Amazon Cuts 16,000 Corporate Jobs in AI-Driven Restructuring
Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) shares held NEAR $245 as the company announced its second major round of layoffs in three months. The 16,000 corporate job cuts follow 14,000 reductions in October and 27,000 in 2023, signaling a strategic pivot toward automation and generative AI to streamline operations.
Senior Vice President Beth Galetti framed the move as part of a broader organizational overhaul to 'reduce layers and remove bureaucracy.' The latest cuts focus on corporate roles, though Amazon declined to specify affected business units. Investors responded positively, with shares rising 2.63% to $244.68 amid expectations of long-term efficiency gains.
Despite workforce reductions, Amazon's fundamentals remain robust. The company continues to leverage its cloud infrastructure and e-commerce dominance while aggressively adopting AI tools to reduce future staffing needs. Market analysts note the layoffs reflect industry-wide cost optimization rather than weakness in Core operations.