Amazon eliminated 16,000 corporate positions last week, bringing its four-month layoff total to 30,000 as the tech giant restructures for AI competition. The cuts hit 2,198 Washington state employees, with software development and senior leadership roles bearing the brunt.
The January reductions followed 14,000 job cuts in October 2025, marking Amazon's most extensive corporate workforce reduction period. Washington's WARN notice shows 1,400 positions eliminated in Seattle and over 600 in Bellevue, Amazon's primary corporate hubs.
Software development roles accounted for the largest share of losses, according to company filings. Engineering management, program management, and technical product functions also saw substantial cuts.
Senior positions including Manager III and principal-level roles were eliminated as Amazon reduces management layers.
"Some of you might ask if this is the beginning of a new rhythm where we announce broad reductions every few months," Galetti said. "That's not our plan."
Amazon Senior Vice President Beth Galetti told employees the company doesn't plan regular mass layoffs. Teams will continue making "adjustments as appropriate" while evaluating operations, Galetti added.
Separations begin April 28 and continue through late June, with affected employees having until their designated separation dates to find alternative internal roles before receiving severance packages.
The layoffs come as Amazon shifts resources toward AI infrastructure and data centers. The company projected $125 billion in capital expenditures for 2025, pouring billions into AI-enhanced products while competing with Microsoft and Meta for dominance.
"You're training AI on the data from workers and then just completely taking them out of the company," one software development engineer said anonymously. "We're treated as completely expendable."
Amazon workers report feeling like they're "training their eventual replacement" as they use AI tools daily.
"We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today, and more people doing other types of jobs," Jassy said last year.
CEO Andy Jassy previously indicated Amazon's corporate workforce would likely shrink over coming years.
Despite the layoffs, Amazon maintains strong financial performance. The company is expected to report nearly $715 billion in revenue for 2025 when it releases fourth-quarter results this week. Cloud computing division sales growth remains a key focus for Wall Street analysts.
Amazon's restructuring reflects broader tech industry trends as companies reallocate spending from talent to AI infrastructure. Microsoft recently faced investor scrutiny over its AI spending despite record quarterly profits, with its stock dropping 10% in one day last week.
The tech giant continues hiring in strategic areas tied to long-term AI strategy while trimming corporate layers. Amazon's leadership describes the goal as operating like the "world's largest startup" with emphasis on ownership, speed, and experimentation.
Washington state employees affected by the layoffs can seek alternative internal positions before their April separation dates. Those who don't secure new roles will receive severance, outplacement support, and extended health benefits.
