Meta layoffs begin: 8,000 employees to be cut in latest round

Employee notifications are being issued in three waves at 4 a.m. local time on May 20 across different regions, Business Insider reported, citing an internal memo from Meta HR chief Janelle Gale to an employee resource group.

The restructuring comes as the company ramps up multi-billion-dollar investments in artificial intelligence. Meta, which is believed to have about 78,000 employees prior to the cuts, is also reportedly planning to shift more than 7,000 staff into AI-focused initiatives.

Affected U.S. employees will receive a severance package that includes 16 weeks of base pay, plus an additional two weeks for every year of service, according to an internal document seen by Business Insider. They will also receive 18 months of healthcare coverage for themselves and their families — significantly higher than previous packages.

Employees outside the U.S. are expected to receive similar benefits, adjusted according to local regulations, the report added.

Meta executives have reportedly told staff that further layoffs have not been ruled out beyond the current round of cuts.

Broader tech layoffs continue

The move comes amid a wider wave of job cuts across the global technology sector. In 2026 alone, more than 108,000 tech jobs have been lost as companies restructure around artificial intelligence and automation.

Recent reductions include about 4,000 jobs at Cisco, along with significant cuts at PayPal and Cloudflare. According to layoff tracker Layoffs.fyi, PayPal has trimmed 4,760 roles, while Cloudflare has reduced its workforce by 1,100 employees.

Other companies, including LinkedIn, Ticketmaster, ZoomInfo, Adda247, Bill.com, Arctic Wolf, Upwork and Truecaller, have also announced workforce reductions in recent weeks.

Industry analysts say the ongoing layoffs reflect a broader shift as companies redirect capital toward AI infrastructure, automation, and high-growth technology segments.