Amazon to cut nearly 30K corporate jobs in largest layoff in company history: report

Core Insights - Amazon plans to cut nearly 10% of its corporate workforce, affecting approximately 30,000 employees, marking the largest reduction in its history [1][2] - The layoffs are part of an internal restructuring aimed at reducing expenses and correcting overhiring during the pandemic [2][5] - Affected divisions may include Human Resources, Operations, Devices and Services, and Amazon Web Services [2] Workforce Reduction Strategies - Managers of impacted teams underwent training to prepare for communicating the layoffs, with notifications set to be sent out [5] - Amazon has previously implemented strategies to reduce workforce, including a strict return-to-office policy and a program to identify inefficiencies [5][9] - CEO Andy Jassy initiated a program that generated over 1,500 responses, leading to more than 450 process changes [8] Impact of AI and Automation - The growing use of artificial intelligence tools is expected to drive further job cuts, as fewer employees will be needed for certain roles [12] - Jassy indicated that the shift towards Generative AI will require a workforce with different skill sets [12] Industry Context - Over 200 tech companies have eliminated around 98,000 positions this year, highlighting a broader trend in the industry [13] - Other major companies have also announced significant layoffs, including Intel (27,000), Microsoft (15,000), and Salesforce (over 9,000) [14]