Amazon Layoffs in 2025

Amazon's main corporate layoffs in 2025 occurred in late October, with approximately 14,000 roles eliminated globally.

Official Announcement (October 28, 2025)

Amazon’s Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology, Beth Galetti, shared a memo with employees (also posted publicly). Key points from the memo:

• The cuts were part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the organization by reducing layers, increasing ownership, removing bureaucracy, and shifting resources to high-priority areas.
• It would result in an overall reduction of ~14,000 corporate roles, while the company continued hiring in strategic areas.
• Support for affected employees: Most (especially in the US) received 90 days to search for internal roles (with recruiting prioritizing internal candidates). Those who didn’t find or take another role received severance pay, outplacement services, health insurance continuation, and other transition support. Timing varied internationally based on local laws.

The company framed this as a response to a fast-changing world, particularly the transformative impact of AI, which enables faster innovation and requires a leaner structure. CEO Andy Jassy had previously emphasized operating like the “world’s largest startup.”
This was a significant round but smaller than initial rumors of up to 30,000 (the higher figure became the combined total with the January 2026 cuts).

IBM to cut 8,100 jobs

IBM’s latest job cuts mark a decisive turn in the company’s evolution, signaling a shift from traditional operations to an AI- and cloud-driven future. Thousands of employees worldwide face uncertainty as roles tied to legacy systems disappear, while new positions emerge in cutting-edge technology.

In early November 2025, IBM announced plans to cut a “low single-digit percentage” of its 270,000-strong workforce, affecting thousands of positions globally. While U.S. employment remains largely stable, the majority of reductions will occur in Europe and Asia. The restructuring emphasizes AI, hybrid cloud, and software services, echoing a broader trend among Big Tech companies adapting to the AI era.

The layoffs primarily target employees without AI or cloud expertise. Mid-career professionals with four to twelve years of experience face heightened risk, recalling past HR memos referencing “dinobabies”—senior staff encouraged to leave. Back-office roles in HR, finance, procurement, and legacy infrastructure, along with consulting and marketing positions not tied to AI, are being phased out.

While some employees face cuts, IBM is actively hiring for AI and cloud roles, particularly in India and select U.S. hubs. Job postings in India have surged, reflecting a strategy to shift international work to lower-cost regions. U.S. hiring now concentrates on strategic areas such as WatsonX development and hybrid cloud architecture.

This global workforce realignment mirrors moves by peers. Amazon recently announced up to 30,000 corporate layoffs, and Meta cut around 600 positions from its Superintelligence Labs division. Meanwhile, workers across the tech sector report mental health strains due to layoff uncertainty, with 77% citing worsened well-being tied to job anxiety.