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Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, is set to begin its anticipated company-wide layoffs next week while simultaneously fast-tracking the hiring of machine learning engineers, according to internal memos obtained by Reuters.
The layoffs, which will affect approximately 5% of Meta’s workforce, will begin at 5 a.m. local time on Monday, February 12, in most countries, including the U.S. Employees in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will be exempt due to local labour regulations, while those in other regions across Europe, Asia, and Africa will be notified between February 11 and February 18.
Meta’s Head of People, Janelle Gale, referred to the layoffs as “performance terminations” in the memo. Unlike previous rounds of layoffs, Meta plans to keep its offices open and will not issue additional public updates on the decision.
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At the same time, the company is prioritising hiring for “business-critical” engineering roles, particularly in machine learning. Meta’s VP of Engineering for Monetisation, Peng Fan, urged employees to support the expedited recruitment process, which will take place from February 11 to March 13.
“Thank you for your continued support in helping us achieve our accelerated hiring goals and better align with our company’s priorities for 2025,” Fan stated.
A Meta spokesperson declined to comment on the memos. The company’s recent moves reflect its ongoing push into AI and automation, even as it trims its workforce in other areas.
