Why Did Meta Just Lay Off So Many Employees and Which Teams Got Hit?

10 hours ago 9

March 26, 2026 | 05:01 pm

Meta logo. Shutterstock

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On Wednesday, March 25, Meta confirmed a fresh round of layoffs affecting several hundred employees across the company. This decision is reflected in the company's ongoing effort to restructure internal operations and realign business priorities, CNBC reported.

In an official statement, a Meta spokesperson emphasized that internal restructuring is a regular practice. “Teams across Meta regularly restructure or implement changes to ensure they’re in the best position to achieve their goals,” the company noted.

The statement also added that Meta will work to identify “other opportunities for employees whose positions may be impacted.”

The recent layoffs come as Meta intensifies its focus on artificial intelligence, investing heavily to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive environment. The company is racing to keep pace with major AI players such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, as per Reuters.

Meta’s capital expenditure on AI for 2026 is projected to reach between $115 billion and $135 billion, nearly double its spending in 2025. While Meta described related reports as “speculative,” it did not deny that workforce planning discussions are ongoing.

Teams Impacted by Recent Meta Layoff

Arriving in the Q1 of 2026, this layoff extended across multiple divisions in Meta, including Facebook, global operations, recruiting, sales, and the company’s virtual reality unit, Reality Labs.

Most affected employees were notified on Wednesday, though some may receive updates in the coming weeks depending on their location and individual circumstances.

NBC added, in certain cases, employees are being offered alternative roles within the company, while others may be given the option to relocate.

Ahead of the announcements, according to Business Insiders some employees received a message on Tuesday night instructing them to work remotely the following day. The internal communication, sent by HR, indicated that further details would be shared by leadership.

Mark Zuckerberg’s AI Grand Plan in 2026

Earlier in January, Meta reduced more than 1,000 jobs within its Reality Labs division and shut down several studios focused on virtual reality content. The cuts affected roughly 10% of the unit, which develops Quest VR headsets and the Horizon Worlds platform.

Despite these reductions, the company expects Reality Labs to continue generating significant losses. In 2025, the division reported an operating loss of $6.02 billion on $955 million in revenue, with similar performance projected for 2026.

Amid these challenges, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has pointed to artificial intelligence as a key driver of future growth. He noted that AI is already transforming productivity, allowing projects that once required large teams to be completed by a single highly skilled individual.

Read: Meta Lays Off Hundreds Across Divisions as AI Spending Surges

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