Amazon Confirms 16,000 New Corporate Layoffs, Bringing Total Cuts to 30,000
Written by b87fm on 01/28/2026
Amazon confirmed Wednesday that it has eliminated 16,000 corporate jobs, completing a broader plan to cut roughly 30,000 positions since October, while signaling that additional reductions remain possible.
The latest round of layoffs marks Amazon’s second major workforce reduction in three months and is part of CEO Andy Jassy’s ongoing effort to streamline operations, reduce bureaucracy, and move away from underperforming businesses. Reuters previously reported that the company was preparing another wave of cuts as part of this restructuring push.
Although the reductions represent a small fraction of Amazon’s total workforce of approximately 1.58 million employees—most of whom work in fulfillment centers and warehouses—the cuts account for nearly 10% of its corporate staff. This is the largest workforce reduction in Amazon’s history, surpassing the roughly 27,000 jobs eliminated between late 2022 and early 2023.
In a statement, Amazon’s chief human resources officer, Beth Galetti, said the layoffs were necessary to strengthen the company by “reducing layers, increasing ownership, and removing bureaucracy.” She added that some teams may continue to “make adjustments as appropriate,” leaving the door open to further job cuts.
The layoffs come as Amazon announced it would shutter its remaining physical Fresh grocery stores and Go locations, ending years of experimentation with brick-and-mortar retail. The company also confirmed it is discontinuing Amazon One, its biometric palm-scanning payment system.
The current cuts follow a reduction of 14,000 jobs announced in October, which Amazon at the time attributed to the growing use of artificial intelligence and concerns over corporate culture. The company has also acknowledged that it overhired during the COVID-19 pandemic, when demand for online shopping surged.
On Tuesday, Amazon inadvertently fueled internal anxiety after some Amazon Web Services employees received an email referring to the layoff effort as “Project Dawn.” While the full scope of the cuts has not been disclosed, employees across multiple divisions—including AWS, Alexa, Prime Video, devices, advertising, and last-mile delivery—have reported being affected.
The layoffs underscore the broader impact of artificial intelligence on corporate workforces. Jassy has previously said that increased use of AI tools would automate tasks and reduce the need for certain roles. Executives at the World Economic Forum in Davos echoed that sentiment last week, while also suggesting that some companies may be using AI as justification for job cuts they were already planning.
Amazon joins a growing list of major companies announcing workforce reductions, including Meta, Microsoft, UPS, Pinterest, and ASML, as the tech industry continues to recalibrate after pandemic-era expansion. The company has also been investing heavily in robotics to increase efficiency in its warehouses and reduce labor costs.
Amazon shares were up less than 1% in premarket trading ahead of the company’s quarterly earnings report expected next week.
