Meta to Lay Off Up to 350 Staff in Ireland Amid Global AI-Driven Cuts
Meta is laying off up to 350 staff in Ireland as part of a global plan to cut 8,000 jobs, driven by increased AI integration. Employees were notified, and the Department of Enterprise was informed. This follows previous Irish redundancies and reflects CEO Mark Zuckerberg's vision for AI-transformed operations.
Meta plans to lay off up to 350 staff in its Irish workforce as part of a global initiative to reduce headcount and increase automation. This move contributes to Meta's goal of cutting 8,000 roles worldwide this year, representing about 10% of its global workforce, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes AI will transform company operations.
Impacted employees, including those in engineering, were notified via email. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment confirmed receiving notification of Meta's proposed collective redundancies. This follows previous layoffs in Ireland affecting over 800 roles, and agency companies like Covalen, which support Meta projects, have also announced cuts.
Meta has invested billions in AI, with Zuckerberg stating that AI would dramatically change the company by 2026, enabling projects previously requiring large teams to be handled by fewer individuals. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has expressed government concern regarding AI's impact on employment and is reviewing proposals to identify its implications over the coming years.
A Meta spokesperson confirmed the global workforce reduction is part of efforts to operate more efficiently and offset other investments, adding that the company has notified affected employees and the Department of Enterprise about its collective consultation process for redundancies.