Amazon Prepares Another Round of Corporate Layoffs
- Amazon’s job cuts to affect AWS, retail, HR units.
- CEO Jassy attributes cuts to company culture, not financial or AI reasons.
- Layoffs represent nearly 10% of Amazon’s corporate workforce.
Second Wave of Cuts Targets Multiple Divisions
Amazon is preparing a new round of corporate layoffs that could begin as early as Tuesday, according to individuals familiar with the plans. The company previously cut around 14,000 white‑collar jobs in October, representing roughly half of its long‑term target of eliminating 30,000 corporate positions. This upcoming phase is expected to be similar in scale, though the exact number of affected employees remains uncertain. Roles in Amazon Web Services, retail, Prime Video and human resources are likely to be impacted, but the scope may shift as plans evolve.
The October layoffs were initially linked to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, with internal communications describing AI as the most transformative technology since the early Internet era. CEO Andy Jassy later clarified that the cuts were not primarily driven by financial pressures or AI adoption, but by a need to reduce bureaucracy and streamline decision‑making. He noted that large organizations can accumulate layers of management over time, prompting the need for structural adjustments. Jassy also said earlier in 2025 that efficiencies gained from AI would gradually reduce the size of Amazon’s corporate workforce.
Automation Trends Influence Corporate Restructuring
Companies across the tech sector are increasingly using AI to automate routine tasks, generate software code and reduce reliance on human labor. Amazon highlighted its latest AI models during its annual AWS conference in December, emphasizing their role in improving internal productivity. The planned 30,000 job cuts represent nearly 10% of Amazon’s corporate workforce but only a small fraction of its 1.58 million total employees, most of whom work in fulfillment and logistics. If completed, the reduction would surpass the company’s previous record layoff of 27,000 roles in 2022.
Workers affected by the October layoffs were kept on payroll for 90 days, giving them time to apply for internal roles or seek outside employment. That transition period ends on Monday, coinciding with the expected start of the new round of cuts. Amazon has not publicly commented on the upcoming layoffs, and internal details may continue to shift. The restructuring underscores the company’s ongoing effort to balance operational efficiency with the demands of a rapidly evolving technology landscape.
