Amazon is preparing to cut tens of thousands of corporate positions as part of a major global restructuring, multiple media outlets report. The layoffs could begin as early as this week.
Reports from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters indicate that the company plans to eliminate up to 30,000 jobs. The move is part of a cost-cutting and efficiency drive led by chief executive Andy Jassy, aimed at refocusing the company after years of rapid expansion.
Amazon declined to comment when approached by international news organizations.
Largest layoffs since 2022
If confirmed, the reductions would rank among the biggest in the technology sector this year. They would also mark Amazon’s largest workforce cut since 2022, when around 27,000 employees were dismissed over several months.
Reports from CNBC and The New York Times cited sources familiar with internal discussions. The reports did not clarify which regions or departments will be affected the most.
Corporate staff to bear the brunt
The layoffs are expected to impact roughly ten percent of Amazon’s corporate workforce. Despite the large number, it represents only a small portion of the company’s total global staff of more than 1.5 million employees.
According to U.S. filings, Amazon employs about 350,000 corporate workers worldwide, including executives, managers, and sales teams.
Pandemic hiring boom reverses
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Amazon expanded rapidly to meet surging demand for online shopping and delivery services. The company added thousands of workers as millions of customers shifted to e-commerce.
Now, under CEO Andy Jassy, Amazon is prioritizing cost control and operational efficiency. The company is also investing heavily in artificial intelligence to increase productivity and streamline operations.
AI expected to reshape workforce
Jassy said in June that AI will drive major changes in staffing. Automation, he explained, will replace many routine tasks while creating new roles in other areas.
“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today,” Jassy said. “And more people doing new kinds of work that these technologies create.”
