Amazon has implemented another round of job cuts, this time targeting its books division, including its Goodreads review platform and Kindle operations. The company confirmed on Thursday that fewer than 100 employees were affected as part of an ongoing effort to enhance efficiency and better align with its evolving business strategy.
In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson explained, “As part of our ongoing work to make our teams and programs operate more efficiently, and to better align with our business roadmap, we’ve made the difficult decision to eliminate a small number of roles within the Books organization.”
These latest cuts are part of a broader trend of targeted layoffs at Amazon over the past year. The company has previously trimmed positions across several units, including its devices and services division, the Wondery podcast business, stores, and communications teams. The job reductions reflect CEO Andy Jassy’s broader initiative to streamline Amazon’s organizational structure, which has included efforts to minimize bureaucracy by reducing layers of management.
Despite the cuts, Amazon has shown modest workforce growth this year, adding approximately 4,000 jobs in the first quarter compared to the final quarter of 2024, according to a recent company disclosure. However, the overall pace of hiring remains cautious as Amazon continues to navigate a shifting economic environment and seeks to balance growth with cost control.
The job reductions were first reported by Business Insider and come as Amazon’s stock closed 0.3% higher on Thursday. However, shares remain down 5.6% year-to-date, reflecting broader market pressures and investor concerns about the tech sector’s growth trajectory.
Amazon’s books business, long a core component of its original e-commerce operations, remains significant but is facing shifting consumer habits and increased competition across both physical and digital reading platforms. The company’s ongoing restructuring highlights its attempt to adapt to changing market dynamics while optimizing operations across all business units.