Amazon Prepares for Second Major Layoff Round While Salesforce Completes Reductions
Amazon is preparing for a second major round of corporate layoffs expected to affect thousands of employees, while Salesforce recently completed workforce reductions impacting fewer than 1,000 positions. These actions follow broader trends of organizational adjustments within the technology sector.
Amazon's Upcoming Reductions
Amazon is planning a second significant wave of corporate workforce reductions, anticipated to begin as early as next week. This round is expected to impact thousands of corporate employees, potentially aligning in scale with the approximately 14,000 jobs cut in October. Should these plans proceed, the cumulative job eliminations could approach 30,000.
The company has indicated that these latest cuts are part of ongoing efforts to streamline operations and adjust its corporate culture. Regarding the October layoffs, Amazon initially cited changes influenced by artificial intelligence. However, CEO Andy Jassy later clarified that those reductions were primarily tied to cultural fit, rather than cost savings or AI implementation.
Amazon's global workforce exceeds 1.5 million individuals, with its corporate segment comprising approximately 350,000 positions. A spokesperson for Amazon did not respond to requests for comment regarding the impending reductions. Reports from Reuters had previously indicated the potential timing of these cuts.
Salesforce's Recent Workforce Changes
Salesforce initiated workforce reductions at the beginning of the current month, affecting fewer than 1,000 roles. Employees confirmed their positions were eliminated through posts on social media platforms such as LinkedIn.
The impacted roles spanned various departments, including marketing, product management, data analytics, and the company's Agentforce AI product. These layoffs occurred alongside an executive restructuring within Salesforce, which has involved the appointment of six new leaders and the departures of five high-profile executives since December.
In August, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff had previously stated that the company utilized AI agents to reduce its support staff from 9,000 to 5,000.