Amazon cuts more jobs, in devices unit, after flurry of product rollouts

On Wednesday, Amazon announced the elimination of approximately 250 jobs within its devices and services division, following a series of product launches such as the Kindle e-readers and tablet computers. The company disclosed the decision after receiving an inquiry from Reuters. Amazon's spokesperson revealed that they had "made the difficult decision to eliminate a small number of roles" without providing further details.

According to a person familiar with the situation, the cuts primarily impacted software development roles. The layoffs were intended to improve efficiency and align the company with its product roadmap. Amazon also introduced a new Alexa-powered alarm clock and photo frame on the same day. Workers received text messages and emails from their superiors early Wednesday morning, informing them of the restructuring.

One such message, sent by Cherie Robinson, a human resources vice president in devices and services, stated that the company had conducted a thorough review of its structure, leading to the necessity of job cuts. Earlier this month, Amazon had reduced around 1,000 positions in its core retail division. The firm plans to announce its third-quarter earnings after the market closes on Thursday.