Meta has initiated mass layoffs as CEO Mark Zuckerberg intensifies efforts to streamline operations and shift focus toward artificial intelligence.
Employees across the U.S., Europe, and Asia have begun receiving termination notices, according to an internal memo obtained by Business Insider.
The job cuts affect approximately 5% of Meta’s workforce, translating to nearly 4,000 employees. Zuckerberg had previously signaled stricter performance evaluations, warning in January that the company would be more selective about retaining underperforming staff. This move follows a similar trend in the tech industry, with companies like Microsoft and Amazon also downsizing after rapid hiring during the pandemic.
Despite Meta’s strong financial performance, the company is reallocating significant resources toward AI, necessitating multi-billion-dollar investments in infrastructure. Since Zuckerberg declared 2023 the “year of efficiency,” Meta’s stock has surged, adding over $1 trillion in market value.
Laid-off U.S. employees will receive a severance package that includes 16 weeks of pay, plus two additional weeks for each year of service. However, concerns over job security persist, with some employees likening Meta’s workplace environment to a dystopian novel.
As part of its restructuring, Meta is merging its Facebook and Messenger teams while adjusting leadership roles within its AI division. Meanwhile, Reality Labs—Meta’s costly metaverse initiative—is being reintegrated into the company’s core operations.
In Europe, labor laws protect employees in countries such as Germany and France from immediate layoffs. Instead, workforce reductions in these regions will be handled through local performance review processes.
