Irish job fears as Meta to cut 10% of workforce

Company is streamlining operations as it offsets spending on AI

Meta is planning cuts that could affect as many as 8,000 employees globally, part of an effort to streamline operations and offset heavy spending on artificial intelligence.

There are growing fears for jobs in Ireland after Meta confirmed it plans cuts that could affect as many as 8,000 employees globally, part of an effort to streamline operations and offset heavy spending on artificial intelligence.

Meta told personnel in an internal memo on Thursday that it planned to cut 10% of workers, or roughly 8,000 employees, starting on May 20. The social-media company also said it wouldn’t fill 6,000 open roles.

Meta in Ireland employs around 1,700 workers in Ireland, mainly in Dublin. No details of where cuts would be made have been given.

Meta has projected record capital expenditures this year and has announced several multibillion-dollar deals with AI partners over the past few months. Both companies have instituted several rounds of layoffs in recent years.

Meta alluded to its AI spending in the memo, which was written by Janelle Gale, chief people officer. “We’re doing this as part of our continued effort to run the company more efficiently and to allow us to offset the other investments we’re making,” she wrote in the note, which was reviewed by Bloomberg.

Meta employees have spent much of the year fretting about job cuts, which already hit the Reality Labs division and other teams. Ms Gale said that the company was announcing the layoffs early since details of the plan had already leaked. Reuters first reported on Meta’s planned workforce reductions earlier this month.

“I know this is unwelcome news and confirming this puts everyone in an uneasy state, but we feel this is the best path forward, given the circumstances,” Ms Gale wrote.

Earlier on Thursday, Microsoft issued its own memo offering voluntary buyouts to thousands of its US employees. About 7% of the US workforce will be eligible for the buyouts, according to a person familiar with the planning. The company has never previously done buyouts of this scale, said the person, who requested anonymity to discuss an internal matter.

Microsoft’s buyout programme is being offered to workers whose years of service plus their age totals 70 or more, excluding some senior roles or those on sales incentive plans, according to the memo from chief people officer Amy Coleman.

“I’ve never seen the company move with this level of urgency and pace, and I see the intensity and agility you bring every day,” Ms Coleman wrote in the memo, which was reviewed by Bloomberg. “To sustain this pace, we have to stay focused on doing great work, trusting and empowering our managers and simplifying to support everyone.” Both companies are scheduled to report quarterly earnings on April 29.

Bloomberg