Amazon’s Massive Layoff Wave: AWS and Corporate Roles Cut Amid Restructuring Push

Amazon has confirmed a new round of large-scale layoffs, announcing that approximately 16,000 corporate employees worldwide will lose their jobs as part of an ongoing restructuring effort. The cuts affect multiple divisions across the company, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), retail operations, Prime Video, and internal corporate functions.

This is the second major workforce reduction announced by Amazon in recent months. In October 2025, the company had already eliminated about 14,000 roles. With the latest announcement, total corporate job cuts since late last year have reached nearly 30,000, making it one of the most significant layoffs in Amazon’s history.

The inclusion of AWS in the latest round has attracted particular attention. AWS is Amazon’s cloud computing arm and one of its most profitable businesses, serving enterprises, governments, and startups across the globe. Despite continued demand for cloud and AI services, Amazon has confirmed that some AWS teams are being impacted as part of a broader organizational realignment.

According to internal communications, the layoffs within AWS are largely focused on support, administrative, and overlapping roles, rather than core infrastructure or product development teams. However, some technical positions have also been affected, reflecting a company-wide restructuring rather than isolated cost-cutting.

The announcement gained early attention after an internal email referencing layoffs was mistakenly sent to AWS employees before the official communication. Although the email was later withdrawn, it circulated widely within the organization, causing confusion and anxiety among staff. Many employees expressed concern over the handling of the announcement and the lack of clarity in the initial communication.

Amazon leadership has stated that the layoffs are part of a strategic effort to reduce management layers, remove bureaucracy, and speed up decision-making. CEO Andy Jassy has previously acknowledged that Amazon expanded rapidly during the pandemic and now needs to operate more efficiently in a changing economic and technological environment.

Industry experts also point to the growing role of artificial intelligence and automation as a factor influencing workforce changes. As Amazon increases its investment in AI-driven tools and cloud services, certain job functions are being consolidated or phased out.

The impact of the layoffs is global. In India, a key hub for Amazon’s technology and cloud operations, reports suggest that over 500 employees across AWS and e-commerce teams are expected to be affected. Employees in the United States, Europe, and other regions have also received notifications.

Amazon says it is offering severance packages and transition support to affected employees. In some regions, workers have been given a limited period to apply for internal roles before their positions are formally eliminated.

Despite the layoffs, Amazon maintains that it will continue hiring in strategic areas, particularly those related to cloud computing, AI, and next-generation technologies. The company insists that the restructuring is necessary to remain competitive in an increasingly fast-moving tech landscape.

For many employees and observers, however, the layoffs highlight the growing uncertainty within the global technology sector, even at companies that continue to post strong financial results.