Rumors of Amazon layoffs are floating around once more, and the numbers are far from reassuring. New reports suggest that the e-commerce giant is preparing its workforce reduction plans as we speak, with employees from the People Experience and Technology division at the center of the change. The division oversees the HR proceedings of the organization, which includes recruitment and employee management for the vast majority of the company’s ranks.
With the smaller scale of layoffs we’ve seen at Amazon over the course of this year, the additional downsizing efforts don’t come as a surprise, but the decision to cut jobs in HR roles could be a telling sign of more to come. With the push for AI-powered operations gaining momentum, Amazon’s rumored HR workforce cuts could be a result of the reduced hiring and employee management needs of the company.
The Amazon layoff rumors suggest that 15% of the company’s global PTX division could soon be cut. (Image: Pexels)
Amazon Layoffs Rumored to Target People Management Divisions: The Changing Times Leave No Roles Immune
The signs of Amazon’s massive HR cuts were first brought to light by Fortune, as two sources told its reporters that the People eXperience Technology team (PXT) was set to be targeted by its workforce reduction plans. The layoff rumors from Amazon suggest that almost 15% of the HR staff could be affected by the cuts, making the numbers a worrying prospect for many.
The PXT division employs around 10,000 workers globally, and its operations, while HR-centric, often extend beyond its traditional borders to technology-based staff as well. Additionally, apart from Amazon’s PXT layoffs, sources suggested that other teams could also be hit in the coming weeks, although the departments and the scale of the cuts remain unknown.
Amazon workers have not been immune to the layoff trends that have taken over at a number of large-scale businesses this year. From cuts in its Kindle and podcast divisions all the way to Amazon Web Services, many employees have been let go in 2025. Despite this, the job cuts have occurred on a smaller scale when compared to other tech giants, and especially compared to the cuts in preceding years, when up to 27,000 roles were eliminated.
Amazon Is in Pursuit of a “Cultural Shift”
Considering that the Amazon layoffs are only rumors for now, there are no official reports on the reason for these cuts and their potential impact on the workforce. From the changing culture at the organization and the apparent focus on AI, however, we may be able to understand the motivation. Right from the introduction of Amazon’s RTO policy, employees have assumed that the decision was motivated by a desire to push reluctant employees out of the workforce.
While many did threaten to quit, it’s apparent that the larger majority chose to comply with the regulations eventually. Earlier this year, CEO Andy Jassy also released a note to employees centered on the cultural reset taking shape at the organization, offering employees a chance to understand and try to keep up with the future direction of the business. The CEO reiterated the importance of meritocracy and the goal of rewarding workers who could perform well under its updated regulations. Results have always been of central importance, but the specific mention of them shows the company’s renewed approach to productivity.
The E-Commerce Giant Acknowledged That Some Cuts Will Be Inevitable
In the aforementioned letter, Jassy also acknowledged that some cuts would be inevitable, particularly among managers. He added that, “every new project shouldn’t take 50 or more people to do it.“
Unsurprisingly, the organization has faced many extreme accusations following talks of layoffs, with some being directed at them as recently as last month. The organization has been accused of firing US workers only to hire H-1B visa holders to fill in their ranks with cheaper labor. With the terms of the visa application changing, this might soon be harder to use as a strategy, but their resentment towards the organization remains.
In contrast, the company also presented its new $1 billion investment in its workers recently, which makes it clear that its employees will remain a priority during these changing times.
Amazon Global HR Cuts Could Be a Result of the Company’s AI Journey
Amazon’s HR job cuts may just be a result of the division having grown bigger than necessary, with the organization attempting to flatten the business wherever possible. Others believe that the PXT layoffs could allow Amazon to axe unnecessary resources spent on hiring and recruitment, as extensive employment processes will not be required in the future. With AI taking up much of the limelight, many top CEOs have indicated that this technology could soon perform the work of hundreds.
This is not to say that the e-commerce giant will cease hiring workers entirely. Instead, the company’s hiring demands may go down by a degree, with much of PTX’s functions eventually automated. This is merely an observation, but it does align with the practices we’ve seen lead the way at other businesses.
For its part, the company has already begun large-scale hiring for the holiday season, where thousands of seasonal workers join its forces to keep up with the demands of the season of giving. Over 250,000 employees are expected to join the company, but this will likely be limited to its warehouse and delivery workers. While Amazon’s role in creating jobs is a blessing for many, those at the center of the Amazon layoffs rumors may not feel quite as lucky.
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