Amazon Cuts 16,000 Jobs After Staff Email Mix-Up

Amazon has confirmed it will cut 16,000 jobs across the company. The news came out on Wednesday after an email sent by mistake to some staff gave an early hint of the layoffs. Beth Galetti, senior vice president of people experience and technology, sent the official word to all employees later that day.

Background

Amazon has faced a wave of job cuts in recent years as it adjusts to changes in the market. Back in 2023, the company let go of 27,000 workers in its largest round of layoffs so far. Then in October 2025, it cut another 14,000 jobs. Those moves came as the company shifted focus toward areas like artificial intelligence and streamlined its operations after a hiring boom during the pandemic.

The tech industry as a whole has seen similar changes. Many firms hired fast to meet demand for online services and cloud computing during lockdowns. Now, with demand settling and new tools like AI changing how work gets done, companies are trimming staff to match their needs. Amazon's cloud unit, AWS, has been a big growth driver, but even there, teams are making adjustments to stay nimble.

This latest round affects workers in various parts of the business, including AWS. It follows a pattern where Amazon reviews its teams to ensure they can move quickly and meet customer needs in a fast-changing world. The company says these steps help it focus on long-term success.

Key Details

The cuts became public after a slip-up late Tuesday. Colleen Aubrey, senior vice president for AWS applied AI solutions, sent a meeting invite to her team. The invite mentioned Galetti's upcoming email about organizational changes. Staff got this before the main message went out, sparking reports of the news.

Galetti's email on Wednesday laid out the plan clearly. She said the company would reduce its workforce by about 16,000 positions. These are not immediate firings. In the US, affected employees have 90 days to search for open roles inside Amazon. The time frame differs by country, but everyone gets support to transition out if needed.

Support for Affected Workers

Workers who do not find a new spot at the end of their search period will receive severance pay. They also get outplacement services to help with job hunting, health insurance benefits where they apply, and other aid. Galetti stressed that Amazon plans to keep hiring in key areas that matter for its future, even as it makes these cuts.

"Changes like this are hard on everyone. The decisions are difficult and made thoughtfully as we position our organization and AWS for future success." – Colleen Aubrey, SVP for AWS Applied AI Solutions

Galetti noted that teams across Amazon will keep checking their structure. They will look at ownership of tasks, speed of work, and ability to innovate for customers. Adjustments may happen at different levels as needed. She said Amazon does not plan regular large cuts like this, but smaller changes could occur.

What This Means

These layoffs mark Amazon's biggest since 2023. They come at a time when the US job market shows signs of slowing. Last December, the country added just 50,000 jobs, down slightly from the month before. Businesses seem cautious about hiring, even with some economic growth. Factors like tariff policies, inflation, and AI's rise play a role in that hesitation.

For Amazon workers, the news brings uncertainty. The 90-day window gives a chance to stay, but many may end up leaving with severance. The company's focus on strategic hires means roles in AI, cloud services, and other growth spots remain open. This could shift skills demand inside Amazon and beyond.

The broader tech sector watches closely. Other giants have made similar moves, and this could signal more adjustments ahead. Amazon's size means its decisions ripple through the economy, affecting suppliers, communities near its offices, and the job market for tech talent. As teams reshape, the company aims to speed up innovation and cut costs to handle competition and new tech shifts.

Employees in places like Seattle, where Amazon has a big presence, feel the impact most. Local leaders may step in with job programs or talks with the company. For now, Galetti's message sets the tone: tough choices today for strength tomorrow. The full list of affected roles has not come out, but updates will follow as the process moves forward.

Amazon's leaders point to a world changing faster than ever. AI tools now handle tasks that once needed humans, freeing up resources but also cutting jobs. The company bets this structure will help it lead in cloud computing and e-commerce. Workers and watchers wait to see how it plays out over the coming months.