Amazon has cut up to 250 jobs in its Devices and Services division, marking another round of workforce reductions this month as the company reviews its organisational structure and priorities. The latest Amazon layoffs were announced on Wednesday, October 28, and mainly affected software development roles, according to people familiar with the matter cited in reports.
The company confirmed the job cuts after being asked about them by Reuters. An Amazon spokesperson described the decision as difficult and said the changes were intended to help the business operate more efficiently and align staffing with its product roadmap. Amazon did not disclose a detailed breakdown of the affected teams or explain which projects would be impacted.
Employees were informed through text messages and emails sent early on Wednesday morning. One message, seen by Reuters, came from Cherie Robinson, a human resources vice president in the Devices and Services unit. It said the company had carried out a thorough review of its structure before deciding that some roles would have to be eliminated.
The latest cuts are notable because they came after several weeks of product launches from Amazon. The company has introduced new Kindle e-readers and tablet computers, expanding its consumer device line-up. On Wednesday, it also announced a new Alexa-powered alarm clock and photo frame. The timing has drawn attention, but Amazon has not said that the product launches were connected to the layoffs.
The Devices and Services division is responsible for a range of Amazon consumer technology products, including Kindle e-readers and Alexa-enabled devices. Its work spans hardware, software and services designed to connect customers with Amazon’s digital ecosystem. While the job reductions reportedly focused largely on software development, the company has not provided a public list of roles, locations or teams affected.
The cuts follow another round of Amazon job losses earlier in October, when the company reduced its workforce in the core retail business. That move affected fewer than 1,000 corporate employees, with most roles linked to the Stores unit, which oversees Amazon’s online shopping operations. Reports at the time said employees in the United States, India and the United Kingdom were among those affected.
Taken together, the October reductions show that Amazon’s workforce changes are not limited to one business area. However, the company has not published a combined figure for all jobs eliminated this month, and the exact total should not be treated as confirmed. The latest 250 figure comes from a person familiar with the Devices and Services cuts, while Amazon’s public statement referred only to a small number of roles.
The job cuts also come against the backdrop of a wider restructuring effort at the technology company. Amazon reduced around 14,000 corporate jobs in October 2025 and announced a further 16,000 job cuts in January 2026. Those rounds formed part of a push to simplify the organisation, reduce layers and refocus resources on business priorities. The latest move extends that process into another part of the company.
Artificial intelligence has become a central issue in discussions about employment across the technology sector, as companies examine how automation can change the way teams work. Amazon has also spoken publicly about the effects of AI on its workforce and operating model. However, the company has not directly linked the latest Devices and Services layoffs to artificial intelligence. Its stated reason for the cuts is operational efficiency and closer alignment between staffing and product plans.
For employees, the announcement means an abrupt change after a period of new device releases and product announcements. Early-morning notices can leave affected workers with little time to prepare, although Amazon has not detailed what transition support, severance arrangements or other assistance will be provided to those leaving the division. It has also not said whether further reductions are planned.
The developments arrive as investors and employees await Amazon’s third-quarter financial results, scheduled for release after the US market closes on Thursday, October 29. The results are expected to provide a view of the company’s performance across online retail, cloud computing, advertising and other businesses. The company has not said the layoffs are tied to a specific financial result.
Amazon’s latest workforce reduction highlights the difficult balance facing large technology companies: continuing to launch products while adjusting the teams and costs behind them. The company says it is reshaping parts of its organisation to work more efficiently and support its product roadmap and priorities. Further details about the affected roles, the total October job cuts and any additional restructuring remain unconfirmed.