Amazon Plans Thousands of New Corporate Layoffs

Amazon is preparing to eliminate thousands of corporate positions in the coming days, according to people familiar with the matter. This would mark the company's second major wave of layoffs since October, when it cut approximately 14,000 jobs.

The upcoming reductions are expected to affect a similar number of roles as the previous round. When combined with the October cuts, total job losses would approach 30,000 positions.

These moves underscore the technology giant's continued efforts to streamline operations and reset its corporate culture. The company employs more than 1.5 million people globally, with corporate workers representing about 350,000 of that total.

The latest round of job reductions could begin as early as next week, signaling an accelerated timeline for the company's restructuring efforts. Sources indicate that the cuts will specifically target corporate employees rather than warehouse or fulfillment workers.

This development follows a pattern of workforce adjustments that began in October. During that initial wave, Amazon eliminated approximately 14,000 positions across various departments.

The company's leadership has been evaluating its organizational structure and staffing needs for months. These assessments have resulted in difficult decisions about which roles remain essential to Amazon's future direction.

Key details about the upcoming reductions include:

• Targeted positions: Corporate employees only
• Expected timeline: Beginning next week
• Previous cuts: 14,000 jobs in October
• Projected total: Nearly 30,000 positions eliminated

Amazon's leadership has framed these workforce reductions as part of a broader cultural transformation rather than purely a cost-cutting measure. When the October layoffs were first announced, the company initially attributed them to changes brought on by artificial intelligence.

However, CEO Andy Jassy later clarified that the job cuts were actually tied to cultural fit rather than cost savings or AI implementation. This distinction suggests the company is reevaluating what it values in its workforce and how employees align with Amazon's evolving identity.

The layoffs were instead tied to cultural fit, not cost savings or AI.

The emphasis on cultural alignment indicates Amazon is looking for employees who can adapt to changing business priorities and operational efficiency goals. This approach represents a significant shift in how the company evaluates talent and organizational structure.

Amazon's workforce remains massive despite the planned reductions. The company currently employs more than 1.5 million people worldwide, making it one of the largest employers on the planet.

However, the corporate workforce represents a relatively small portion of this total. Approximately 350,000 employees work in corporate roles, meaning the planned cuts could affect a significant percentage of this segment.

The decision to focus cuts on corporate positions reflects a strategic choice to streamline administrative and operational functions while maintaining the company's extensive logistics and fulfillment network. This approach allows Amazon to preserve its core delivery capabilities while reducing overhead costs.

Despite the scale of these reductions, Amazon's overall employment numbers will remain substantial. The company continues to hire for critical positions even as it eliminates others, creating a complex reshuffling of its talent landscape.

When contacted for comment about the upcoming layoffs, an Amazon spokesperson did not respond to requests for information. This silence leaves employees and observers relying on information from people familiar with the company's plans.

The lack of official communication from Amazon's leadership team creates uncertainty for the workforce. Corporate employees are left waiting for formal announcements about which departments and positions will be affected.

Previous rounds of layoffs at major technology companies have often been accompanied by internal memos and public statements explaining the rationale. Amazon's approach, at least so far, has been more circumspect, with details emerging through reporting rather than direct company communication.

This communication strategy may reflect the company's desire to finalize plans before making broad announcements, potentially to prevent disruption or speculation from affecting operations in the interim.

The planned layoffs represent a significant moment in Amazon's corporate evolution. As the company moves forward with these reductions, it will need to balance operational efficiency with maintaining morale among remaining employees.

For the technology sector more broadly, Amazon's actions signal that the industry's recent trend toward workforce optimization continues. Other major tech companies have also announced layoffs in recent months, suggesting a sector-wide recalibration of staffing levels.

The coming weeks will reveal how Amazon executes these plans and what impact they have on the company's operations and culture. The emphasis on cultural fit suggests the company is entering a new phase focused on leaner operations and employees who align closely with evolving business priorities.