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The move comes as Amazon aims to trim bureaucracy and reallocate resources, with HR lead Beth Galetti highlighting a focus on speed, ownership, and strategic priorities.
Amazon has confirmed that it will be cutting approximately 14,000 corporate roles as part of a series of organisational changes.
In a letter to employees, posted on the company's website on Tuesday (28 October), Beth Galetti, Amazon's Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology said the changes will include "reducing in some areas and hiring in others. Detailing the broader context of the changes, she talked about CEO Andy Jassy's 2024 letter to employees on strengthening the organisation's culture and teams – explaining how Amazon wants to operate like the world’s largest startup, the importance of having the right structure to drive that level of speed and ownership, and the need to be set up to invent, collaborate, be connected, and deliver the absolute best for customers.
She shared: "Many of you have put significant effort into that work of strengthening your organisations by reducing layers, increasing ownership, and helping reduce bureaucracy. We're already seeing the results, with teams moving faster and many Amazonians feeling more ownership, and the S-team and I appreciate all the work you've done."
The reductions, she added, are a continuation of this work to "get even stronger by further reducing bureaucracy, removing layers, and shifting resources to ensure we’re investing in our biggest bets and what matters most to our customers’ current and future needs."
According to sources cited by Reuters on Monday (27 October), the workforce reduction may span divisions including multiple divisions, including People Experience and Technology (PXT), operations, devices and services, and Amazon Web Services. Managers of affected teams are said to have undergone training on Monday to prepare for staff communications, with email notifications starting Tuesday morning.
In her letter, Galetti attributed the need for the changes to the growth of AI. "This generation of AI is the most transformative technology we’ve seen since the Internet, and it's enabling companies to innovate much faster than ever before (in existing market segments and altogether new ones). We’re convinced that we need to be organised more leanly, with fewer layers and more ownership, to move as quickly as possible for our customers and business."
Support for affected employees
In terms of support provided to the affected employees, Galetti said most would be given 90 days to look for a new role internally, noting that the timing will vary for some based on local laws. The recruiting teams will also prioritise internal candidates to help as many people as possible find new roles within Amazon.
Those who are unable to find a new role at Amazon or who choose not to look for one will be offered transition support including severance pay, outplacement services, and health insurance benefits among others.
Looking to 2026, the company is expecting to continue hiring in key strategic areas, while also finding additional places to "remove layers, increase ownership, and realise efficiency gains."
How AI is reshaping roles at Amazon
In June 2025, Jassy shared a message to employees highlighting the growing influence of generative AI (gen AI) across nearly every part of the business, from enhancing customer experiences to streamlining operations. He noted that while AI-driven efficiency is improving fulfilment and reducing costs, it is also reshaping headcount needs in some areas. Jassy projected that Amazon’s corporate workforce could gradually shrink over the next few years due to these efficiency gains, encouraging employees to embrace AI, upskill, and help drive innovation.
Amazon reaffirmed that its employees remain central to its mission of being Earth’s most customer-centric company. As of 31 December 2024, the company employed about 1.56mn full-time and part-time employees worldwide, alongside independent contractors and temporary staff. It added that competition for skilled talent remains intense, particularly for software engineers, computer scientists, and other technical professionals, as tight labour markets continue to heighten demand across its business.
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