Amazon layoffs: Everything developers need to know

Amazon’s layoffs have rippled through the tech world, impacting tens of thousands of employees since 2022. For developers, it’s more than a headline—it’s a wake-up call. Expectations are shifting, and the bar to join or stay at Amazon is higher than ever.

What’s driving these changes?

Economic uncertainty, restructuring, and a sharper focus on profitability. But more importantly, what do they mean for your career?

In this blog, we’ll cover:

• The reasons behind Amazon’s layoffs

• How the company’s priorities are evolving

• What developers need to know to stand out

• Actionable strategies for navigating a job hunt

Let’s go!

Amazon layoffs: The timeline#

Amazon’s layoff history reveals a strategic shift toward efficiency and realignment. Here’s a breakdown of the key events and goals:

Amazon layoffs 2022#

Scaling back begins

• A slowdown in growth led Amazon to reevaluate its workforce

• Investments were reduced in the AWS Store Technology division

Amazon layoffs 2023#

Broader cuts across departments

• The AWS retail department saw significant layoffs

• Ambitious projects, including the Alexa voice assistant team and parts of AWS cloud computing, were scaled back

Amazon layoffs 2024#

Leaner operations under pressure

• Facing macroeconomic challenges, Amazon doubled down on the need for leaner operations and cost-cutting measures

Amazon layoffs: Impact on developer careers#

Amazon’s layoffs reflect strategic shifts toward profitability and operational efficiency. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of workers—from corporate staff to warehouse workers—have been impacted. 

The company has scaled back its underperforming divisions, like Alexa and some parts of AWS, indicating a realignment toward core business objectives.

So, what does that mean for your career?

It means that Amazon’s bar is higher than ever, and its expectations of employees have shifted. Efficiency, adaptability, and a deep understanding of impactful technology are requirements.

The emphasis for developers is that they must move beyond technical skills to include:

• Designing end-to-end solutions: Consider the entire product lifecycle, from user needs to deployment and scaling.

• Driving innovation through code: Build features that solve real-world problems, not just technical challenges.

• Connecting tech to business impact: Understand how your work supports business goals like user growth, revenue, or product adoption.

Every line of code, every system design, and every problem you solve must answer one critical question: Does this drive value for the business? If the answer is no, it’s not enough.

To meet Amazon’s evolving standards, here are four key areas developers should focus on:

1. Boost ROI with scalable solutions

2. Take ownership

3. Master versatility

4. Work collaboratively

Let’s take a closer look at what these focus areas entail, and how Amazon will expect developers to embody them.

1. Boost ROI with scalable solutions#

Formerly, Amazon engineers had 2 primary tasks: writing code or fixing code. 

However, their roles have evolved significantly. Today, engineers must align their work with broader business and product goals. Success isn’t just about coding—it’s about creating scalable, cost-effective solutions that advance Amazon’s vision.

For developers aiming to join Amazon, aligning your skills and experiences with the company’s strategic priorities is essential. It’s not just about technical skills; it’s about demonstrating how your work contributes to revenue-driving, high-priority initiatives. 

Developers can stand out by:

• Thinking beyond code to consider how your technical solutions affect business outcomes like customer retention, operational efficiency, or revenue growth.

• Staying aware of Amazon's strategic priorities, like AWS, generative AI initiatives, or automation in fulfillment. 

• Ensuring your work is efficient, resilient, and designed to scale with millions of users in mind.

A developer’s approach to problem-solving should reflect a deep understanding of these areas and how your contributions can enhance them.

2. Take ownership#

Amazon’s recent layoffs were driven by the need for leaner operations, addressing inefficiencies, and adapting to changing market conditions. For developers, this underscores the company’s focus on operational agility and its increased expectations of individual contributor roles.

At the managerial level, the company is moving toward a flatter organizational hierarchy. This means that, unlike traditional “tall” hierarchies with multiple management layers, a “flat” structure minimizes middle management and allows employees to have more direct communication with higher-level decision-makers.

Here’s what that means in practice:

• Fewer leaders oversee larger teams, streamlining decision-making and giving employees more autonomy over their days.

• Some managers might transition back to individual contributor roles (which could be a big shift for them, if they’ve managed for a long time).

• Workload and performance pressures may increase.

For developers, this means being prepared to own your impact – from proposing solutions to demonstrating how your work drives key results. You'll need to stay agile, proactively suggest improvements, and explain how your work supports company goals – all without waiting for direction.

3. Master versatility#

For developers who survived the layoffs, their ability to thrive in their roles will depend heavily on their ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities. 

The reality is that competition within the company is going to be very high. Developers are expected to—and must be comfortable with—wear many hats and be flexible in the face of change. They will need a more versatile skillset that goes beyond coding if they want to stand out. 

Versatile developers—those skilled across multiple domains like full-stack development, DevOps, or system design—are better positioned to stand out in a competitive landscape. Amazon values adaptability, so focuses on building skills that span both technical depth and breadth.

