Meta plans to downsize headcount significantly to address rising costs linked to artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, according to multiple sources, including Reuters.
In 2026, Meta is reportedly planning a major round of layoffs that could affect 20% or roughly 15,000 to 16,000 of its employees.
As per Meta’s latest filing, it employs a total of 79,000 people worldwide.
Meta has yet to officially confirm the planned layoffs, which are reportedly intended to offset the company’s massive $135 billion capital expenditure projected for 2026, primarily driven by AI infrastructure costs.
To date, Meta has laid off approximately 22,500 employees. If the recently reported 20% job trimming is finalized, Meta’s total layoffs since 2022 will surpass 38,500 employees.
Meta has hired roughly 24,000 new employees since its major 2023 layoffs as part of a strategic pivot toward artificial intelligence (AI). It is actively recruiting for highly specialized roles, often offering compensation packages worth hundreds of millions of dollars to lure talent from competitors like OpenAI and Google.
Despite AI automation, Meta is still recruiting new grads for entry-level software engineering roles, with base salaries starting between $176,000 and $290,000.
The company is currently executing a revolving door talent strategy, meaning firing legacy researchers to fund the hiring of high-talent AI specialists.
Routine operational roles are being phased out as Meta implements more AI-assisted internal workflows.
Meta is expected to further thin down its management team, like other tech giants Amazon recently did.