By Ebi Kesiena
Amazon has announced plans to cut about 16,000 jobs worldwide in a fresh round of restructuring, deepening workforce reductions first revealed late last year.
According to Amazon, the move marks an expansion of earlier plans to eliminate roughly 14,000 roles in a move by the tech giant’s continued efforts to rein in costs and adapt to a more challenging economic environment.
The latest layoffs come as Amazon contends with slower growth following years of rapid expansion during the pandemic. Like many major technology companies, the firm is reassessing its staffing levels and operational priorities amid rising costs, shifting consumer spending patterns, and increased pressure from investors to boost efficiency and profitability.
Amazon noted that the job cuts are part of a broader strategy to simplify its corporate structure and reduce internal complexity. Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology, Beth Galetti, said the decision is focused on “reducing layers, increasing ownership, and removing bureaucracy” across teams.
She added that streamlining management structures would allow the company to move faster, make clearer decisions, and better serve customers.
The layoffs are expected to affect multiple divisions and regions, though Amazon has not disclosed specific departments or countries that will be most impacted. Affected employees are expected to receive severance packages and transitional support, in line with the company’s previous workforce reduction policies.
Amazon’s announcement adds to a growing wave of job cuts across the global tech sector, as companies from Silicon Valley to Europe scale back hiring and restructure operations in response to uncertain economic conditions.
