Amazon begins cutting 18,000 workers in its biggest layoffs ever
Amazon's layoffs are just a fraction of its 1.5M global workforce
Amazon reportedly plans to lay off 10,000 workers this week
The Heritage Foundation's Andy Puzder discusses Amazon's sweeping layoffs and how the labor force has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic on "Fox Business Tonight."
Amazon's workforce reduction – the largest in its history – will begin Wednesday.
Earlier this month, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told employees in a blog post that the company was laying off about 18,000 people as it seeks to cut costs and would begin contacting impacted employees on Jan. 18.
"Amazon has weathered uncertain and difficult economies in the past, and we will continue to do so," Jassy said in the Jan. 4 post. "These changes will help us pursue our long-term opportunities with a stronger cost structure."
Amazon declined to comment beyond the blog post.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMZN | AMAZON.COM INC. | 202.88 | -1.73 | -0.85% |
AMAZON PLANS TO LAY OFF 10K EMPLOYEES: REPORT
The layoffs, which are just a fraction of its 1.5 million global workforce and part of the company's ongoing annual operative review, will mostly impact the company’s Amazon Stores division — which encompasses its e-commerce business as well as company’s brick-and-mortar stores — and its PXT organizations, which handle human resources and other functions.
Amazon's workforce reduction – the largest in its history – will begin Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens/File / AP Newsroom)
Jassy first warned employees in November that layoffs were on the horizon given the uncertain economy and the fact that the company rapidly hired over the pandemic.
In the Nov. 17 post, Jassy told employees that Amazon decided to eliminate a number of positions across its devices and books businesses. He also announced a voluntary reduction offer for some employees in its PXT organization.
Packages riding on a belt are scanned to be loaded onto delivery trucks at the Amazon warehouse in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, on Aug. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File / AP Newsroom)
AMAZON HALTS CORPORATE HIRING, CITING 'UNCERTAIN' ECONOMY
As part of the company's annual operating planning review, it looks at each of its businesses to see what changes need to be made for the long-term health of the business.
However, Jassy further warned that there would be more role reductions in early 2023 as part of this annual planning process.
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Although the company didn't disclose a headcount at the time of the November announcement, the Wall Street Journal reported that 10,000 positions would be impacted.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
