Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Oct 28: Global e-commerce giant Amazon is reportedly preparing to slash around 30,000 corporate jobs this week, marking one of the largest layoffs in the company’s history, Reuters reported quoting sources familiar with the development.
The massive workforce reduction, representing nearly 10 percent of Amazon’s 3.5 lakh corporate employees, comes as part of the company’s push to curb expenses and realign its workforce after pandemic-era overhiring. The layoffs are expected to begin with email notifications being sent to affected employees on Tuesday morning, following preparatory sessions held for managers on Monday.
According to the report, this round of job cuts will surpass the previous layoff of around 27,000 roles carried out between late 2022 and mid-2023. The downsizing will affect multiple divisions, including human resources (People Experience and Technology), devices and services, and operations.
The move is seen as part of CEO Andy Jassy’s strategy to streamline operations and eliminate what he has called “excess bureaucracy” within Amazon’s vast corporate structure. Jassy has emphasized improving efficiency by reducing managerial layers and increasing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, which he said could automate many routine corporate tasks and eventually lead to further job cuts.
Industry analysts suggest that Amazon’s restructuring reflects a broader trend across the global tech sector, as major companies shift focus from aggressive expansion to operational efficiency amid a challenging economic environment.
Despite the sweeping corporate layoffs, Amazon remains optimistic about the upcoming holiday season. The company has announced plans to hire 250,000 seasonal workers for its warehouses — the same number as in the past two years — to handle increased order volumes during the festive period.
An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on the reported layoffs. The development comes just days before the company is scheduled to announce its third-quarter earnings on Thursday.