Amazon Layoffs October 28, 2025: 14,000 Jobs Cut as AI Takes Over

Updated: October 28, 2025

Amazon Cuts 14,000 Jobs Fear of AI Becomes Real

On October 28, 2025, Amazon announced a massive layoff cutting 14,000 corporate jobs in a single day. It’s one of the biggest workforce reductions in the company’s history and has sent shockwaves across the tech world.

Families are affected, debates are raging online, and everyone’s asking the same question: Why now and is this just the beginning?

Amazon Layoffs Key Takeaways

AI investment surpasses $100 billion in 2025.
Amazon cuts 14,000 corporate jobs, with up to 30,000 planned.
Total layoffs since 2022 now exceed 43,000.
Focus shifts to AI automation and cost efficiency.
CEO Andy Jassy pushes a leaner, tech-driven structure.

The Bigger Picture: Tech Layoffs Continue

Amazon isn’t alone. The tech industry has been downsizing heavily this year. Over 200 companies have cut 98,344 jobs in 2025 alone. Amazon’s move ranks among the top 10 largest U.S. corporate layoffs ever.

This follows earlier rounds 1,920 jobs cut earlier this year and 27,000 between 2022 and 2023. In total, more than 43,000 Amazon employees have lost their jobs since the pandemic hiring boom ended. Despite the cuts, Amazon’s total workforce remains huge at 1.55 million, but this layoff targets 4% of its 350,000 corporate employees.

Jassy’s Plan: Efficiency Over Expansion

CEO Andy Jassy, who succeeded Jeff Bezos in 2021, is pushing for higher efficiency. Teams are being flattened, middle managers reduced by 13%, and hiring slowed. The company peaked at 1.6 million workers in 2021, but automation is now the priority.

Amazon plans to replace up to 600,000 roles with AI and robotics by 2033. In June, Jassy warned employees to “embrace AI or be left behind.” Many saw this as a clear signal of what was coming.

Inside Amazon Layoffs

Managers received brief training on October 27, just hours before termination emails went out. Severance packages include 90 days of pay and benefits, but many call it small comfort. Impacted divisions include HR (PXT), Operations, Devices & Services, and AWS.

Reports suggest the PXT team alone could lose 15% of its 10,000+ staff. Some insiders predict total cuts could hit 30,000 jobs nearly 10% of Amazon’s corporate workforce. Ironically, while office jobs vanish, Amazon is hiring 250,000 seasonal warehouse workers for the holidays.

Industry Impact and Reactions

Amazon’s return-to-office policy five days a week failed to trigger enough voluntary exits, leading to forced layoffs. An internal complaint system recorded 1,500 grievances, further fueling leadership’s push to streamline management.

Meanwhile, Amazon is investing more than $100 billion in AI this year. As e-commerce growth slows, the company is pivoting toward generative AI and automation. Across the U.S., tech and management roles are down 2.8% year-over-year, with unemployment in the sector at 4.2%.

Amazon Layoffs Stats

Details	Numbers
Jobs Cut This Round	14,000 corporate (up to 30,000 planned)
% of Corporate Workforce	~4% now, possibly 10% total
Total Since 2022	Over 43,000
Tech Sector YTD Cuts	98,344 across 216 firms
Amazon’s AI Investment	$100B+ in 2025

Amazon Layoffs – Social Media Backlash

The layoffs sparked a major backlash online. A viral post with 440,000 views and 2,500 likes criticized Amazon’s move as a reversal of past hiring trends. Others expressed empathy, sharing job resources and calling out inequality.

Some predict a “white-collar recession” ahead, with up to 85% of roles automated by 2026. Still, a few see opportunity in AI-driven roles. But the message is clear efficiency is winning over empathy.

Adding to the tension, Amazon recently hired 9,200 new H-1B visa workers on October 1, right before cutting long-term employees. Critics call it bad timing, while some defend it as part of a necessary reset.

What Lies Ahead

Amazon is reshaping itself around AI. The company’s long-term goal is clear: a smaller, faster, more automated workforce. For employees, it’s a sign to upskill and adapt. For the job market, it’s a warning that the next big shift is already here.

The question now is whether these changes will lead to new growth or mark the start of a tougher era for tech workers everywhere.