Fresh Amazon Layoffs: HR Team Prepares for 15% Reduction Amid AI Drive

Amazon Layoffs News: E-commerce giant Amazon is preparing to issue another layoff order. This report, coming just days before Diwali, has alarmed hundreds of employees globally. According to a Fortune report, Amazon is planning up to 15% job cuts in its Human Resources (HR) department, which could impact other teams as well. However, there has been no official confirmation from the company yet. This move comes just months after recent smaller layoffs in the consumer devices group, the Wondery podcast division, and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

HR team hardest hit: Future of 10,000 employees in limbo

Amazon's HR team comprises over 10,000 employees globally, responsible for recruitment, payroll, and employee relations. According to reports, these HR staff will be most affected by the layoffs as the company shifts to AI and cloud operations. The total number of affected employees and the timeline are not yet clear, but it is estimated that the layoffs could begin by the end of October. A senior source told Fortune, "This is part of a restructuring where AI tools will automate HR processes." This will increase the company's efficiency, but it is a setback for employees.

Billions of Dollars in AI: The Dawn of a New Era

Amazon is investing heavily in AI. The company has announced plans to spend over $100 billion on capital expenditures this year. A large portion of this will go toward building next-generation data centers and strengthening AI infrastructure for enterprise customers. CEO Andy Jassy, ​​who succeeded Jeff Bezos in 2021, said in a company-wide memo in June, "This is a new era defined by AI. Every employee must embrace this change. Those who become familiar with AI and strengthen internal capabilities will reshape the company." Jassy emphasized that AI will provide better services to customers, but the change will impact some jobs.

Thousands of jobs lost in 2023-2024

This could be Amazon's third or fourth wave of layoffs. In 2023, the company cut more than 27,000 jobs, while in 2024, more than 1,000 were affected in AWS and other divisions. The focus on HR now appears to be a result of AI integration, where chatbots and automation will handle recruitment. Experts say this trend is becoming common in the tech industry—Google and Microsoft have also made cuts in the name of the AI ​​shift.

The Company's Silence and the Future

Employee unions and labor experts have expressed concern that unconfirmed rumors will impact morale. Amazon has yet to issue a statement, but CEO Jesse previously stated that "tough decisions will make the company resilient." Amazon has thousands of HR employees in India, who could be most affected by these cuts. Will these layoffs begin after Diwali? The company's response will be monitored in the coming days. Overall, the era of AI is proving challenging for employees but a growth engine for the company.