Amazon is cutting approximately 16,000 jobs across the company, marking its second major round of layoffs in three months as the tech giant works to streamline operations and focus resources on artificial intelligence initiatives.
Beth Galetti, who leads People Experience and Technology at Amazon, told employees the reductions were the result of organizational changes that began in October 2025.
“We’ve been working to strengthen our organization by reducing layers, increasing ownership, and removing bureaucracy,” Galetti stated.
US-based employees will receive 90 days to search for new roles internally, with severance pay, outplacement services, and health insurance benefits available for those who do not find or pursue new positions. International support varies based on local requirements.
The cuts follow 14,000 job eliminations announced in October 2025, bringing Amazon’s total workforce reductions to nearly 30,000 by mid-2026. Teams in India, particularly in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai, could be among the hardest hit across AWS, Prime Video, retail, and other divisions.
Galetti addressed employee concerns about whether layoffs would become routine. “That’s not our plan,” she wrote, while noting that teams will continue evaluating operations “in a world that’s changing faster than ever.”
Amazon said it would continue hiring in strategic areas critical to its future, even as it reduces headcount elsewhere. CEO Andy Jassy has emphasized the need for cultural and decision-making improvements beyond cost-cutting as the company competes in an increasingly AI-driven tech landscape.
With the decision, Amazon is joining a growing list of tech firms cutting jobs to fund AI-first strategies.
Pinterest is also reshaping its workforce and operations to accelerate AI adoption, cutting under 15% of staff and reducing office space. The company plans to reinvest in AI-focused roles and products, completing the restructuring by the end of the third quarter.