Amazon may be preparing for another major round of job cuts, with reports suggesting that as many as 16,000 employees could be laid off starting January 27, 2026. If confirmed, this would mark one of the company’s largest workforce reductions in recent years and further underline the ongoing restructuring within the global tech industry.
Amazon Layoffs: What We Know So Far
Back in October, a Reuters report indicated that Amazon was planning to cut nearly 30,000 jobs over the coming months. At the time, it was reported that approximately 14,000 roles would be eliminated in the first phase, a move that largely materialized. Now, attention has turned to the second phase of cuts, which is expected to be significantly larger.
According to chatter on corporate discussion platforms such as Blind and Reddit, Amazon is likely to begin its next round of layoffs around January 27, potentially impacting around 16,000 employees. While the company has not officially confirmed these numbers, multiple anonymous posts from individuals claiming to be Amazon employees suggest that internal discussions are already underway.
If these reports prove accurate, Amazon’s total job cuts over the last few months could approach 30,000, adding to the 27,000 positions eliminated in 2023. This would place Amazon among the most aggressive cost-cutting tech companies in recent years.
Internal Signals Point to Imminent Job Cuts
Several Amazon employees posting anonymously on Blind have claimed that managers and senior leadership have already hinted at upcoming layoffs. These posts suggest that teams within AWS (Amazon Web Services) as well as corporate departments could be affected.
Some employees have also indicated that workers currently on Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) may receive advance notice of termination a few days before the broader announcement. While such claims cannot be independently verified, similar patterns have been observed during previous Amazon layoffs.
The growing volume of consistent internal reports has fueled speculation that the announcement is imminent, even as Amazon remains officially silent.
Is AI Driving the Latest Amazon Layoffs?
Although Amazon has not explicitly stated the reason behind the expected job cuts, many industry observers believe the layoffs could be linked to the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence across the company’s operations.
As Amazon continues to invest heavily in AI-driven automation, cloud optimization, and generative AI tools, certain roles may be becoming redundant. Like many tech giants, Amazon appears to be rebalancing its workforce to prioritize efficiency, profitability, and emerging technologies.
This trend mirrors broader shifts across the tech sector, where companies are cutting traditional roles while expanding teams focused on AI, machine learning, and advanced cloud services.
Global Impact Likely, Including India
One of the most concerning aspects of the rumored layoffs is their global scope. According to employee discussions, teams across multiple regions may be affected, including India, which hosts a significant portion of Amazon’s tech and operations workforce.
Previous layoffs at Amazon have not been limited to a single geography, and the upcoming round is expected to follow a similar pattern. If true, thousands of employees worldwide could soon be facing uncertainty.
Amazon’s Ongoing Workforce Restructuring
Amazon’s potential January 2026 layoffs would represent another step in the company’s long-term restructuring strategy. After rapid hiring during the pandemic years, Amazon—like many tech firms—is now recalibrating to align with slower growth, changing consumer behavior, and rising operational costs.
While layoffs are often framed as efficiency measures, they also highlight the volatility of employment in the tech sector, even at industry-leading companies.
What Comes Next?
Until Amazon makes an official announcement, much of the information remains based on internal leaks and employee speculation. However, the consistency of reports across platforms suggests that a significant workforce reduction may be imminent.
If the layoffs proceed as rumored, they will likely have far-reaching consequences—not just for Amazon employees, but also for the broader tech job market heading into 2026.
