Amazon has announced the elimination of 16,000 corporate jobs worldwide, marking its second major round of layoffs in three months. This move is part of a broader restructuring aimed at reducing bureaucracy, improving operational efficiency, and expanding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across the company.
The job cuts follow the company’s earlier reduction of 14,000 white-collar roles in October 2025, affecting teams across Amazon Web Services (AWS), retail, Prime Video, and human resources. Combined, these cuts represent nearly 10% of Amazon’s corporate workforce, though the company’s total global workforce exceeds 1.5 million employees, most of whom work in fulfillment centers and warehouses.
Beth Galetti, Amazon’s Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology, described the latest layoffs as part of ongoing efforts to “strengthen our organization by reducing layers, increasing ownership, and removing bureaucracy.” CEO Andy Jassy has also linked the changes to the company’s broader goal of leveraging AI to automate routine tasks, streamline workflows, and accelerate decision-making processes.
The cuts reflect a post-pandemic shift across major tech companies. During the COVID-19 surge, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft rapidly expanded their corporate workforce, only to now recalibrate in response to slower growth and the increasing adoption of AI-driven systems. Significant improvements in AI assistants are enabling automation across administrative duties, coding, data analysis, and more, reshaping workforce dynamics in the tech sector.
In addition to corporate layoffs, Amazon has announced plans to shutter Amazon Go and Fresh stores, citing challenges in delivering a “distinctive customer experience” under the current economic model. Investments in warehouse robotics and automation continue, allowing the company to reduce reliance on human labor while improving packaging and delivery efficiency.
The 16,000 job cuts underscore Amazon’s focus on operating leaner, faster, and more efficiently, particularly as AI-driven systems become central to its corporate strategy. Employees affected by the reduction are expected to be notified in the coming weeks, as the company finalizes its organizational changes across remaining departments.
