Meta Cuts 9,500 Jobs, Shifts Staff Toward AI

Meta Platforms reduced its workforce in 2026 as part of cost-control measures tied to prioritizing AI investments. The company laid off roughly 1,500 employees from its Metaverse division on January 14, 2026, and an additional 8,000 employees across numerous departments on May 20, 2026, for a total of about 9,500 job cuts (approximately 10% of the workforce). These reductions were intended to offset heavy AI spending even as Meta raised 2026 AI capex guidance; the company also transitioned 7,000 employees into AI-focused roles and canceled plans to hire 6,000 new workers. A source indicated more layoffs could occur in August 2026 and later in the fall, though an internal memo said they did not expect other companywide layoffs that year. The cuts reflect a broader restructuring to shift resources from the Metaverse toward AI projects.

LayoffTalk has tracked 73 layoff events at Meta Platforms, Inc. since January 2023, including 9,622 jobs documented in official WARN filings, with 58 additional events known from news reporting.