Amazon to Lay Off Up to 30,000 Corporate Employees

Amazon plans to reduce its corporate workforce by as many as 30,000 positions, representing nearly 10% of its corporate jobs. This move comes amid concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on white-collar jobs and signs of a weakening US labor market.

Reuters first reported the planned layoffs, and CNN has reached out to Amazon for further comment.

According to a 2024 survey submitted to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Amazon employs over 350,000 corporate staff.

In a June blog post, CEO Andy Jassy indicated that advancements in artificial intelligence could lead to a reduced need for human workers due to efficiency gains.

This is not the first significant layoff for Amazon; in 2023, the company eliminated 27,000 positions across various sectors, including human resources and Amazon Web Services. Jassy previously linked these cuts to a deteriorating global economic situation.

The layoffs occur as the US job market has shown troubling signs, particularly affecting younger tech workers. While there are concerns that generative AI may replace many roles, experts argue that these fears are not strongly supported by research.