Meta is reportedly laying off several hundred employees across various departments, as revealed by a recent Reuters report citing an insider. This recent round of job cuts is described as a more modest downsizing compared to previous speculations of extensive reductions. The layoffs will impact Meta’s Reality Labs unit, social media teams, and recruitment functions, as stated in an earlier report by The Information.
A spokesperson from Meta, as mentioned in the Reuters report, stated that the company regularly restructures teams to align with their objectives and endeavors to explore alternative opportunities for affected employees whenever feasible. These layoffs coincide with Meta’s efforts to address escalating expenses associated with substantial investments in artificial intelligence. The company anticipates total expenses ranging from $162 billion to $169 billion for 2026, with a surge in employee compensation due to intensified recruitment of top AI talent.
Earlier reports from Reuters indicated Meta’s plans for broader staff reductions that could impact over 20% of its workforce, with senior executives communicating these intentions to other key leaders. However, the most recent round of layoffs was notably more limited in scope. Meta’s workforce numbered nearly 79,000 individuals as of the end of December, according to its annual filing.