Amazon is preparing for more layoffs as it continues to cut costs and streamline its operations. These job cuts are expected to start this week and will mostly impact corporate, or white-collar, positions in several main departments.
Reports suggest the total number of corporate jobs eliminated could reach 30,000, following multiple rounds of layoffs over the past months. Earlier in October, Amazon had already cut nearly 14,000 corporate positions, which was about half of the planned reductions.
Main Business Units That May Be Affected
The upcoming layoffs are likely to impact teams in the following areas:
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Retail operations
- Prime Video
- Human resources under the People Experience and Technology group
Amazon has not yet confirmed how many jobs will be cut or exactly when each department will be affected.
This new round of layoffs is happening as Amazon’s 90-day internal job search period ends for employees affected by the October cuts. During those 90 days, workers could apply for other jobs at Amazon before their positions were permanently removed.
Now that this period is over, Amazon is likely to see one of its biggest rounds of corporate job losses ever.
CEO Andy Jassy has said several times that these job cuts are part of a cultural and structural reset, not just a financial move.
According to Jassy, Amazon expanded rapidly during the pandemic and ended up with too many layers of management. This, he said, created bureaucracy that slowed decision-making and reduced accountability. He believes a simpler and flatter structure will help Amazon move faster and perform better in the long run.
Artificial Intelligence Is Becoming More Important
At the same time, Amazon is putting a lot of focus on artificial intelligence (AI) to drive its future growth.
In a recent message to shareholders, Amazon called generative AI the most transformative technology since the internet. The company expects AI to greatly boost productivity in many areas of its business.
This push toward automation and AI is also influencing workforce changes, as the company reshapes teams to match new technology needs.
Amazon has about 1.58 million employees worldwide, with most working in warehouses and fulfillment centers. The current layoffs mainly target corporate and technology jobs. Reports estimate that nearly 10% of Amazon’s white-collar workforce could be affected by the ongoing cuts.
Part of a Larger Trend in the Tech Industry
Amazon is not alone in trimming staff. Many major technology companies have continued layoffs into 2026, after heavy hiring during the pandemic.
Companies in the industry say the main reasons are:
- Cost control
- Streamlining operations
- Increased use of AI and automation
as the main reasons for cutting jobs.
What These Changes Mean for Amazon
The size of these layoffs shows how Amazon is trying to balance investing in new technology with keeping costs down.
CEO Andy Jassy is betting that a leaner organisation will lead to faster decisions and stronger performance. Employees and investors will be closely watching to see whether this strategy delivers the results Amazon aims to achieve.
