You got laid off. Now your boss wants you back.
Amazon and other employers are recruiting former workers as AI reshapes jobs, workforces, and what companies need.
Companies are increasingly rehiring former employees, particularly in the wake of layoffs driven by artificial intelligence. Amazon, in particular, is actively seeking out former employees for open positions. This trend is on the rise, with Revelio Labs reporting that by the end of 2025, 3.4% of new hires in the US will be former employees, up from 3.1% two years prior.
The practice of rehiring former employees is not new, but it has become more common as companies point to AI as the reason for layoffs. CEO of pay-intelligence platform Syndio, Maria Colacurcio, regretted an AI-driven restructuring that led to layoffs of five employees, including domain experts. She has since rehired one of them for a newly created position, realizing that the technology was not yet ready and that people can evolve with the right tools and training.
Former employees can bring valuable contextual understanding and relationships to their former companies, making them appealing recruits. However, not all workers want to return, as some find it difficult to re-adjust to the company's culture after a period of separation.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
