Amazon Plans Second Round of Layoffs as Corporate Job Cuts Target 30,000
Amazon is preparing for a second round of corporate layoffs next week, as part of a broader plan to reduce its white-collar workforce by 30,000 employees, according to a Reuters report dated January 22, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The upcoming layoffs are expected to impact thousands of corporate roles across multiple business units, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), the People Experience and Technology (human resources) team, Prime Video, and the retail division. Sources noted that while plans are underway, they remain subject to change.
Earlier Job Cuts and Scale of Workforce Reduction
In October last year, Amazon eliminated 14,000 white-collar positions, nearly half of its overall target. The company is expected to carry out a similar number of cuts this year to meet its workforce reduction goals.
An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on the report.
How Many Employees Does Amazon Have?
As per a Bloomberg report, Amazon employed approximately 1.57 million people globally as of September 2025, with the majority working in warehouse and logistics roles. Its corporate workforce stood at around 3,50,000 employees, meaning the planned 30,000 job cuts would represent roughly 10% of its corporate staff.
If completed, this would mark Amazon’s largest layoff in three decades, surpassing the 27,000 roles cut in 2022.
Employees impacted in the October round were given 90 days on payroll to either find internal opportunities or seek roles externally. This period is set to expire on January 26, 2026.
Are AI and Automation Driving the Layoffs?
According to Reuters, the October layoffs were linked to Amazon’s growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. An internal memo reportedly described AI as the most transformative technology since the internet, enabling faster innovation and efficiency.
However, during the company’s Q3 earnings call, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy clarified that the workforce reductions were not primarily driven by AI or financial pressures. Instead, he attributed them to organizational restructuring and cultural inefficiencies, noting that companies often accumulate excessive layers over time.
Jassy also indicated that Amazon’s corporate workforce may continue to shrink as AI-driven efficiencies improve. The report added that companies across industries are increasingly using AI for tasks such as software development and routine operations. Amazon’s AWS division recently showcased its latest AI models at its annual cloud computing conference in December.
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