Amazon to Lay Off 10,000 Employees in Corporate and Technology Workforce
In a move that would be the largest in its history, Amazon is planning to lay off 10,000 employees in its corporate and technology workforce. The job cuts will focus on the division that makes the company’s Echo devices and Alexa voice assistant, Amazon’s retail operations, and human resources, according to a New York Times report this morning.
If the job cuts occur as planned, they would be Amazon’s biggest yet. In Seattle alone, Amazon employs 75,000 people–a mix of corporate and tech workers–as part of its global workforce of 1.54 million. Those who work in warehouses wouldn’t be impacted by the potential cuts.
While the first of the layoffs may become public as early as this week, they will be ongoing. The move comes as Amazon is under increased pressure to rein in its costs. The company has been investing heavily in new businesses, such as cloud computing, streaming video, and grocery delivery. At the same time, it’s core retail business has been facing intense competition from rivals such as Walmart and Target.
The job cuts are likely to add to the mounting concerns about the technology industry’s impact on the economy. In recent months, there have been a number of high-profile layoffs in the sector, including at IBM, Microsoft, and Yahoo.
Amazon has not yet commented publicly on the report.
LAStartups.com is a digital lifestyle publication that covers the culture of startups and technology companies in Los Angeles. It is the go-to site for people who want to keep up with what matters in Los Angeles’ tech and startups from those who know the city best.