New Delhi: Amazon is reportedly gearing up to lay off another large scale of employees, with an estimated 14,000 employees set to lose their jobs as early
as May 2026. The move would take the total number of jobs that the company cuts this year to almost 30,000, after the previous one in January.
The Asia Business Outlook report indicates that the company is still undergoing restructuring as it redirects its attention to artificial intelligence and operational efficiency. Although Amazon has not officially stated the most recent layoffs, the reports indicate a further change towards the transformation of its global workforce.
Planned layoffs may hit corporate roles
Reports suggest that the recent layoffs will mostly be of the corporate employees, especially those in mid-level positions and white-collar jobs. The warehouse and logistics personnel are unlikely to be affected at this point.
The reductions might cut across a number of key departments, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), retail, and human resources. According to reports citing sources, the company is looking to simplify internal systems through lessening management levels and decreasing bureaucracy.
Unverified claims of regional restructuring also exist, such as the possible team-level changes in markets like China. But these details have not been discussed publicly at Amazon.
Employee concerns grow amid uncertainty
The workers have complained about the ambiguity with regards to performance measurement to decide on layoffs. Reports highlight increased anxiety among employees as the company undergoes internal changes without communicating the changes being reported.
The ambiguity is due to the fact that Amazon recalibrates the model of its operations, and many employees are not certain about the security of their jobs and whether they will have a role in the company in the future.
Previous layoffs already near 30,000
The announced reductions would be a continuation of the layoffs last year. Later in 2025, Amazon cut around 14,000 corporate jobs. Earlier reports indicated that this would be accompanied by 16,000 more job cuts in January 2026.
When the intended layoffs are implemented, the overall figure may increase tremendously to more than 30,000, and this will be one of the largest layoffs in the history of the company.
AI push driving workforce restructuring
The key focus of the Amazon strategy is its intensive investment in artificial intelligence and automation. CEO Andy Jassy has already mentioned that the increasing use of generative AI might eliminate some positions in the long run.
The company is also raising its capital expenditure, which is estimated to be up to $125 billion by 2026. A considerable part of this investment would be directed at data centres, sophisticated hardware, and AI-based software systems.
This trend is a reflection of a wider trend in the entire tech sector wherein organisations are turning to AI to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. But it also brings into question the long-term effect on white-collar jobs.
No official confirmation yet
Although there were extensive reports, Amazon has not approved the intended layoffs or given a definite timeline. That there is no official communication leaves speculation as to further job cuts in the coming months.
At this point the direction is clear. With Amazon moving at an even greater pace in its AI pursuits, its workforce policy is undergoing a significant change – one that may rebrand the position of human labour in the company.
