Amazon to cut 16,000 jobs globally in latest restructuring round

Amazon announced it will cut around 16,000 roles globally as part of ongoing organizational restructuring, according to a message from senior vice president Beth Galetti on January 28, 2026.

The company said the changes aim to streamline operations by reducing layers and bureaucracy, with some teams completing their adjustments only now.

US-based employees affected will have 90 days to find new roles internally, while international staff will have varying timelines.

For those unable to secure a new position or who opt not to, Amazon will offer transition support, including severance, outplacement services, and health benefits where applicable.

The company emphasized it will continue hiring in strategic areas crucial to its growth and does not plan to make broad reductions every few months.

🔗 Source: Amazon

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Amazon has not disclosed business-unit or geographic breakdowns for its latest job cuts

Additional organizational changes are being made across the company, with some employees expected to be affected, and the reductions “will impact approximately 16,000 roles across Amazon.”
No details are given on which business units are expected to take the biggest share of the cuts, or how many roles are being removed in each group.
No country-by-country figures are being shared; most US-based employees will be offered 90 days to seek an internal role, while timing will be adjusted internationally to meet local requirements.
Possible impacts on Amazon Web Services (AWS), Prime Video, retail, and People Experience and Technology (PXT, Amazon’s HR unit) were raised in earlier reports, yet no official breakdown for the January 28 reductions has been provided 1.

Amazon says it will keep hiring in “strategic areas,” including generative AI and robotics

The company says it will keep hiring and investing in “strategic areas and functions” tied to its future, which gives a sense of where spending may continue.
Amazon repeats that the January 28 reductions will impact approximately 16,000 roles.
AWS is recruiting for generative AI roles; its jobs page says it has “over 1,000 generative AI services and applications built or in progress” 2.
Listings like senior applied scientist in the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center suggest ongoing work in advanced R&D 3.
Amazon Robotics is also hiring, including for supply chain manager roles 4.