Meta has initiated its latest round of workforce reductions, affecting approximately 5% of its global staff, or around 3,600 employees. The performance-based terminations will be carried out across different regions over several days, with US employees among the first to receive notifications.
The move echoes similar strategic shifts at tech giants like Microsoft, which recently announced targeted staff reductions. Meta’s Head of People Janelle Gale characterized the layoffs as “performance terminations” in internal memos.
Staff in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will be exempt from this round of cuts due to local regulations. Employees in other parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa will receive notifications over the coming weeks.
This latest restructuring follows a pattern of strategic adjustments at Meta, including a focus on retaining top talent while moving to “exit low performers faster.” The company is also pushing forward with targeted hiring initiatives for machine learning engineers and other critical engineering roles.
The move reflects an evolving focus on AI within the tech sector. Despite reducing headcount in certain areas, Meta is actively recruiting for machine learning engineering roles, suggesting a strategic emphasis on emerging technologies. This shift follows significant workforce adjustments in the tech industry, including Meta’s own restructuring initiatives and Microsoft’s recent staff reductions.
The selective nature of these layoffs, combined with targeted hiring in AI and engineering roles, may signal an evolution in tech industry employment practices. As companies navigate the balance between traditional roles and emerging technology needs, this trend could influence hiring practices over the next year and beyond.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/esatdedezade/2025/02/10/meta-job-cuts-begin-today-as-tech-giants-increase-focus-on-ai