Next week, Amazon could axe 16,000 corporate jobs in second major layoff: Report

Amazon is reportedly preparing to reduce its corporate workforce once again, with nearly 16,000 employees expected to be laid off as early as next week. According to a report by Business Insider, the move would mark the company’s second major round of job reductions within a short period, adding to growing uncertainty among staff across its global offices.

If implemented, the latest cuts would mirror the scale of layoffs announced in October, when around 14,000 corporate positions were eliminated. Combined, both rounds would push Amazon’s total job losses close to 30,000, placing the restructuring among the largest workforce reductions in the company’s history.

Although Amazon employs more than 1.5 million people worldwide, the majority work in logistics and warehouse operations. Its corporate workforce is estimated at about 350,000 employees, meaning the current round of cuts is likely to have a substantial impact on office-based teams and internal departments.

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The reported layoffs highlight Amazon’s continued efforts to reassess how its internal structure operates. When the October job cuts were announced, the company initially pointed to organisational changes linked to automation and artificial intelligence. However, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andy Jassy later clarified that the decisions were not driven by cost-cutting measures or AI replacing human roles.

Instead, Jassy explained that the reductions were connected to broader questions around organisational culture, expectations, and whether certain positions aligned with the company’s evolving working environment.

The explanation has prompted discussion both within Amazon and across the wider technology sector, particularly as major firms continue to reassess staffing levels following years of aggressive expansion. For employees, uncertainty remains high, with limited clarity on which teams may be affected or how final decisions are being determined.