Amazon announced another major round of job cuts, revealing plans on Wednesday (Jan. 28) to eliminate roughly 16,000 positions across the company as part of a broader restructuring effort.
The layoffs follow a previous reduction in October, when the tech and e-commerce giant let go of about 14,000 employees. Together, the moves mark one of the largest periods of workforce downsizing in Amazon’s history.
In a message sent to employees, Beth Galetti, Amazon’s senior vice president of people experience and technology, said the cuts are aimed at streamlining operations by flattening management structures, increasing accountability, and cutting back on internal red tape.
She explained that while many teams completed their reorganization efforts in the fall, others only recently wrapped up their reviews, leading to the latest round of layoffs.
Galetti acknowledged concerns that the company could be entering a cycle of frequent mass job cuts but emphasized that it’s not Amazon’s intention.
“Some of you might ask if this is the beginning of a new rhythm—where we announce broad reductions every few months,” she wrote. “That’s not our plan.”
She said instead, teams will continue to regularly assess how they operate and make changes when necessary to keep pace with a rapidly evolving business environment.
Despite the cuts, Amazon said it will continue hiring in key growth areas that are critical to the company’s future.
The layoffs come as Amazon’s workforce growth has slowed significantly. As of October, the company reported about 1.57 million employees worldwide, with only modest increases over the past several quarters. The company is expected to release its fourth-quarter earnings results next week, which may provide further insight into its financial outlook.
Amazon’s leadership has previously signaled that advances in artificial intelligence will reshape the company’s labor needs. Last year, CEO Andy Jassy noted that AI-driven efficiency would reduce the need for certain roles while creating demand for new types of jobs, particularly in technical and innovation-focused areas.
The restructuring news also follows recent changes to Amazon’s physical retail strategy. Earlier this week, the company confirmed it is closing its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh grocery stores, shifting focus toward faster grocery delivery services and expanding its Whole Foods brand, with plans to open roughly 100 new locations in the coming years.
For those impacted by the latest layoffs, Amazon said it is offering support measures, including time to apply for other internal roles, severance packages, career transition services, and continued health benefits where applicable.