The layoffs bring Amazon’s total recent workforce reduction to 30,000|Phil Murphy|CC BY-NC 2.0
Amazon announced yesterday that it is reducing 16,000 corporate jobs globally, marking its second massive layoff following the 14,000 redundancies in October.
The announcement came shortly after a draft email, codenamed “Project Dawn,” was accidentally shared with staff, revealing that the layoffs would span the US, Canada, and Costa Rica.
It brings Amazon’s total recent workforce reduction to 30,000 (10% of its corporate workforce). It is the second-largest employer in America.
Under CEO Andy Jassy, the retail giant has pivoted toward aggressive cost-cutting and a stricter corporate culture, including a mandatory five-day in-office policy. It is a sharp pivot from the pandemic hiring spree.
Jassy has pointed out that corporate roles will decrease in the coming years due to AI efficiency.
Although trimming costs, the company is heavily investing in AI. It is expected to spend $125 billion in 2026.
Amazon’s downsizing reflects a broader trend across Big Tech. Microsoft and Meta also trimmed headcounts to redirect resources toward artificial intelligence.
In 2025, over 1.2 million job cuts were announced. It is a 58% increase from 2024, according to analysis from Challenger, Gray and Christmas.