Amazon is preparing to make significant job cuts, reportedly affecting around 16,000 corporate positions as soon as next week. This decision is a part of a broader restructuring initiative designed to lessen management layers and pivot the tech giant’s attention towards artificial intelligence.
These anticipated reductions follow an earlier round in October 2025, when the company reduced its workforce by roughly 14,000 white-collar jobs. As indicated by sources from Business Insider and Reuters, these forthcoming layoffs could total around 30,000 corporate job losses during this ongoing cycle.
While the 30,000 layoffs account for nearly 10% of Amazon’s corporate workforce, they represent just a small segment of its overall 1.5 million employees.
Reports suggest that these layoffs indicate Amazon’s desire to streamline its operations. In October, the company mentioned that these job reductions are a consequence of advancements in AI and automation.
Nonetheless, CEO Andy Jassy later clarified that these layoffs are not primarily motivated by cost-cutting or the impact of AI on employment. He emphasised that the focus is on cultural alignment and ensuring that job roles align with the company’s evolving expectations and operational methods.
The CEO mentioned that an excess of employees had led to increased layers within the organisation during Amazon’s third-quarter earnings presentation.
According to Reuters, expected job losses will span several departments, including Amazon Web Services, retail, Prime Video, and human resources, commonly referred to as ‘People Experience and Technology’ within Amazon. However, the complete extent of the layoffs remains uncertain. An Amazon representative declined to offer further comments on this subject.
This potential layoff of 30,000 employees would mark the largest in Amazon’s 30-year existence. The previous record for job cuts occurred in 2022 when Amazon laid off 27,000 workers.
Workers affected by the October reductions were informed they would continue receiving their salaries for a period of 90 days, giving them time to explore internal opportunities at Amazon or seek new employment elsewhere. This period is set to conclude on January 26.