Amazon To Slash 15% Of HR Workforce As Part Of Fresh Layoffs, Says Report

Amazon Layoff News: E-commerce and tech major Amazon is reportedly planning to cut up to 15% of roles in its human resources department, along with some additional positions, as part of a fresh round of layoffs,

according to a Fortune report citing sources. The company’s spokesperson, Kelly Nantel, declined to comment on the development.

Why is Amazon Cutting Jobs?

The latest job cuts are part of Amazon’s broader effort to reduce employee costs amid massive investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and infrastructure. The report said Amazon plans to spend over Rs 8.3 lakh crore ($100 billion) in capital expenditure in 2025 to build AI data centres and cloud computing facilities—both for internal use and for sale to external customers.

From late 2022 to 2023, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy oversaw about 27,000 job cuts, primarily affecting corporate roles, as the company joined peers like Meta and Google in widespread downsizing.

Andy Jassy Emphasises AI-Driven Transformation

In a June company memo, Jassy urged employees to “embrace this change” and become fluent in AI, saying that those who help build and deploy AI tools “will be well-positioned to reinvent the company.” He also noted that increased AI efficiency is expected to reduce the total corporate workforce.

Amazon to Hire 2,50,000 Holiday Workers

Despite the layoffs, Amazon plans to hire 2,50,000 seasonal workers across full-time, part-time, and temporary roles for its peak holiday season. The company said temporary workers will earn $19 per hour, while permanent roles will pay $23 per hour on average — consistent with its holiday hiring numbers from the past two years, according to Bloomberg.