Amazon’s massive layoffs last month; over 14,000 jobs; hit almost every corner of the company, from AWS and devices to advertising, retail, and grocery operations. But engineers took the biggest hit.
State filings in New York, California, New Jersey, and Washington show that nearly 40% of the 4,700 reported cuts in those states were engineering roles.
These numbers come from WARN notices filed with state labor agencies, representing only part of the total layoffs announced in October, as reporting rules vary by state.
The cuts mark the largest layoff round in Amazon’s 31-year history, placing the company among more than 230 tech firms that have collectively slashed almost 113,000 jobs this year.
This continues a trend that began in 2022 as tech companies restructured after the post-pandemic slowdown; despite rising profits and large cash reserves.
According to CNBC, Amazon is expected to announce another wave of layoffs in January.
The rise of AI is also reshaping the tech job market. With companies increasingly adopting coding assistants and “vibe coding” platforms from firms like OpenAI, Cursor, and Cognition, traditional software development roles are becoming harder to secure.
Amazon has launched its own AI coding tool, Kiro, further signaling the shift toward AI-driven development.
