New Delhi, January 29, 2026
Amazon and United Parcel Service (UPS) have announced major workforce reductions as part of their operational restructuring plans for 2026, totaling tens of thousands of roles across both companies.
UPS announced on January 27, 2026, that it will eliminate approximately 30,000 operational positions this year. The cuts are primarily driven by the company’s strategy to reduce its low-margin partnership volume with Amazon and shift focus toward higher-profit business segments. The reductions will be achieved mainly through natural attrition and voluntary buyout programs for full-time drivers. UPS also plans to close 24 facilities in the first half of 2026.
Separately, Amazon confirmed on January 28, 2026, the elimination of 16,000 corporate and technical roles worldwide. The affected divisions include Amazon Web Services (AWS), retail operations, Prime Video, and human resources. In India, an estimated 500 to 700 employees are likely to be impacted, primarily in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai.
Including a previous round of 14,000 managerial cuts announced in October, Amazon’s ongoing restructuring wave has now reached approximately 30,000 corporate positions. CEO Andy Jassy described the moves as efforts to reduce bureaucracy, accelerate decision-making, and operate more like a startup, with increased emphasis on artificial intelligence.
The announcements reflect a broader corporate trend in 2026 prioritizing profitability, automation, and high-margin operations over volume-driven growth.
