Amazon Announces 30,000 Job Cuts — Largest Layoff Since 2022 Amid Cost-Cutting Push
Amazon announces plans to lay off 30,000 corporate employees in its biggest job cut since 2022. The move aims to reduce costs, boost AI efficiency, and streamline operations.
Amazon Layoffs 2025: 30,000 Jobs Cut in Biggest Reduction Since 2022 | Cost-Cutting & AI Restructuring
Tech giant Amazon has launched another sweeping round of layoffs, marking its biggest job reduction since 2022. The company is set to cut around 30,000 corporate positions starting today in a move aimed at slashing costs and streamlining operations after its pandemic-era hiring boom.
According to a Reuters report, the layoffs will affect multiple departments, as Amazon seeks to simplify its structure and make greater use of automation and AI technologies.
1. Layoffs Begin Today Across Departments
The first round of notifications will begin Tuesday, with Amazon managers already trained to communicate the decisions. The layoffs will primarily impact corporate roles, which account for around 10% of Amazon’s 3.5 lakh corporate employees. While this represents a small portion of Amazon’s 1.5 million global workforce, it still marks a significant workforce reduction since the company last eliminated 27,000 jobs in 2022.
2. HR, Devices, and AWS Among Key Units Affected
Several major divisions are likely to face job cuts, including Human Resources (People Experience and Technology team), Operations, Devices, and even Amazon Web Services (AWS). Insiders suggest that the HR unit could see up to 15% of its workforce impacted. The move follows smaller layoffs in these departments over the past two years, including cuts in Amazon’s podcasting and Alexa devices teams.
3. AI Adoption and Cost Efficiency Drive the Move
CEO Andy Jassy has been focused on transforming Amazon into a leaner, more efficient organisation since taking over from Jeff Bezos. The company’s increasing use of artificial intelligence to automate routine tasks has reduced its need for human involvement in several areas. Industry experts note that AI-driven productivity gains are enabling Amazon to maintain operations with fewer employees while improving output.
4. Strict Return-to-Office Policy Adds Pressure
Amazon’s five-day in-office mandate—one of the strictest among major tech companies—has also contributed to the restructuring. Employees who repeatedly failed to comply have reportedly been marked as resigned without severance, while parts of the diversity and inclusion team within HR have been restructured or reassigned. The policy has sparked discontent among remote workers but remains a cornerstone of Jassy’s push for efficiency.
5. Balancing Cost Cuts With Holiday Expansion
Despite the large-scale layoffs, Amazon remains focused on scaling up for the holiday shopping season. The company plans to hire 2.5 lakh temporary workers, matching last year’s recruitment numbers. Meanwhile, AWS continues to be Amazon’s biggest profit engine, even as its growth trails Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.
Amazon’s stock rose 1.2% on Monday, with investors largely welcoming the cost-cutting move ahead of the company’s upcoming quarterly results.
