Amazon cuts fewer than 1,000 jobs across teams, Business Insider reports

October 8, 2026 - 08:54

Amazon has confirmed a fresh round of layoffs affecting its Stores division, according to a company statement released on Wednesday. The cuts impact fewer than 1,000 employees, a modest figure compared to the large-scale reductions the company carried out in previous years. Still, the move signals that the retail giant continues to adjust its workforce even as it pours money into artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The Stores unit covers Amazon's core online retail operations, including its marketplace, logistics coordination, and customer experience teams. Roles eliminated in this round span multiple teams within that division, though the company did not specify which positions were affected or how severance would be handled.

The timing stands out. Amazon has been directing billions of dollars toward data centers, custom chips, and AI models to compete with rivals like Microsoft and Google. Those investments require capital, and trimming headcount in mature business areas is one way to offset rising costs elsewhere.

Amazon has gone through several rounds of job cuts since 2022, when it reduced its corporate workforce by more than 27,000 people. The latest reductions are far smaller, but they suggest the company is still evaluating where it needs people and where automation or restructuring can take over.

Employees affected by the decision are expected to receive support packages, though details have not been made public. Amazon has not indicated whether further cuts are planned in the coming months.