Layoffs: Amazon To Slash 14,000 Managerial Roles By Early 2025 In Latest Round Of Job Cuts

The decision from the e-commerce player followed previous layoffs in the company's communications and sustainability divisions, as it tries to streamline operations and restructure teams.

This reduction will represent a 13 per cent decrease in the company’s global management workforce, bringing the number of managers down from 105,770 to 91,936.

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Amazon is planning to cut 14,000 managerial positions by early 2025 to achieve annual cost savings between $2.1 billion and $3.6 billion. This reduction will represent a 13 per cent decrease in the company’s global management workforce, bringing the number of managers down from 105,770 to 91,936.

The decision from the e-commerce player followed previous layoffs in the company's communications and sustainability divisions, as it tries to streamline operations and restructure teams.

Strategic Restructuring

The downsizing is a part of CEO Andy Jassy's strategy to streamline corporate decision making and boost efficiency, reported Business Insider. The executive plans to increase the proportion of individual contributors relative to managers by at least 15 per cent by the first quarter of 2025. By restructuring management levels, Amazon is looking to reduce bureaucracy and improve workflow speed.

An analysis by Morgan Stanley projected that nearly 13,834 managerial roles would be eliminated under this initiative, significantly contributing to Amazon’s cost-cutting efforts.

Cost Reduction Measures and Policy Changes

In addition to job cuts, Amazon introduced several cost-reduction strategies, including a “bureaucracy tipline” that allowed employees to report inefficiencies. Managers were also instructed to implement specific measures, such as restricting new hiring at the senior level, ramping up the direct reports, and reviewing pay structures.

These initiatives were part of a broader operational shift focused on improving profitability. Amazon has already scaled back non-essential programs, including its "Try Before You Buy" clothing initiative and a rapid brick-and-mortar delivery service.

Workforce Adjustment In Response to Market Trends

During the pandemic, Amazon’s workforce grew rapidly, expanding from 798,000 employees in 2019 to over 1.6 million by the end of 2021. However, as market conditions evolved, the company reassessed its staffing strategy. Previous layoffs in 2022 and 2023 resulted in 27,000 job eliminations, reflecting Amazon’s ongoing efforts to align its workforce with shifting business demands.