Amazon will announce that it will increase its job cuts this year to 18,000 employees as it tries to combat a global downturn.
Already in November, the tech giant announced plans to lay off approximately 10,000 workers. The company’s latest announcement also included these departures.
If staff are sacked, they will be informed. Most job losses will occur in Amazon Stores and its People Experience and Technology Solutions departments, also known as PXT.
Andy Jassy, the chief executive, stated that “This year’s evaluation was more difficult due to the uncertain economy and the fact that we have hired quickly over the past several years.”
“[We] are acutely aware of the difficulties that these eliminations of roles can cause for people. We don’t take these decisions lightly nor underestimate how they could impact the lives and livelihoods of those who are affected.
“We are supporting those affected by the separation payment, transitional insurance benefits and job placement support packages.
“Amazon has survived difficult and uncertain economic times in the past and will continue to do so.
These changes will allow us to pursue our long-term potential with a stronger price structure. However, I am optimistic that we’ll still be creative, resourceful and scrappy during this time when we aren’t hiring excessively and eliminating certain roles.
Although the layoffs represent a small fraction of Amazon’s 1.5 million global workforces, they come as Amazon faces strikes by warehouse workers in Coventry who demand higher wages.
Amazon’s share price fell 48% in the past year due to consumers cutting back on spending because of the cost-of-living crisis
