Layoffs news: Meta, BlackRock, Citigroup to fire hundreds of employees — and it’s just the first month of 2026
Layoffs in 2026: At least three major companies have announced mass layoffs in recent days, and January isn’t over yet. The job loss trend that has affected 2025 appears to have entered 2026 as well, with giants such as Meta, Citi Group and BlackRock laying off thousands of staff in different roles – at least for now.
The layoffs at BlackRock were the latest layoffs announced by a major company this month, and the company said it would lay off hundreds of employees.
Here is the list of major companies worldwide announcing layoffs in 2026:
Meta Layoffs
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta plans to cut 10% of its workforce in the company’s Reality Labs sector as it plans to restructure to put more money into artificial intelligence, Bloomberg reports.
Layoffs at Meta are expected towards the end of this week as the company looks to shift money from some virtual reality products to other AI wearables, according to a report citing a person familiar with the development.
Last year, Mark Zuckerberg asked company executives to investigate budget cuts at Reality Labs.
Citigroup Layoffs
Banking giant Citigroup is about to lay off nearly 1,000 employees this week as CEO Jane Fraser wants to control costs and increase returns at the company. According to shared data, the Wall Street bank had approximately 227,000 employees as of the end of September.
The latest layoffs at Citigroup come as part of a plan the company announced two years ago to cut 20,000 jobs by the end of 2026, according to a Bloomberg report citing knowledgeable people.
“We will continue to reduce our headcount in 2026,” Citigroup said in a statement.
“These changes reflect adjustments we have made to ensure our staffing levels, locations and expertise are aligned with current business needs, the efficiencies we are achieving through technology and progress on our transformation efforts,” he added.
Under the stewardship of Fraser, who took over as CEO in 2021, Citigroup has seen a company-wide revamp, exiting most of its international retail businesses and restructuring its core operations.
Layoffs at BlackRock
BlackRock said Monday it will lay off hundreds of employees across the company, becoming the latest Wall Street firm to announce layoffs.
Layoffs at BlackRock will see around 1% of its workforce laid off, accounting for around 250 employees across divisions, according to a Bloomberg report citing people with knowledge of the matter.
“Improving BlackRock is an ongoing priority. Each year, we make decisions to ensure that our resources are aligned with our goals and that we are well positioned to serve our clients today and into the future,” a BlackRock spokesperson told Bloomberg.
The move comes as the CEO of the world’s largest asset management company pushes for alternative investments.
