Meta, Microsoft, and Snap laid off 17,000 people in a week, and their stock prices collectively rose.

AIMPACT News, April 27 (UTC+8), in April 2026, the three major tech companies in Silicon Valley announced a total of approximately 17k layoffs. Snap laid off 1,000 employees, accounting for 16% of its workforce; Meta laid off 8,000 employees, accounting for 10%, effective May 20; Microsoft offered voluntary buyout plans to about 7% of its U.S. employees, involving approximately 8,750 people. Notably, after the layoffs were announced, the stock prices of these companies all rose across the board, with Snap’s stock price increasing by 11%. Meanwhile, major tech giants are significantly increasing investments in AI infrastructure: Meta plans to invest between $115 billion and $135 billion in AI infrastructure by 2026, and Microsoft’s AI expenditure in 2025 will reach $88 billion. Public opinion believes that tech companies are reducing labor costs through layoffs and redirecting resources toward AI, a trend that has sparked widespread discussions about AI’s impact on employment.