Amazon Lays Off Up to 250 Jobs in Devices and Services Division

Amazon has cut up to 250 jobs in its Devices and Services division, with most of the affected positions reportedly in software development. The layoffs were announced on Wednesday, October 28, following several weeks of product launches that included new Kindle e-readers and tablet computers.

Amazon confirmed the job cuts following an inquiry from Reuters. A company spokesperson said Amazon had taken the “difficult decision to eliminate a small number of roles” as part of an effort to operate more efficiently and align its workforce with its product roadmap.

A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that no more than 250 positions were affected, with software development accounting for most of the cuts.

The Devices and Services division covers Amazon’s consumer technology products and services, including Kindle and Alexa-enabled devices. The layoffs come as the company continues to launch products in these categories.

Amazon Cuts Software Roles After Organisational Review

Affected employees were informed through emails and text messages sent early Wednesday, according to Reuters. One message reviewed by the publication was from Cherie Robinson, a human resources vice president in Amazon’s Devices and Services division.

The communication said a review of the organisation’s structure had resulted in the decision to eliminate certain positions. Amazon did not provide a detailed breakdown of the affected teams or roles beyond the reported concentration in software development.

Earlier in October, Amazon cut approximately 1,000 jobs in its core retail division. The latest reductions are separate from those cuts, and Amazon has not indicated that the Devices and Services layoffs are part of a single company-wide workforce reduction programme.

The development comes amid a broader series of technology-sector workforce changes. In India, US-based AI services company Innodata also reportedly laid off nearly 550 employees earlier this week, with additional job cuts reported in the Philippines. Innodata has not publicly confirmed the reported number of affected employees.

The Amazon layoffs have also prompted discussions on X, where users and technology professionals have been posting reactions to the latest cuts and questioning workforce changes at large technology companies.

Amazon Reviews Workforce Ahead of Q3 Results

Amazon’s latest workforce reduction was announced ahead of its third-quarter earnings report, scheduled for release after the US market closes on Thursday.

The company has said the Devices and Services cuts are intended to make operations more efficient and align staffing with its product priorities. The company has not disclosed the financial impact of the latest layoffs or provided further details on the number of employees remaining in the division.