Another blow at Amazon: 16,000 employees laid off in new restructuring move

In a blog post, Amazon Senior Vice President of People Experience Beth Galetti said the latest reductions stem from ongoing organisational changes aimed at simplifying the company’s structure.

“As I shared in October, we’ve been working to strengthen our organisation by reducing layers, increasing ownership and removing bureaucracy,” Galetti wrote. “While many teams completed their organisational changes in October, others finalised that work only now.”

She said the current round of cuts will impact approximately 16,000 roles across Amazon.

“The reductions we are making today will impact approximately 16,000 roles across Amazon, and we’re working hard to support everyone whose role is impacted,” Galetti said.

Amazon will offer most US-based employees 90 days to seek alternative positions within the company, with timelines varying internationally depending on local regulations. Employees who are unable to secure new roles, or choose not to do so, will receive transition support, including severance pay, outplacement services and health insurance benefits, where applicable.

Despite the job cuts, Galetti said Amazon would continue hiring in select areas.

“While we’re making these changes, we’ll also continue hiring and investing in strategic areas and functions that are critical to our future,” she said. “We’re still in the early stages of building each of our businesses, and there remains significant opportunity ahead.”

In October, Amazon had eliminated about 14,000 corporate roles as part of a previous restructuring round.

Amazon is the second-largest private employer in the United States after Walmart, with more than 350,000 corporate employees, according to a 2024 survey filed with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and cited by CNN.