Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is set to begin mass layoffs today as part of its strategy to boost hiring for machine learning engineers. Employees across Europe, Asia, and Africa will receive their layoff notifications between February 11 and February 18, while those in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands are exempt due to local regulations, according to an internal memo reported by Reuters.
Last month, Meta confirmed plans to cut about 5% of its “lowest performers” while refilling select positions. CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended the move, stating that the company aims to “raise the bar on performance” and swiftly remove underperformers. He also warned that 2024 and 2025 will be “challenging years” as Meta prioritizes AI and metaverse investments while striving for profitability.
Unlike previous layoffs, Meta will keep its offices open and will not provide additional updates regarding the terminations. Meanwhile, VP of Engineering for Monetization, Peng Fan, urged employees to support an accelerated hiring process for machine learning engineers and other “business-critical” positions, with hiring running from February 11 to March 13.
This wave of job cuts underscores the mounting pressure on tech giants to remain competitive in the AI era, even at the cost of widespread workforce reductions.
