Amazon layoffs: Which departments will get affected as e-commerce giant cuts jobs?

US-based technology and e-commerce giant Amazon is planning a second round of layoffs next week as part of its broader goal to reduce its workforce by 30,000 people, according to the news agency. Reuters.

In October last year, the company laid off nearly 14,000 white-collar workers; This accounted for roughly half of Amazon’s 30,000 target. But total layoffs this time are expected to be roughly the same as last year and could begin as early as Tuesday, according to the agency’s report.

The reduction in roles will affect multiple departments at the company owned by Jeff Bezos. This marks one of the largest layoffs to occur at the beginning of the new year and suggests last year’s layoff spree continues into 2026.

Which departments will be affected?

The mass layoffs are expected to affect employees in the company’s Amazon Web Services, retail, Prime Video and Human Resources divisions, but the full scope remains unclear, people familiar with the development said.

Sources also cautioned that the plan is not yet final and details could change, the agency reported.

All 30,000 jobs represent a small portion of Amazon’s 1.58 million employees but nearly 10% of the company’s corporate workforce. The majority of Amazon employees work in fulfillment centers and warehouses.

The move would also mean the largest layoff in Amazon’s thirty-year history. The last time such a large number of layoffs were made was in 2022, and approximately 27,000 employees were affected.

Artificial intelligence integration triggers layoffs

At the time of the layoffs in October, the online retailer cited the rise of artificial intelligence software as the main reason for the decision. But CEO Andy Jassy later told analysts during the company’s third-quarter earnings call that the decline “wasn’t really financially driven, and it wasn’t even AI driven.”

Jassy also referred to the layoffs, stating that “it’s a culture” and means the company has too much bureaucracy. “You meet a lot more people than you ever had before, and you encounter a lot more layers,” he added.

He said in early 2025 that he expected Amazon’s corporate workforce to shrink over time due to efficiencies gained from integrating AI into the workforce.

Companies are rapidly integrating AI into their software development lifecycles; It moves beyond simple code autocompletion and embraces autonomous AI agents that can plan, execute and debug code. According to multiple reports, this shift is driven by the need for increased productivity, cost reduction and faster output.