Amazon layoffs to 'improve efficiency': What they mean for employees & how they compare with job cuts at Microsoft, Netflix and Oracle across Big Tech

Amazon has cut around 250 jobs in its devices and services division, with most of the affected roles reportedly in software development. The latest reduction adds to Amazon’s workforce cuts over the past year. The company announced plans to eliminate 14,000 roles in October 2025 and another 16,000 in January 2026. It also cut around 1,000 jobs in its core retail division earlier in October 2026. Including the latest 250 roles, these rounds account for more than 31,000 job cuts. The US-based e-commerce giant confirmed the latest reductions following an inquiry by Reuters, saying the move was intended to improve efficiency and align staffing with product priorities.

“We've made the difficult decision to eliminate a small number of roles,” an Amazon spokesperson said, without elaborating.

Read more - Amazon announces second round of layoffs this month, cuts 250 jobs in devices unit


A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that no more than 250 jobs had been affected, primarily in software development.

Why has Amazon cut 250 jobs in its devices and services division?

Amazon said the decision followed a review of its organisational structure. In a message to employees, Cherie Robinson, a human resources vice president in the devices and services division, said the company had carried out “a thorough review of our structure”, resulting in the need to reduce roles.

The company said the cuts would help it “operate more efficiently and better align with our product roadmap”.

Employees were informed through text messages and emails early on Wednesday, October 28, Reuters reported.

Amazon’s devices and services division develops consumer technology products, including Kindle e-readers and Alexa-enabled devices. The latest cuts come weeks after the company unveiled new Kindle models and tablet computers.

On Wednesday, Amazon also announced a new alarm clock and photo frame powered by Alexa, its voice assistant.

Amazon layoffs: How many jobs has the company cut since 2025?

The latest job cuts follow a series of workforce reductions across Amazon. In October 2025, the company announced plans to cut around 14,000 roles. In January 2026, it announced another 16,000 job cuts across the business.

Earlier in October 2026, Amazon also pared around 1,000 jobs in its core retail division, according to Reuters.

Taken together, the announced cuts across these rounds amount to more than 31,000 roles. The figure combines the planned reductions announced in October 2025 and January 2026 with the reported retail and devices and services cuts in October 2026; it does not necessarily represent the number of employees who have already left the company.

Explaining the January reductions, senior vice president of People Experience and Technology Beth Galetti said the changes were aimed at “reducing layers, increasing ownership, and removing bureaucracy”.

Galetti also addressed concerns that Amazon might begin announcing large-scale job reductions every few months. She said: “Some of you might ask if this is the beginning of a new rhythm, where we announce broad reductions every few months. That's not our plan.”

She added that teams would continue to assess their structures and make changes where necessary, evaluating “the ownership, speed, and capacity to invent for customers”.

Amazon layoffs vs Microsoft, Netflix and Oracle: What is happening across Big Tech?

Amazon’s latest job cuts come amid wider workforce changes across the technology sector, as companies review costs, restructure teams and ramp up investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and computing infrastructure. However, the scale and reasons for these moves differ from one company to another.

Oracle reportedly began another round of layoffs in September as it sought to reduce payroll costs while continuing to invest heavily in data centres to meet growing demand for AI computing capacity.

Netflix reportedly cut nearly 1,000 jobs in October, representing around 6% of its workforce. The reductions affected teams across product, technology, legal and human resources.

Microsoft, meanwhile, has reportedly offered voluntary buyouts to around 60,000 employees, or roughly a quarter of its workforce, as it looks to manage costs while continuing to spend on AI.

Amazon has cut around 250 jobs in its devices and services division, primarily in software development, according to a person familiar with the matter cited by Reuters. The company said the move would help it operate more efficiently and align staffing with its product roadmap.

Companies are making different decisions about staffing, operational efficiency and investment priorities, even as AI-related spending grows.

What do Amazon layoffs mean for Indian tech employees?

Amazon is due to announce its third-quarter financial results after the market closes on Thursday, October 29, giving investors an update on its performance amid the latest workforce changes.

For Indian tech employees, Amazon’s latest layoffs add to the uncertainty surrounding jobs in the technology sector, where companies are reassessing costs and workforce requirements. With software development among the roles affected in the latest round, the cuts may draw attention from professionals working in similar functions.

The wider trend also points to changing priorities across the technology sector, as companies review staffing requirements, manage costs and direct investment towards areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and digital infrastructure.

For employees, the key is to keep up with changing industry demands. Updating technical skills, learning new tools and keeping an eye on hiring trends can help them stay prepared as companies change their priorities.


Inputs from agencies