Amazon has confirmed it will cut around 16,000 jobs globally as part of a further restructuring effort aimed at streamlining its corporate operations and reducing bureaucracy.

 The announcement, made on Wednesday by senior executives, comes just three months after the company eliminated 14,000 positions in October, marking the second major round of layoffs in a short period. Most of the affected roles are corporate positions, primarily in the United States, though impacts will also be felt in other regions including the UK and Canada. 

In a memo to employees, Beth Galetti, Amazon’s Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology, said the cuts are designed to simplify decision-making, reduce management layers, and remove inefficiencies that built up during pandemic-era expansion. 

Affected U.S.-based employees will typically be given 90 days to look for alternative roles internally, with those who do not secure new positions offered severance pay and other support. Amazon has reiterated that it also continues to hire in strategic areas critical to its future growth, even as it reduces its overall corporate headcount. 

The layoffs reflect broader shifts within the tech industry as companies adapt to shifting economic conditions and the increasing integration of artificial intelligence and automation in their operations. While Amazon’s total workforce exceeds 1.5 million globally, these cuts represent a notable reduction in its corporate ranks and are part of a larger initiative expected to result in around 30,000 job cuts overall since late 2025. The company has stressed that it is not instituting a pattern of regular large layoffs, but rather making targeted changes to improve long‑term efficiency and competitiveness.