to enhance operational efficiency and manage increasing investments in artificial intelligence.
Chief People Officer Janelle Gale communicated the layoffs in a memo, emphasizing the necessity for the company to operate more efficiently and offset other investments.
Meta’s upcoming layoffs are anticipated to be its largest since 2023. In November 2022, the company cut 11,000 jobs, followed by another reduction of 10,000 roles a few months later. Earlier this year, around 2,000 additional positions were eliminated in two separate rounds.
According to three sources cited by Reuters, Meta is also planning another round of layoffs during the second half of the year, although specific timing and scale have not been confirmed. The sources indicated that the company’s executives might adjust their plans based on developments in AI capabilities.
Microsoft has also disclosed voluntary buyouts for approximately 7% of its U.S. workforce, marking the first voluntary retirement program in the company’s 51-year history. This program targets U.S. employees at the senior director level or below whose combined age and tenure at Microsoft totals 70 or more. Briefings on the program specifics will be conducted on May 7 for qualifying employees and their managers.
The restructuring trend extends throughout the tech sector, with Oracle announcing a reduction of about 30,000 jobs. Other major companies including Amazon, Block, and various cryptocurrency firms are also implementing job cuts.
Governments are increasingly deploying AI technologies within public services. The UAE has mandated that half of its federal government sectors transition to agentic AI within two years.
