By The Sampadak Express
Meta, the tech giant led by Mark Zuckerberg, is set to proceed with its planned layoffs next week, with reports indicating that around 3,600 employees will be let go. This move is part of the company’s broader strategy to streamline its operations, which has included a focus on bolstering its workforce in certain key areas, such as machine learning engineering.
Layoff Notices Begin Monday
According to a Reuters report, Meta has informed employees through an internal memo that the layoffs will begin on Monday, February 12, at 5 a.m. local time in many countries, including the United States. The notices will be issued to employees affected by the decision, marking the beginning of a new round of job cuts aimed at reducing the company’s workforce.
However, employees in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will be exempt from these layoffs due to local labor regulations, which restrict or regulate such cuts. In addition, workers across more than a dozen countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa will receive their layoff notifications between February 11 and February 18.
Focus on ‘Lowest Performers’Meta confirmed in a previous statement that the layoffs are part of a plan to eliminate 5% of the company’s “lowest performers.” The company has made it clear that the cuts are not part of a broader, across-the-board reduction in its workforce but are instead focused on employees who are not meeting the company’s performance expectations. Despite these layoffs, Meta has also announced plans to backfill some of the positions, particularly in critical areas like machine learning.
The move comes as Meta continues to shift its focus toward artificial intelligence and other high-priority engineering roles that are critical to its long-term strategy. As part of its restructuring, Meta has been working to expedite the hiring of machine learning engineers, signaling the company’s intent to invest heavily in AI.
Recruiting New Talent
In line with this push for critical talent, Meta’s Head of People, Janelle Gale, informed staff that the company will continue with its hiring goals despite the layoffs. A separate internal memo shared by Peng Fan, VP of Engineering for Monetization, emphasized the company’s push for an expedited hiring process, particularly for machine learning engineers and other engineering roles deemed crucial to the company’s growth.
The accelerated hiring initiative will take place between February 11 and March 13, 2025, with the aim of filling these specialized roles quickly and efficiently to align with the company’s strategic priorities for the coming years.
Meta’s Strategy for 2025The company’s broader strategy appears to be focused on reshaping its workforce to meet the demands of its future business objectives. With plans to focus more on business-critical roles, especially in areas like machine learning, Meta aims to align its workforce with its evolving technological and financial goals.“
Thank you for your continued support in helping us achieve our accelerated hiring goals and better align with our company’s priorities for 2025,” stated Fan in his memo.
The Broader Economic Context
This news comes amid broader trends in the U.S. job market, with reports showing a slowdown in job openings. According to a recent Bloomberg report, job openings in the U.S. fell by more than expected in December, dropping to a three-month low. This decrease in available positions reflects a general cooling of the labor market, which has seen a decline in demand for workers in various sectors.In December, the number of job openings decreased to 7.6 million, down from 8.
16 million in November. This aligns with reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), which revealed a slowdown in hiring across industries.
What’s Next for Meta?
Meta’s layoffs are part of a broader trend in the tech industry, where many companies are seeking to reduce costs and refocus on critical strategic areas. While Meta is laying off thousands of employees, the company is also aiming to ensure that it maintains a competitive edge in areas like machine learning, which could shape the future of the company’s products and services.
As Meta pushes ahead with these layoffs and its strategic realignment, the company will face the challenge of balancing its workforce reductions with the need to attract and retain the right talent in key areas. The impact of these decisions on the company’s long-term growth and employee morale will likely unfold over the coming months.
