Amazon has carried out another round of job cuts in Washington state, further reducing its workforce months after unveiling a much larger global downsizing plan. The latest reductions affect 84 employees and add to the wave of layoffs the company disclosed in October, when it announced plans to eliminate roughly 14,000 positions worldwide.
According to a report by GeekWire, the newly disclosed job cuts were revealed through a filing with Washington’s Employment Security Department. While modest in scale compared to earlier announcements, the reductions highlight Amazon’s continued effort to adjust staffing levels amid broader corporate restructuring.
The company described the move as part of its regular business review process, emphasizing that such decisions are made periodically to align teams with shifting operational needs and long-term priorities.
Disclosure Prompted by Changes to Washington Labor Law
Amazon’s latest filing was submitted in response to amendments to Washington state’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. The updated law requires employers to disclose any layoffs that occur within 90 days of a previous notice, even if the number of affected workers is relatively small.
Because Amazon had already filed a large WARN notice in October, the company was obligated to submit an additional disclosure covering the more recent job eliminations. The revised reporting rules are intended to provide workers and state officials with greater transparency during extended periods of workforce changes.
State regulators have noted that the expanded requirements help paint a more accurate picture of employment trends, particularly as large employers increasingly implement staggered layoffs rather than single, large-scale reductions.
Amazon Says Cuts Result From Individual Business Decisions
Amazon indicated that the affected roles were eliminated following internal assessments of specific business units rather than a company-wide mandate. The company stressed that the number of impacted employees is limited and that decisions were made carefully after evaluating operational needs.
To support those affected, Amazon is offering severance packages that go beyond statutory requirements. Employees whose roles are being eliminated will receive continued pay and benefits for 90 days, along with transitional health coverage and assistance with job placement. The company has also stated that workers who secure alternative roles within Amazon before their separation dates will not be impacted by the layoffs.
Job Separations Planned for Early 2026
The filing submitted to Washington authorities indicates that employee separations are scheduled to occur between February 2 and February 23, 2026. The job cuts will span more than 30 office locations across Seattle and Bellevue, which together form the core of Amazon’s corporate presence in the region. In addition, six remote positions based in Washington state are included.
The affected roles cover a wide range of functions and seniority levels. Positions being eliminated include software development engineers, program managers, recruiters, human resources professionals, and user experience designers. Both early-career employees and senior leaders, including directors and principal-level staff, are among those impacted.
This breadth reflects Amazon’s ongoing reassessment of its corporate workforce as it adapts to changing business conditions and evolving technology strategies.
Advance Notice Exceeds Legal Minimums
Amazon reported that employees were first informed of the planned job eliminations in early November. As a result, affected workers are receiving at least 89 days of advance notice before their employment ends.
This exceeds the 60-day notice period required under Washington’s revised WARN Act. By providing extended notice, Amazon aims to give employees additional time to seek new opportunities, whether within the company or elsewhere, and to prepare for the transition.
Labor experts note that longer notice periods can ease the impact of layoffs, particularly in competitive job markets where securing a new role may take time.
October Announcement Marked Much Larger Workforce Reduction
The latest layoffs follow a significant workforce reduction announced by Amazon in October, when the company disclosed plans to cut 2,303 corporate jobs in Washington state. Those reductions were primarily concentrated in Seattle and Bellevue and represented the first detailed regional breakdown of Amazon’s broader global layoff plan.
The October filing revealed that roles across software engineering, product management, program management, design, recruiting, and human resources were affected. Recruiting and HR positions accounted for a substantial share of the cuts, reflecting a slowdown in hiring after years of rapid expansion.
Together, the October layoffs and the newly disclosed reductions underscore the scale of Amazon’s ongoing restructuring efforts.
Leadership Signals Continued Changes Ahead
The October job cuts were announced as part of Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy’s broader push to streamline Amazon’s operations and improve efficiency. Since assuming the role, Jassy has overseen multiple rounds of cost-cutting and organizational changes aimed at reducing complexity and eliminating redundancies.
Earlier this year, Amazon leadership also indicated that the growing use of artificial intelligence tools could lead to further workforce reductions over time. Automation of routine and repetitive tasks is expected to reshape certain roles, while increasing demand for specialized technical skills in other areas.
In a memo circulated internally, the company’s head of human resources signaled that workforce adjustments are likely to continue into 2026 as Amazon continues to evaluate its structure and priorities.
