Amazon is reportedly planning a major round of job cuts among its corporate employees, with thousands of positions expected to be eliminated as early as this week, according to several media outlets.
Both The Wall Street Journal and Reuters report that up to 30,000 jobs could be affected. The layoffs are part of a cost-cutting strategy led by chief executive Andy Jassy, who has focused on streamlining the company’s operations.
Amazon did not respond to requests for comment from international news organizations.
Major downsizing since post-pandemic boom
If confirmed, this move would represent one of the largest layoffs announced by a major technology company in recent months. It would also mark Amazon’s biggest workforce reduction since 2022, when roughly 27,000 jobs were cut over several months.
Reports from CNBC and The New York Times confirmed similar plans, citing individuals familiar with internal discussions. None of the reports specified which divisions or regions will face the deepest cuts.
Thousands of office roles under threat
The planned layoffs could affect around ten percent of Amazon’s corporate staff. Despite the large number, the cuts would still represent a small portion of the company’s overall global workforce.
Amazon employs more than 1.5 million people around the world in offices and warehouses. U.S. government filings from last year show the company has about 350,000 corporate workers, including managers, executives, and sales teams.
From rapid hiring to strategic contraction
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Amazon expanded rapidly to meet surging demand for online shopping and delivery services. The company added tens of thousands of workers as customers turned to e-commerce.
Since then, CEO Andy Jassy has pushed to rein in spending and focus on efficiency. Amazon is now investing heavily in artificial intelligence to enhance productivity and reduce costs.
AI investment signals shift in workforce needs
Jassy said in June that increased use of AI tools will change the company’s staffing needs as automation takes over repetitive tasks.
“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today,” he said. “And more people doing new kinds of work.”
