Amazon is poised to eliminate approximately 14,000 corporate jobs starting next week, marking the second substantial layoff wave since October. This latest round of cuts will bring the total reductions to around 30,000 roles, the most significant in the company’s three-decade history. According to CEO Andy Jassy, the layoffs are not motivated by advancements in artificial intelligence or financial pressures but rather by a desire to address excessive bureaucracy and organizational layers within the company.
The impending job cuts will impact various divisions, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), retail, Prime Video, and human resources, also known internally as People Experience and Technology (PXT). This latest round of layoffs follows an initial reduction of about 14,000 white-collar jobs announced last October, highlighting a continued effort to streamline operations.
In a third-quarter earnings call, Jassy underscored that the layoffs should not be interpreted as a reaction to financial instability or the rapid integration of AI technologies. “It’s not really financially driven and it’s not even really AI-driven. It’s culture,” he stated, emphasizing the need to eliminate managerial layers to restore a more agile, startup-like environment. This shift in narrative reflects a broader struggle for Amazon to communicate its restructuring strategy effectively.
Analysts have noted the inconsistency in messaging from Amazon. While layoffs in October were associated with the transformative impact of AI—described as “the most transformative technology we’ve seen since the Internet”—Jassy’s recent comments shifted the focus to internal culture and operational efficiency.
The planned reductions represent nearly 10% of Amazon’s corporate workforce, which numbers approximately 350,000. However, these cuts will account for less than 2% of the company’s total workforce of 1.58 million, the majority of whom are employed in warehouses and fulfillment centers. Beth Galetti, Amazon’s Senior Vice President of PXT, acknowledged the paradox of reducing jobs amidst strong business performance, stating that remaining competitive necessitates a leaner organizational structure.
Amazon has offered affected employees similar support as seen in previous layoffs, including severance pay, outplacement services, and extended health insurance benefits. Employees impacted by the October layoffs were granted a 90-day window to secure new positions within the company or seek external employment, with that period set to expire on Monday. The company plans to provide comparable assistance to those facing layoffs in the upcoming round.
As part of a broader initiative to improve operational efficiency, Jassy has implemented an anonymous complaint system aimed at identifying inefficiencies. This system has reportedly generated over 1,500 responses and led to more than 450 process changes. In addition, the CEO has enforced a stringent five-day in-office mandate, one of the most rigorous return-to-office policies in the tech sector; however, sources indicate that it has not resulted in the voluntary attrition Amazon had anticipated.
As Amazon navigates this challenging transition, the company continues to reshape its workforce and operational strategy in response to both internal pressures and market dynamics. The upcoming layoffs, while significant, illustrate a broader trend among tech companies reassessing their organizational structures in an era of rapid technological advancement and evolving consumer expectations.
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