US-based tech giant Meta is set to lay off 10% of its global workforce starting May 20, aiming to streamline operations and enhance its artificial intelligence efforts. The restructuring will involve eliminating some managerial positions and forming smaller, AI-centric teams to expedite decision-making processes. Approximately 6,000 open roles will be closed, impacting around 20% of Meta’s current employees.
The job cuts, if executed as planned, could affect about 16,000 workers out of Meta’s nearly 79,000-strong workforce as of December 31. In response to the changes, some employees have expressed discontent by staging protests at company offices and voicing concerns on Meta’s internal platform, Workplace. Notably, over 1,000 staff members have signed a petition opposing the use of new mouse-tracking software for AI training due to privacy apprehensions.
Reports indicate a surge in global tech layoffs in 2026, with more than 80,000 jobs already slashed in the first quarter. The total job losses in the tech sector are projected to surpass 300,000 this year, with major companies like Oracle, Amazon, and Meta leading the trend. This wave of layoffs follows a broader post-pandemic adjustment, resulting in over one million tech job cuts worldwide since 2021 as companies readjust hiring strategies post the Covid-19 era.
The tech industry’s transformation is heavily influenced by AI and automation, with nearly half of all 2026 layoffs attributed to AI-related restructuring efforts. The United States stands out as the most impacted market, accounting for almost 77% of global tech job cuts this year, with 61,000 positions axed across 62 firms. Oracle emerges as a significant player in the layoffs landscape, having cut over 25,000 roles globally in 2026 as part of a substantial restructuring linked to its AI infrastructure push.
