Amazon has revealed plans to cut around 16,000 jobs across its global operations. The announcement was made by SVP of People Experience and Technology Beth Galetti in an internal email to employees on Wednesday. While the news was anticipated, the scope of the layoffs highlights ongoing changes within the company as it adjusts its business focus.

Details on the Job Reductions and Employee Impact

The layoffs are set to affect various parts of Amazon, including the company’s cloud division, Amazon Web Services (AWS). Although Galetti’s email did not specify AWS, reports indicated that staff in that division were already aware of the potential cuts. Some AWS employees received early meeting invitations discussing the layoffs before the official announcement, causing some surprise.

Galetti emphasized that affected employees would not be let go immediately. Instead, those in the United States will have 90 days to find new roles within Amazon. The timeline for other regions may vary. Employees who are unable to secure alternative positions within that period will receive severance pay and support for outplacement services. This approach aims to ease the transition for staff impacted by the layoffs.

Amazon’s Future Hiring and Restructuring Plans

Despite the layoffs, Amazon plans to continue hiring in strategic areas deemed critical for the company’s future growth. Galetti highlighted that the company is focusing on areas that will help it stay competitive in a rapidly changing market environment. The layoffs are part of a broader effort to streamline operations and invest in key initiatives.

Galetti also addressed concerns about the frequency of layoffs, stating that Amazon does not intend to make such cuts regularly. However, she acknowledged that future decisions about workforce adjustments could be made at lower levels of management if necessary. The company will continually assess teams’ ownership, speed, and capacity for innovation to adapt to market demands.

These layoffs follow a previous round announced in October 2025, which was attributed to the company’s focus on artificial intelligence initiatives. While Amazon is not planning to make layoffs on a regular basis, the company remains open to making strategic workforce changes as circumstances evolve. The overall goal is to position Amazon for long-term success while managing short-term adjustments effectively.

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• https://www.computerworld.com/article/4123477/amazon-confirms-16000-job-cuts-including-to-aws.html

Sources

• aboutamazon.com