In a sweeping move to streamline operations, Amazon has confirmed it is cutting approximately 16,000 jobs globally, impacting employees across various divisions, including those in India. This marks the second major round of layoffs for the e-commerce giant in just four months. Amazon had previously eliminated roughly 14,000 positions by the end of 2025.

The recent announcement was made on Wednesday, January 28th, via a blog post by Amazon's chief people officer, Beth Galetti. Galetti stated that the decision to eliminate roles was made after a thorough review of the organization, its priorities, and what it needs to focus on moving forward.

While the majority of the layoffs are expected to occur in the US, hundreds of employees in India, specifically in cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, have been affected. Impacted employees are being notified via official emails, which include details regarding severance packages, transition periods, and continued benefits.

Amazon has stated that these layoffs are part of a broader organizational reset aimed at reducing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency. The company aims to flatten its structure, increase ownership, and improve its capacity to innovate for customers.

For US-based employees affected by the layoffs, Amazon is providing a 90-day window to explore and apply for internal roles within the company. Timelines for international employees will vary based on local labor laws and regulatory requirements. Transition support will be offered to those who cannot find a new role within Amazon or choose not to seek one, including severance pay, outplacement services, and health insurance benefits. Amazon is also offering up to 12 months of complimentary access to AWS Skill Builder for reskilling.

Internal communications suggest that the layoffs have impacted several major divisions, including Amazon Web Services (AWS) units such as Bedrock, Redshift, and ProServe consulting, as well as retail teams like Prime subscription services and the last-mile Delivery Experience team.

With this latest round of job cuts, Amazon's total layoffs since October 2025 have reached approximately 30,000. Despite these reductions, Amazon has affirmed its commitment to continue hiring and investing in strategic areas and functions critical to the company's future. The company believes it is still in the early stages of building its businesses and sees significant opportunities ahead.

In an email to affected employees, Beth Galetti acknowledged the difficulty of the news and reiterated the company's commitment to supporting those impacted. The email, which starts with the line "I have some important, but difficult, news to share with you," confirms that affected employees will receive full pay and benefits for 90 days during a non-working transition period.

These layoffs reflect a broader trend in the tech industry, with many companies reevaluating their workforce size and investment areas amid economic uncertainty and shifting priorities. Amazon's move is seen as an effort to undo some of the rapid hiring that occurred during the pandemic era and to streamline its operations as it continues to invest in areas like artificial intelligence.