Empty Meta office with security guard
Meta is set to reduce its workforce in Washington state by nearly 1,400 employees, impacting offices in Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond. The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring as the company doubles down on artificial intelligence initiatives.
Filings with Washington state officials reveal that terminations will commence on July 22. The move follows Meta’s recent announcement to cut roughly 10% of its workforce while reallocating resources to AI-centric roles.
Bellevue will be the most affected location, with 699 positions eliminated. The cuts also include 259 employees across two Seattle offices, 206 in Redmond, and 231 remote workers throughout the state.
The layoffs span various roles, including software engineers, data scientists, content designers, and IT staff, signaling a deep restructuring within Meta’s technical divisions. A company spokesperson stated that the changes include layoffs, role closures, and the reassignment of employees to critical business priorities.
Meta has been aggressively investing in AI, allocating billions to data centers, advanced chips, and internal AI tools to compete with firms like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has emphasized AI as a core component of Meta’s future strategy, even as the company reduces headcount.
As of March, Meta employed nearly 78,000 workers globally. Employees affected by the Washington layoffs were notified on May 20 and will receive pay and benefits through their termination dates, according to Janelle Gale, Meta’s Chief People Officer.
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