US tech giant Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is preparing to lay off around 10% of its global workforce, which amounts to nearly 8,000 employees, in the upcoming month. Additional job cuts are anticipated in the latter part of the year, although specifics regarding these layoffs have not been disclosed yet.
The initial phase of layoffs scheduled for May is expected to impact approximately 10% of Meta’s worldwide workforce. Reports suggest that the extent of these layoff initiatives may hinge on advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities within the company.
Meta is reportedly considering reducing its total workforce by 20% or more. If this plan materializes, it could potentially affect about 16,000 employees, considering Meta’s workforce size of nearly 79,000 individuals as of December 31.
According to sources, Meta has not officially confirmed these layoff intentions. The company led by Mark Zuckerberg has refrained from providing immediate comments on the report. Meanwhile, the tech industry is witnessing a surge in job cuts in 2026, with over 80,000 positions eliminated in the first quarter alone, and the total job losses expected to surpass 300,000 this year. Noteworthy companies like Oracle, Amazon, and Meta are leading this trend, as per a recent report.
The job cuts are part of a broader trend of post-pandemic adjustments, with more than a million tech jobs lost globally since 2021 as companies readjust their hiring strategies following the Covid-era expansion. Artificial intelligence and automation are playing pivotal roles in this transformation, with almost half of all job cuts in 2026 associated with AI-driven restructuring efforts. The United States stands out as the most impacted market, with nearly 77% of global job cuts occurring in the country so far this year, involving over 61,000 layoffs across 62 different companies.
Among these companies, Oracle has recorded the highest number of job reductions worldwide in 2026, eliminating over 25,000 positions as part of a significant restructuring tied to its AI infrastructure initiatives. Amazon follows closely with approximately 16,000 job cuts as it focuses on operational streamlining and efficiency enhancements.
