Amazon is preparing to cut as many as 30,000 corporate jobs beginning Tuesday, as part of its efforts to streamline operations and offset overhiring during the pandemic’s e-commerce boom, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.
The figure, while a small portion of Amazon’s 1.55 million global employees, represents nearly 10% of its 350,000 corporate workforce. The layoffs would be Amazon’s largest job reduction since late 2022, when the company eliminated around 27,000 positions.
An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on the planned layoffs.
Multiple divisions likely to be impacted
Sources said the cuts will affect several divisions, including human resources (People Experience and Technology or PXT), operations, devices and services, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Managers of affected teams reportedly received training on Monday to prepare for staff notifications beginning Tuesday morning.
Over the past two years, Amazon has already reduced headcount in smaller waves across units such as devices, communications, and podcasting. However, this latest round is expected to be broader and deeper.
Push to reduce bureaucracy, enhance efficiency
CEO Andy Jassy has led an initiative to reduce corporate bureaucracy and simplify management layers. Earlier this year, he introduced an anonymous complaint line for employees to flag inefficiencies, resulting in 1,500 submissions and over 450 process changes.
Jassy has also acknowledged that artificial intelligence tools are playing a growing role in automating repetitive tasks, potentially contributing to further job reductions.
“This latest move signals that Amazon is realizing enough AI-driven productivity gains within corporate teams to support a substantial reduction in force,” said Sky Canaves, an eMarketer analyst.
HR division, remote workers particularly affected
Reports suggest the human resources division could face cuts of around 15%, according to Fortune. Additionally, Amazon’s return-to-office policy, requiring employees to be in the office five days a week, has not led to the level of attrition the company expected.
Two sources said some remote employees, particularly those living far from corporate offices, are being told they “voluntarily quit” for non-compliance—meaning they must leave without severance, helping the company save costs.
According to Layoffs.fyi, nearly 98,000 tech jobs have been lost so far in 2025 across 216 companies, compared to 153,000 total job cuts in 2024. Amazon’s latest move adds to a continuing wave of corporate downsizing in the technology sector.
