Meta weighs deep job cuts as AI spending pressure grows

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published March 22, 2026

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Meta is considering a major workforce reduction that could exceed 20% of its staff, according to a Reuters report published on March 14, 2026, citing three sources familiar with the discussions. Reuters said the scale of the cuts has not been finalized and no date has been set for the layoffs.

The report also said Meta spokesperson Andy Stone described the story as speculative reporting about theoretical approaches, meaning the company has not announced a final decision. Meta’s latest filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission shows the company had 78,865 employees as of December 31, 2025.

The possible move comes as Meta sharply ramps up spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. In January, the company said it expected 2026 capital expenditures of $115 billion to $135 billion, driven by infrastructure costs, higher depreciation tied to AI data center assets, and rising operating expenses.

Reuters said layoffs on that scale would mark Meta’s biggest workforce reduction since its 2022–2023 “year of efficiency” restructuring. Meta shares also rose nearly 3% on March 16 after the report, suggesting investors viewed potential cuts as a way to offset mounting AI-related costs.