This post was originally published on this site.
Meta begins its latest round of workforce reductions today, initiating performance-based terminations across its global operations — a move that echoes similar strategic shifts at other tech giants like Microsoft, who recently announced its own targeted staff reductions last month.
According to internal memos obtained by Reuters, Meta will have notified affected employees in most countries from 5 a.m. local time today, implementing its previously announced plan to reduce approximately 5% of its workforce. The layoffs — characterized as “performance terminations” in a memo from Meta’s Head of People Janelle Gale — will roll out across different regions over several days, with employees in the United States among the first to receive notifications.
The timing of notifications will vary by region, with staff in Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands exempt from the current round of cuts due to local regulations, according to the Reuters report. Employees across other parts of Europe, Asia and Africa will receive their notifications over the coming weeks.
This latest workforce adjustment follows a pattern of strategic restructuring at Meta. In January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized in an internal memo the company’s focus on retaining top talent while moving to “exit low performers faster.” The cuts are expected to affect approximately 3,600 employees, based on the company’s current workforce numbers.
Notably, this round of layoffs differs from previous experiences. According to the internal memo seen by Reuters, Meta plans to keep its offices open during the notification period and will not provide additional company-wide updates about the decisions.
While implementing these cuts, Meta is also simultaneously pushing forward with targeted hiring initiatives. A separate internal memo from VP of Engineering for Monetization Peng Fan, as reported by Reuters, outlined plans for an expedited hiring process for machine learning engineers and other “business critical” engineering roles, scheduled to take place between Feb. 11 and March 13.
A Focus On AI
Mark Zuckerberg wearing prototype AI glasses that can display digital objects in transparent lenses.
dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images
The latest changes at Meta reflect an evolving focus on AI within the company and across the tech sector. While reducing headcount in certain areas, the company is actively recruiting for machine learning engineering roles, suggesting a strategic emphasis on emerging technologies. In his internal communications Zuckerberg emphasized Meta’s focus on “building some of the most important technologies of the world. AI, glasses as the next computing platform and the future of social media.”
This strategic shift follows several major workforce adjustments in the tech sector. Meta’s previous restructuring initiatives included a significant reduction of 11,000 roles in 2022, followed by another 10,000 positions during what Zuckerberg dubbed the ‘Year of Efficiency’ in 2023 Meanwhile, Microsoft has pursued its own strategic reductions, cutting 10,000 roles in 2023 and recently eliminating 1,900 positions in its gaming division following the Activision Blizzard acquisition.
Given that the approaches of tech giants like Meta and Microsoft frequently influence practices across the wider sector, this pattern may be particularly significant as companies navigate the balance between traditional roles and emerging technology needs.
The selective nature of current reductions, combined with targeted hiring in machine learning and engineering roles, points to a possible evolution in tech industry employment practices. Companies appear to be moving away from broad-based hiring towards more focused talent acquisition strategies aligned with specific technological priorities.
With today’s reported cuts marking another potential strategic pivot in Silicon Valley, Meta’s emphasis on machine learning talent while trimming existing teams may signal a defining moment in tech employment and development. As the notifications roll out, it’s likely that the industry is watching closely to see how this latest reshaping of tech talent could influence hiring practices over the next year and beyond.