New Delhi: In the latest wave of tech industry downsizing, Amazon is set to lay off around 30,000 corporate employees, marking the largest reduction in the company’s history. The e-commerce giant is expected to notify affected staff via email starting Tuesday, although the company has not yet issued an official statement.
This round of layoffs will impact several corporate divisions, including Human Resources (People Experience and Technology or PXT), Operations, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Devices and Services. The move follows a previous cut of over 27,000 employees in 2022, highlighting Amazon’s ongoing workforce restructuring.
Amazon employs around 1.54 million people globally, with roughly 350,000 in corporate roles. The layoffs are part of CEO Andy Jassy’s efforts to reduce excess bureaucracy, enhance operational efficiency, and leverage AI-driven productivity gains within corporate teams.
Managers of affected teams were reportedly trained on Monday to communicate the news effectively to staff. An anonymous complaint line set up by the CEO has also led to 1,500 responses and over 450 process changes.
Industry analysts note that this decision reflects broader trends in the tech sector. Many companies, including Intel, Microsoft, and TCS, have already carried out large-scale layoffs due to a combination of overstaffing, slower growth in legacy business lines, and the need for cost optimisation amid rising inflation, higher interest rates, and global economic uncertainty.Furthermore, investments in artificial intelligence, cloud services, and automation have made several roles redundant, particularly in administrative, middle-management, and legacy product divisions. Slowing demand for hardware and older devices has also contributed to workforce reductions.
This year alone, 216 tech companies have laid off nearly 98,344 employees. Amazon’s 30,000-job reduction is likely to make it the largest contributor to corporate layoffs in 2025. The company’s focus on AI, automation, and operational efficiency signals a strategic shift toward leaner, more agile teams, aligning its workforce with the evolving demands of the technology landscape.
