Amazon to Lay Off 16,000 Employees in Global Restructuring
Amazon said it will lay off about 16,000 employees worldwide as part of a broader restructuring of its corporate workforce, according to Reuters.
The layoffs target corporate roles rather than warehouse or delivery jobs and reflect Amazon’s effort to reduce bureaucracy, control costs, and adapt its workforce to long-term changes driven by automation and AI.
The latest cuts follow a previous round announced in late 2025, bringing Amazon’s total job reductions to roughly 30,000 positions in recent months. Amazon employs an estimated 350,000 corporate workers globally, meaning the new layoffs represent close to 10 percent of that workforce.
Why Amazon Is Cutting Jobs
Amazon executives have pointed to pandemic-era overhiring, slower growth, and internal complexity as key reasons for the layoffs. During the COVID-19 boom, the company expanded rapidly across its retail, cloud, and digital services businesses to meet surging demand. As consumer behavior normalized, leadership began reassessing staffing levels and organizational structure.
The company has also made a concerted push to streamline decision-making by reducing management layers. Executives say a leaner structure will allow teams to move faster and focus on fewer priorities.
Artificial intelligence is another central factor. Amazon has increased investment in AI systems that can automate tasks previously handled by corporate staff, particularly in areas such as internal operations, reporting, and customer support. CEO Andy Jassy has previously said AI will change how work is done across the company and reduce the need for certain roles over time.
Who Is Affected
The layoffs primarily impact white-collar employees across several divisions, including Amazon Web Services, retail, advertising, Prime Video, and human resources. Amazon said frontline roles in fulfillment centers and delivery operations are not part of this round.
Affected employees will receive advance notice and severance packages, with details varying by country and region. Some workers will also have the option to apply for other internal roles before their exit dates.
A Broader Tech Industry Shift
Amazon’s move mirrors a wider trend across the technology sector. Large tech companies have been scaling back hiring after years of rapid expansion, responding to tighter budgets, investor pressure, and advances in automation.
What distinguishes Amazon’s layoffs is the company’s explicit link between job reductions and AI adoption. Rather than framing the cuts solely as cost-cutting, Amazon is positioning them as part of a longer-term shift in how work is structured and performed.
What This Means for the Future of Work
If similar cuts continue across the industry, the nature of corporate jobs could change in lasting ways. Roles focused on routine processes and coordination may shrink, while demand grows for employees with skills tied to AI development, system oversight, and data analysis.
For workers, this trend highlights the growing importance of adaptability and continuous skill development. For employers, it raises questions about how to balance efficiency gains with employee morale and long-term innovation.
What Comes Next for Amazon
Amazon says the layoffs are intended to leave the company more agile and better positioned for future growth. Leadership believes fewer layers and greater automation will improve execution and allow teams to focus on high-impact work.
Whether that strategy delivers sustained benefits remains to be seen. What is clear is that Amazon’s decision reflects a broader recalibration underway across corporate America, where technology and efficiency are increasingly reshaping the workforce.
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