Key points
- Automation may replace over 500,000 potential hires
- Company aims to automate 75% of operations
- Projected savings of $12.6 billion by 2027
NEW YORK: Amazon is planning a major automation expansion that could remove the need to hire over half a million workers in the United States in the coming years.
According to internal documents and interviews reviewed by the media, Amazon’s robotics division intends to automate around three-quarters of its operations. The strategy could allow the e-commerce giant to avoid recruiting more than 160,000 new workers by 2027, potentially saving $12.6 billion between 2025 and 2027, reports Anadolu Agency.
The documents also indicate that Amazon expects to double its product sales by 2033 without increasing its workforce. The company maintains that automation will relieve employees from repetitive tasks and create new technical roles in robotics maintenance and engineering.
Public messaging
The report noted that Amazon has adjusted its public messaging, preferring terms like “advanced technology” and “cobot” instead of “robots” or “automation” to prevent public criticism.
Amazon disputed the report’s accuracy, saying the documents were incomplete and did not reflect its overall hiring plans. Spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that Amazon intends to hire 250,000 workers for the upcoming holiday season but did not specify how many roles would be permanent.
Since 2018, Amazon’s US workforce has grown rapidly, now totalling approximately 1.2 million employees.
