Amazon’s mass layoffs – more than 14,000 jobs announced last month – have rippled across nearly every division, from AWS and Alexa to retail, advertising, and grocery. But new state filings show that engineers were disproportionately affected.
WARN notices filed in New York, California, New Jersey, and Washington indicate that almost 40% of the 4,700 disclosed cuts in those states were engineering roles. These filings represent only a portion of the total layoffs, as reporting requirements vary across states.
A historic downsizing amid rising profits
This latest wave marks the largest workforce reduction in Amazon’s 31-year history and aligns it with a growing list of tech giants cutting staff despite strong cash reserves and rising profitability.
According to Layoffs.fyi, nearly 113,000 jobs have been eliminated across 231 tech companies this year – extending a correction that began in 2022 as the industry recalibrated after the Covid-era expansion.
Jassy’s push to reshape corporate culture
CEO Andy Jassy remains committed to his long-running effort to streamline the company and rebuild it as “the world’s largest startup.” The strategy has emphasized efficiency, reduced bureaucracy, and doing more with fewer resources.
The significant reduction in engineering staff reflects Amazon’s attempt to flatten teams and accelerate product cycles, even as it publicly emphasizes the need for faster innovation.
More cuts expected in early 2026
Amazon is preparing for additional job reductions in January, according to prior CNBC reporting, signaling that the restructuring efforts are far from over.
The company’s shift toward leaner operations – and the heavy impact on engineering talent – raises key questions for investors and analysts about how Amazon intends to scale innovation while shrinking the teams responsible for building it.
