Amazon Announces 16,000 Corporate Layoffs Nationwide Amazon disclosed a plan to eliminate 16,000 corporate positions across the United States, citing a need to streamline operations and free capital for artificial‑intelligence projects [2]. The company did not specify which business units or locations would be affected, but the announcement followed a prior October reduction of 14,000 employees [2]. Despite the cuts, Amazon reported Q3 sales of $180 billion and a $21 billion profit, exceeding analyst expectations [2].

Washington State Job Cuts Set for April 28 Separation Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with Washington state shows Amazon will permanently separate 2,198 employees on April 28, 2026, across multiple sites in the state [1]. This move brings the total number of Amazon workers laid off in Washington over the past year to nearly 3,000, not counting additional corporate reductions [1][2]. The separations are part of the broader 16,000‑position national layoff plan [2].

Store Closures Accelerate Regional Employment Impact Amazon is closing all Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores nationwide, with most shuttering on February 1, 2026, adding hundreds of job losses in western Washington [1][2]. The closures compound the workforce reductions and affect retail staff separate from the corporate cuts [1]. Seattle officials warned the combined layoffs and store shutdowns could depress downtown spending and urged new grocery tenants for the vacant Fresh site [2].

HR Chief Beth Galetti Frames Reductions as Bureaucracy Reduction HR leader Beth Galetti described the layoffs as a way to “reduce layers, increase ownership, and remove bureaucracy,” emphasizing a shift toward a leaner organizational structure [2]. She added that Amazon does not intend to conduct frequent, broad reductions in the future [2]. Galetti’s comments aim to reassure remaining employees about the company’s strategic direction amid the cuts [2].

Strong Q3 Earnings Fund AI Investments Despite Workforce Reductions Amazon’s record earnings, highlighted by $180 billion in sales and $21 billion in profit, provide the financial cushion to invest heavily in AI technologies [2]. The company positioned the layoffs as a reallocation of resources toward future growth areas rather than a response to poor performance [2]. Analysts note the juxtaposition of robust profitability with large‑scale job cuts as a notable corporate strategy shift [2].