Amazon's Job Cuts Confirmed After Email Blunder

Sat Jan 31 2026 19:06:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a surprising turn of events, Amazon has confirmed the reduction of 16,000 jobs, attributing the decision to an effort to streamline their operations, following an accidental email that indicated layoffs.

Amazon has officially confirmed the layoff of 16,000 employees across the US, Canada, and Costa Rica. This announcement follows an accidental email that revealed plans for job cuts, which was retracted shortly after being sent. Amid ongoing efforts to 'strengthen' company operations, CEO Andy Jassy noted that the firm is moving to eliminate bureaucracy and enhance efficiency. The company had already announced 14,000 job losses in October, leading to speculation of further cuts.

Amazon's Job Cuts Confirmed After Email Blunder

In a surprising turn of events, Amazon has confirmed the reduction of 16,000 jobs as part of its strategy to streamline operations. This announcement comes just hours after a mistakenly sent email hinted at significant layoffs.

The email, sent late on Tuesday, indicated that employees in the US, Canada, and Costa Rica would be affected by the layoffs, designed to strengthen the company's structure. The message was quickly retracted, suggesting a slip-up in communication prior to official announcements.

On Wednesday, the e-commerce giant revealed its plans to cut jobs, framing the decision as part of a broader initiative to eliminate bureaucratic layers within the company. According to Beth Galetti, Amazon's senior vice president of people experience and technology, this move aims to enhance efficiency and reduce delays in operations.

While October's announcement of 14,000 job cuts was already a significant reduction in workforce, expectations indicated that around 30,000 roles could ultimately be eliminated before the year's end. As Jassy noted, these decisions although challenging, are seen as necessary to prepare Amazon and its AWS division for future success.

Interestingly, the email which detailed these layoffs was tied to 'Project Dawn', a code name associated with the layoffs initiated by senior leadership at Amazon Web Services.

Jassy’s leadership has implemented several cost-saving measures since he took over from Jeff Bezos and has enforced a stringent workplace culture, including a return to full-time in-office work.

The recent cuts are part of a wider trend across major tech companies, as Amazon joins the likes of Google, Microsoft, and Meta in reducing their workforce amid changing market demands. As reported, the tech industry has faced over 700,000 job losses throughout the last four years, highlighting a significant shift in employment within this sector.