Amazon Announces Major Workforce Reduction: 16,000 Additional Job Cuts
In a significant development for the global e-commerce and technology sector, Amazon has confirmed a fresh round of workforce reductions. The company announced on Wednesday that it is eliminating approximately 16,000 positions, marking its second major layoff announcement within a span of just four months.
Escalating Layoff Numbers: A Concerning Trend
This latest decision follows an earlier announcement in which Amazon disclosed plans to cut 14,000 jobs. Combined, these two rounds of layoffs bring the total number of positions eliminated since October 2025 to a staggering 30,000. The scale of these reductions highlights ongoing challenges and strategic shifts within one of the world's largest corporations.
Geographic Impact: Key Markets Affected
While initial reports lacked specific details about the geographic distribution of the job cuts, internal communications accessed by Business Insider have now clarified the situation. The publication, which reviewed messages on Amazon's workplace communications platform Slack, reported that employees in three major markets are receiving notifications about the impending layoffs.
The affected geographies include:
- The United States
- The United Kingdom
- India
Departmental Breakdown: Where the Cuts Are Falling
The 16,000 job cuts announced this week are expected to impact multiple departments across Amazon's diverse business portfolio. According to messages reviewed by Business Insider, the reductions will span both technology and retail operations.
On the technology front, Amazon Web Services (AWS), the company's lucrative cloud computing division, appears to be particularly affected. Specific services within AWS that are likely to see workforce reductions include:
- Bedrock, the artificial intelligence cloud service
- Redshift, the cloud data warehouse platform
On the retail side, teams responsible for core customer-facing services will also experience cuts. These include:
- The Prime subscription service team
- The last-mile Delivery Experience team
Additionally, Amazon's ProServe consulting team is expected to face workforce reductions as part of this restructuring effort.
Tech Roles Bear the Brunt
Although the exact number of job cuts in each department remains undisclosed, evidence suggests that technology positions are being disproportionately affected. Business Insider reported that many employees posting to internal Amazon Slack channels seeking new opportunities held software engineering roles. This pattern indicates that technical positions within the company are facing the most significant impact from the current round of layoffs.
Support Measures for US Employees
In response to the workforce reductions, Amazon has outlined specific support measures for affected employees based in the United States. The company is offering most US-based workers a 90-day period to search for new roles within the organization.
For those unable to secure another position internally or who choose not to pursue internal opportunities, Amazon has committed to providing comprehensive support packages. These packages are expected to include:
- Severance pay
- Continued health insurance benefits
However, it remains unclear whether employees in other affected geographies, such as the UK and India, will receive similar benefits and support measures. The company has not yet provided detailed information about the support available to international employees impacted by the layoffs.
This latest round of job cuts at Amazon reflects broader trends in the technology industry, where many major companies are reevaluating their workforce structures amid changing market conditions and economic uncertainties. The scale and frequency of these reductions at one of the world's most influential tech giants will likely have ripple effects across the global employment landscape.