Here are some of the key skills developers should consider building:

• Creating features that directly improve the customer experience

• Designing and maintaining cost-efficient, scalable systems

• Building systems to support future growth and emerging technologies

• Collaborating with product managers, marketing teams, and customer support to ensure their solutions meet real customer needs 

The more versatile your skill set, the more valuable you become—not just at Amazon, but across the entire tech industry. Be the developer who can do it all—and do it well.

4. Work collaboratively#

Starting in January 2025, Amazon’s new return-to-office policy mandates in-person attendance five days a week.

While this change introduces some logistical challenges—especially for remote developers—it also presents opportunities for deeper collaboration and growth. Developers who embrace in-person work can boost their careers through:

• Better teamwork: Being in-person cultivates real-time problem-solving skills, quicker decision-making, and better cross-functional collaboration.

• Shared learning: Junior developers, especially, get valuable exposure to how senior developers approach complex problems, offering on-the-job learning opportunities remote work can’t replicate.

• Stronger connections: Casual conversations and shared experiences in person help improve bonds between team members, building camaraderie that’s harder to achieve online.

Developers should start planning for this shift, which might include long commutes, relocating, and discovering how to use in-person time to deepen their technical expertise and grow their soft skills.

It's important to see RTO not as a disruption, but as an opportunity to accelerate your professional growth and build lasting connections in your tech career.

Tech layoffs survival kit#

Affected by layoffs or worried about “strategic restructuring” at your company?

Take a deep breath.

Layoffs are a tough reality in today’s industry, but they don’t define your worth or skills. With the right plan, you can stay ahead and position yourself for success.

Here are 7 steps to help developers prepare for layoffs and stand out in 2025:

1. Address the mental toll of layoffs

2. Reskill and upskill

3. Sharpen your soft skills

4. Learn AI skills

5. Update your resume

6. Network hard!

7. Get interview ready

Let’s break down each step so you can take charge of your next career move—and come out stronger than ever.

1. Address the mental toll#

Layoffs can be stressful, but maintaining perspective is key.

Create a daily routine with time for job searching, skill-building, and self-care.

• Reflect on your achievements and realign with your goals.

• Join support groups or connect with peers for encouragement.

2. Reskill and upskill#

Stay ahead by learning new technologies or strengthening your existing skills.

• Focus on high-demand areas like cloud computing, AI, or System Design.

• Get hands-on to build new skills – for example, through AWS Cloud Labs or Educative Projects

• Earn certifications to show off your new skills

3. Sharpen your soft skills#

As teams become leaner, collaboration and communication are critical.

• Practice active listening and clear communication during team discussions.

• Volunteer for cross-functional projects to build teamwork experience.

• Ask more questions in meetings, or shadow senior developers or other teammates to learn more about their work and priorities.

4. Learn AI skills#

AI won’t replace you, but developers skilled in AI tools will have an edge. Build yours!

• Explore tools like OpenAI APIs or frameworks like TensorFlow.

• Create AI-powered apps like sentiment analysis tools, chatbots, or recommendation systems.

Some great places to start include courses like:

5. Update your resume#

Your resume is your first impression with hiring managers, so invest the time to make it stand out and show what you can do.

• Highlight certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Google Cloud Professional) and impactful projects.

• Include metrics to show measurable outcomes from your work.

• Pair your resume with a portfolio showcasing live demos or code samples.

6. Network hard!#

Leverage your connections to uncover new opportunities.

• Attend tech meetups, hackathons, or conferences.

• Engage in online developer communities like GitHub or Stack Overflow.

• Reconnect with former colleagues for referrals or advice.

If you're a junior developer who may not have a strong professional network, then share your personal projects, blogs, and open-source projects online. A strong portfolio can get you noticed, even if your network is small.

7. Get interview-ready#

Confidence and efficient preparation are key to acing interviews (there’s no need to grind LeetCode for weeks!).

• Practice coding challenges for every phase of the interview loop.

• Make sure to put some mock interviews on your calendar with friends, family, or colleagues.

  • If scheduling mock interviews is tricky, and you don’t want to find a paid service, consider resources like Educative’s AI Mock Interviews to simulate real-world scenarios and boost your skills.

Amazon layoff 2025: Is another storm coming?#

The latest Morgan Stanley report signals a potential wave of 14,000 layoffs by early 2025, majorly impacting managers. The report highlights that Amazon aims to increase the ratio of individual contributors to managers by at least 15%, effectively streamlining its organizational hierarchy. 

While this change may be unsettling, this shift highlights what companies like Amazon increasingly value:

• Individual contributions

• Adaptability

• Constant vigilance

• Proactive adaptation

• Alignment with long-term business goals

The good news is that, with the right approach, developers can still carve out a place at Amazon and thrive in this competitive landscape.

The future may seem uncertain, but developers who embrace change and invest in continuous learning will uncover opportunities where others see challenges.

With the right tools, skills, and determination, you won’t just meet Amazon’s evolving expectations—you’ll exceed them.

If you need more support, check out the Tech Layoffs Survival Guide – it's full of free PDFs, cheatsheets, and an 8–week interview prep roadmap to help you build the skills you need to land the job you want.

Stay curious. Stay proactive. Stay ready. Your next big opportunity is waiting.

Good luck!