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Amazon to cut more than 18,000 jobs globally

In September the company shipping items from a new fulfilment centre in Dublin which employs 500 people.

AMAZON ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY it will cut more than 18,000 jobs from its workforce, citing “the uncertain economy” and the fact that the online retail giant had “hired rapidly” during the pandemic.

“Between the reductions we made in November and the ones we’re sharing today, we plan to eliminate just over 18,000 roles,” said CEO Andy Jassy in a statement to his staff. The company had announced 10,000 layoffs in November.

Jassy said the company’s leadership was “deeply aware that these role eliminations are difficult for people, and we don’t take these decisions lightly.

“We are working to support those who are affected and are providing packages that include a separation payment, transitional health insurance benefits, and external job placement support,” he said.

Some of the layoffs would be in Europe, Jassy said, adding that the impacted workers would be informed starting on 18 January.

He said the sudden announcement was being made “because one of our teammates leaked this information externally.”

“This year’s review has been more difficult given the uncertain economy and that we’ve hired rapidly over the last several years,” Jassy said.

But he added that “Amazon has weathered uncertain and difficult economies in the past, and we will continue to do so.”

The retailer had indeed hired with a vengeance during the pandemic to meet an explosion in demand for deliveries, doubling its global staff between the beginning of 2020 and the beginning of 2022.

Amazon hasn’t commented on how this announcement will impact jobs based in Ireland, but has stated that “the majority of role eliminations are in our Amazon Stores and People, Experience, and Technology organizations.”

These areas of the company are not major employers of staff in Ireland.

In September, the company shipping items from a new fulfilment centre in Dublin which employed 500 people at Baldonnell Business Park.

The group had 1.54 million employees worldwide at the end of September, not including seasonal workers recruited during periods of increased activity, particularly during the holiday season.

 Tech downsizing

Amazon’s job-slashing plan is the largest among recent workforce reductions that have impacted the US tech sector.

It is also the largest in the Seattle-based company’s history.

Amazon saw its net profit drop nine percent year on year in the third quarter. And for the last quarter, Amazon anticipated slow growth by its standards, between two and eight percent over one year, and an operating profit of between 0 and 4 billion dollars, against 3.5 for the same period of 2021.

The group is due to announce its annual results on 1 February.

In the tech sector, major platforms with an advertising-based business model are facing budget cuts from advertisers, who are reducing expenses in the face of inflation and rising interest rates.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced in November the loss of 11,000 jobs, or about 13 percent of its workforce. 

This includes almost 400 Irish jobs.

Twitter was bought in October by billionaire Elon Musk, who promptly fired about half of the social media platform’s 7,500 employees.

Also, the IT group Salesforce, which specializes in management solutions and in cloud technology, announced on Wednesday that it was laying off around 10 percent of its employees, or just under 8,000 people.

The company employs 2,100 people in Ireland. 

© – AFP 2023

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    Mute Johnny Ryan
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    Dec 30th 2015, 8:45 PM

    If there’s one thing man has done exceedingly well, it’s the tragic accomplishment of making a complete balls of the planet.

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    Mute Debi Nikita
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    Dec 30th 2015, 9:04 PM

    No one really thinks of these things and it’s so logical when you do think about it. We are very good at one thing though and that’s f….. ing up the planet.

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    Mute Robert O'Rourke
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    Dec 30th 2015, 9:15 PM

    Sandpaper is a great exfoliant.

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    Mute Daniel R
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    Dec 30th 2015, 9:23 PM

    I prefer battery acid

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    Mute Bríd Uí Mhaoluala
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    Dec 30th 2015, 10:53 PM

    Actually a good towelling will do the job, no need for sandpaper.

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    Mute Spud
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    Dec 30th 2015, 11:36 PM

    Jeyes fluid and a wire brush. Be grand.

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    Mute ChocSaltyBallz
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    Dec 31st 2015, 12:38 AM

    How about an exfoliating glove and some soap simple

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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Dec 31st 2015, 3:47 PM

    A what and who????…

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    Mute Uncle Monty
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    Dec 30th 2015, 8:34 PM

    The poor fish. A mass shooting a day is grand, though.

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    Mute Jason Fallon
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    Dec 31st 2015, 12:00 AM

    So guns are fine. It’s micro beads that were the problem all along. God bless America

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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Dec 31st 2015, 3:48 PM

    Murika ..

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    Mute Denise Houlihan
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    Dec 30th 2015, 11:35 PM

    An Irish made Kileen bathroom sponge is the best exfoliator going.

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    Mute D
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    Dec 31st 2015, 12:08 AM

    No kinder eggs .. No microbeads and yet guns ok? Madness.

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    Mute spork
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    Dec 30th 2015, 8:41 PM

    So all they need is a mass shooting of fish and no more guns

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    Mute Matty Reese
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    Dec 30th 2015, 10:18 PM

    What gave you the impression there exists a dichotomy? I wasn’t aware passing an environmental law would preclude a gun control law.

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    Mute billy dunne
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    Dec 31st 2015, 1:01 AM

    @ johhnyryan 10000000percent agree with your comment

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