Meta reportedly laid off 8,000 employees

CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued a general memo to employees confirming that Meta was laying off approximately 8,000 employees and transferring another 7,000, according to reports from News from the sky And Business Insider. “As previously stated, we have decided to reduce our workforce…to enable us to offset other investments we are making,” the memo said. Meta said it does not anticipate further “company-wide” layoffs this year.

The layoffs and transfers will affect approximately 20 percent of the company’s workforce, making it one of the largest cost-cutting measures in Meta’s history. The news confirms a previous report regarding a memo from Janelle Gale, Meta’s head of human resources, informing employees that 7,000 of them would be transferred to new organizations focused on creating new AI tools and applications. It also fact-checks reports from last month, when Gale told employees that Meta would cut 8,000 jobs as part of “our continuing effort to run the company more efficiently.” The company previously said around 6,000 vacancies would remain unfilled.

Yesterday’s memo confirms citizens’ worst fears about the impact of AI on employment at big tech companies. “AI is the most important technology of our lives,” Zuckerberg wrote. “Success is not a given. The companies that lead the way will define the next generation.”

In January 2026, Meta said it had reserved between $115 billion and $135 billion in capital spending for 2026, double what it spent the previous year, to “support our Meta Superintelligence Labs efforts and core businesses.” That represents a dominant share of its total spending next year, which is expected to be between $162 billion and $169 billion.

Several employees posted about the layoffs on social media and elsewhere. “After nearly four years at Meta, I was one of many, many people who were laid off today,” said a tech writer on

In the memo, Meta outlined guidance in areas such as severance pay and visas. “We want to reiterate that we are grateful for your contributions. Your impact at Meta has been an important part of our history,” Meta said in the note. Woozad has contacted the company for comment.