Overview
- New York Times reporting cites internal papers projecting 160,000 fewer U.S. hires by 2027, with expected savings of about $0.30 per item, or roughly $12.6 billion from 2025 to 2027.
- The documents describe a long-term goal to automate roughly three-quarters of operations as Amazon expects sales to double by 2033 without increasing its U.S. headcount.
- Amazon already runs about one million robots and has prototype sites such as Shreveport, Louisiana, where staffing needs are about 25% lower, with plans to replicate the design in roughly 40 facilities by the end of 2027 and retrofit sites like Stone Mountain, Georgia.
- Company statements say the materials reflect one team’s perspective rather than overall hiring strategy, and executives highlight seasonal hiring and claims that automation savings have historically funded other roles and upskilling programs.
- The cache details a PR playbook that favors terms like “advanced technology” and “cobot” and increased community engagement, while economists warn large-scale adoption could ripple through the labor market well beyond Amazon.