Meta announced significant global job cuts on May 20 . Approximately 8,000 employees, or 10% of its workforce, are affected. The company also moved 7,000 employees to AI-focused roles. An additional 6,000 open positions were eliminated.
Meta employed nearly 77,986 people as of March. These layoffs represent one of the largest workforce reductions in the tech industry this year. Further cuts are possible.
Reuters reported Meta planned cuts affecting 20% or more of its staff. This aims to fund AI infrastructure, streamline management, and build an AI-driven operational model.
Why Layoffs Are Happening
The primary driver is Meta's shift towards Artificial Intelligence. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is investing heavily in AI talent, products, and data centers. The company seeks smaller, faster teams.
Meta stated that AI and automation can now perform tasks previously requiring larger teams. The company prioritizes AI systems and product development roles over support structures.
Singapore Operations Impacted
Meta employees in Singapore received notification around 4 a.m. Workers were initially asked to work from home. Later emails confirmed their roles were affected.
This sudden process highlights the impact on a key regional hub. Singapore is a major base for APAC operations, including sales, policy, and support.
Cuts in such a hub signal that no office is immune to streamlining or AI-driven workflow changes.
Industry-Wide Tech Layoffs
Tech layoffs in 2026 have surpassed 103,000 globally. Companies are reducing costs and shifting investments towards AI and automation.
Other tech firms also announced cuts. LinkedIn plans to reduce its workforce by 5%. Block and Cloudflare are also part of this trend.
Cognizant reportedly plans to cut about 4,000 jobs. This is roughly 1% of its workforce. The company is focusing on automation and AI efficiency under Project Leap.
