Amazon is preparing a sweeping round of job cuts among its office employees, according to multiple media reports. The reductions could begin as early as this week.
Both The Wall Street Journal and Reuters report that the tech giant plans to lay off as many as 30,000 corporate workers. The cuts are part of a cost-saving initiative led by chief executive Andy Jassy.
When contacted by international media, Amazon declined to comment on the reports.
One of the biggest job cuts in recent months
If confirmed, the move would mark one of the largest layoffs seen in recent months. It would also be Amazon’s biggest round of job cuts since 2022, when around 27,000 positions were eliminated over several months.
CNBC and The New York Times also reported on the planned reductions, citing sources familiar with the matter. However, none of the outlets specified which countries will be affected.
Ten percent of corporate workforce at risk
The potential layoffs could impact roughly ten percent of Amazon’s corporate workforce. Still, that would represent only a small portion of its global staff. The company employs more than 1.5 million people worldwide across offices and warehouses.
According to U.S. government filings from last year, Amazon has about 350,000 corporate employees. These include executives, managers, and sales staff.
Rapid hiring during the pandemic
Like many major technology companies, Amazon expanded rapidly during the Covid-19 pandemic. The company hired aggressively to meet the surge in demand for online shopping and digital services.
Since then, CEO Andy Jassy has shifted focus toward cost reductions. At the same time, Amazon has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and streamline operations.
AI reshaping the future of work
Jassy stated in June that the growing use of AI tools will inevitably lead to job cuts as automation replaces routine tasks.
“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today,” he said at the time. “And more people will be needed for other kinds of work.”
