Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has begun a new round of layoffs as part of its ongoing effort to streamline operations and ramp up investments in artificial intelligence.
The company is set to cut around 5% of its workforce, which amounts to roughly 4,000 employees, according to a report from Business Insider.
Meta layoffs: who is affected?
Employees impacted by the layoffs will receive official notifications via email starting Monday morning.
The job cuts are not limited to the United States—workers across multiple countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa are also affected, with layoff notices being distributed between February 11 and 18.
However, staff in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands are reportedly exempt due to local labor laws.
Despite the reductions, Meta still has around 1,000 job openings in California, with hiring efforts focused on AI and other business-critical roles.
The company says it aims to replace lower-performing workers with more specialized talent, particularly in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Why is Meta cutting jobs?
The latest layoffs come as part of Meta’s ongoing cost-cutting strategy, which began in 2022.
Over the past two years, the company has reduced its workforce by approximately 21,000 employees—about a quarter of its staff.
According to Reuters, Meta executives have framed these terminations as performance-based cuts, targeting employees who are not meeting newly heightened standards.
Some industry analysts suggest that workers resistant to returning to full-time office work could be among those affected.
University of New Haven business professor James Mohs noted that Meta has been actively raising performance expectations, especially as CEO Mark Zuckerberg pushes for higher productivity.
“Zuckerberg has raised standards,” Mohs said, adding that some employees working remotely may not be meeting those expectations.
Other major tech firms have also announced layoffs
Meta isn’t the only Silicon Valley company trimming its workforce.
Other major tech firms, including Salesforce and Workday, have also announced layoffs this month, citing a shift toward AI-focused investments.
For affected workers, Meta is expected to provide severance packages similar to those given in previous rounds of job cuts.
The company says it remains committed to expanding its AI capabilities, even as it reduces its overall headcount.
With AI becoming an increasing priority for tech giants, job market dynamics in Silicon Valley are shifting.
Companies like Meta are moving aggressively to reallocate resources, prioritizing AI innovation while scaling back on traditional roles.
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