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Amazon Announces Biggest Layoff in its History

With the holiday season upon us, Amazon officials announced today the company plans to layoff 10,000 employees, some as early as this week. The cuts will reportedly affect the company’s…

Amazon Layoffs

Amazon Announces Another 9,000 will lose their jobs (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

With the holiday season upon us, Amazon officials announced today the company plans to layoff 10,000 employees, some as early as this week.

The cuts will reportedly affect the company's devices organization, which includes Echo devices and Alexa voice assistant, as well as the retail division and human resources.

The cuts this week will primarily affect those in corporate and technology roles.  Amazon had more than 1.5 million employees at the end of September, a 5% increase over the year before.  Officials say they expect all that to change due to the fact inflation is still high, people's budgets are tight and a slower growth period is expected moving forward.

Today's announcement of plans to layoff 10,000 workers represents 3% of the company's corporate employees, yet just 1% of its global workforce.

Amazon operates a Fulfillment Center in Appling, employing more than 2,500 workers.  It's not known if any layoffs are planned at the facility in Columbia County.

Mary Liz is the News Director and Co-Host of Augusta’s Morning News on WGAC. She spent 11 years as a News Director at an Indiana Radio Station. She has also worked as a former Police and Courts Reporter for The Republic Newspaper and Assistant Marketing Director of Merchants National Bank in Indianapolis. Mary Liz focuses most on local breaking news stories, feature stories on upcoming events, or community-service related organizations and the people who serve them. She has been with WGAC since 1995.