In a move that has sent ripples throughout the tech industry, Amazon announced on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, that it will be laying off an additional 16,000 corporate employees globally. This marks the second major wave of job cuts in just three months, bringing the total number of positions eliminated since October 2025 to approximately 30,000, the largest workforce reduction in the company's three-decade history.
The announcement, made via a memo to employees from Beth Galetti, Amazon's Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology (PXT), detailed the company's efforts to "strengthen our organization by reducing layers, increasing ownership, and removing bureaucracy". Galetti sought to reassure employees that these cuts were not the start of a recurring pattern, stating, "Some of you might ask if this is the beginning of a new rhythm – where we announce broad reductions every few months. That's not our plan". However, she also noted that teams would continue to evaluate their operations and make adjustments as needed, emphasizing the importance of adapting to an ever-changing world.
The latest round of layoffs was foreshadowed by multiple media reports and an inadvertent leak by Amazon itself. Some employees received a premature calendar invitation on Tuesday, January 27, alluding to the upcoming cuts and referencing "Project Dawn," an internal efficiency initiative. This fueled speculation and concern among Amazon's workforce.
While Amazon has not released a comprehensive list of all divisions impacted, reports indicate that the job cuts will likely affect employees in Amazon Web Services (AWS), retail operations, Prime Video, and the human resources division, known internally as People Experience and Technology (PXT).
The company had initially cut around 14,000 white-collar jobs in October 2025, with the anticipation of further reductions in 2026. Despite these layoffs, Amazon has stated that it will continue to hire and invest in key strategic areas and functions that are critical to its future.
Affected employees in the U.S. will be given a 90-day period to seek new roles within the company. For those who are unable to find a new position or choose not to pursue one, Amazon will provide transition support, including severance pay, outplacement services, and continued health insurance benefits.
This announcement comes at a time when Amazon is also making adjustments to its physical retail footprint, including the closure of some Fresh grocery and cashierless Go convenience stores. Despite these changes, the company maintains that it is still in the early stages of building its businesses and sees significant opportunities ahead.
