How many people work for Amazon? (2025 data)

Amazon employs approximately 1.56 million full- and part-time workers worldwide as of early 2025, according to the company’s latest quarterly reports and financial disclosures. This figure represents a 2.3% increase from the previous year, marking a recovery from the workforce reductions that followed Amazon’s pandemic-era hiring surge.

Numbers at a glance

• 1.56 million – Total global workforce (Q1 2025)
• 1.1 million – U.S.-based employees (70% of total workforce)
• 250,000 – Additional seasonal workers hired for 2024 holiday season
• 2.3% – Year-over-year workforce growth in 2025
• 1.61 million – Peak employment reached in 2021
• $18/hour – Minimum wage for all seasonal employees
• 15% – Average pay increase over three years for retained employees

Amazon employee count year by year (2019-2025)

Amazon’s workforce has experienced dramatic fluctuations over the past six years, driven by pandemic demand, automation investments, and strategic restructuring.

Year	Employee Count	Year-over-Year Change
2019	798,000	+23%
2020	1,298,000	+63%
2021	1,608,000	+24%
2022	1,544,000	-4%
2023	1,525,000	-1%
2024	1,525,000	0%
2025 Q1	1,560,000	+2.3%

Key inflection points

2020 pandemic surge: Amazon added 500,000 employees in a single year to meet unprecedented e-commerce demand, representing the largest workforce expansion in corporate history.

2021 peak employment: The company reached its highest headcount at 1.61 million employees before beginning strategic workforce optimization.

2022-2023 rightsizing: Amazon eliminated over 27,000 corporate roles across multiple divisions, focusing on efficiency and cost management while maintaining operational capacity.

2025 recovery: Current growth reflects stabilized demand patterns and selective expansion in high-growth areas like AWS and international markets.

Full-time vs. part-time vs. seasonal workers

Amazon’s workforce composition reflects the company’s need for flexibility across seasonal demand cycles and operational requirements.

Workforce classifications

Full-time employees comprise approximately 75% of Amazon’s workforce, including corporate staff, warehouse associates, and delivery personnel working 40+ hours weekly with full benefits.

Part-time employees represent about 15% of the workforce, typically working 20-35 hours weekly with scaled benefits packages.

Seasonal workers fluctuate dramatically based on demand, with Amazon adding up to 250,000 temporary employees during peak holiday seasons (October-January).

Peak holiday staffing surge

For the 2024 holiday season, Amazon hired 250,000 additional workers across fulfillment centers and transportation networks. These seasonal roles offer:

• Minimum $18/hour wages
• Flexible scheduling options
• Healthcare benefits after 90 days
• Potential conversion to permanent positions

Nearly one-third of seasonal hires transition to permanent roles, creating a significant pipeline for workforce growth.

Workforce by business segment

While Amazon doesn’t publish detailed segment-level employment data, industry analysis suggests the following approximate distribution:

Operations and fulfillment (≈65% of workforce)

This segment includes warehouse associates, delivery drivers, sortation center workers, and logistics coordinators. With over 1,000 fulfillment centers globally, operations represents Amazon’s largest employment category.

Amazon Web Services and technology (≈15% of workforce)

AWS employs software engineers, cloud architects, data scientists, and technical support specialists. This high-value segment continues expanding as cloud adoption accelerates globally.

Corporate and administrative (≈10% of workforce)

Headquarters functions including finance, legal, human resources, marketing, and executive leadership. This segment experienced the most significant reductions during 2022-2023 layoffs.

Retail stores and services (≈10% of workforce)

Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh, Amazon Go, and other physical retail operations employ store associates, managers, and specialized service staff.

Geographic distribution of Amazon employees

Amazon’s workforce spans over 40 countries, with concentration in major economic markets.

United States (≈1.1 million employees)

The U.S. represents approximately 70% of Amazon’s global workforce, with major employment centers in:

• Washington State: 75,000+ employees (headquarters region)
• California: 65,000+ employees (tech hubs and fulfillment)
• Texas: 45,000+ employees (fulfillment and distribution)
• Tennessee: 30,000+ employees (logistics optimization)
• New Jersey: 25,000+ employees (East Coast fulfillment)

Europe (≈200,000 employees)

European operations employ approximately 200,000 people across key markets:

• United Kingdom: 55,000+ employees
• Germany: 45,000+ employees
• Spain: 25,000+ employees
• Italy: 20,000+ employees
• France: 20,000+ employees

Asia-Pacific and emerging markets (≈250,000 employees)

International expansion drives employment in growing markets:

• India: 100,000+ employees (largest international workforce)
• Japan: 25,000+ employees
• Australia: 15,000+ employees
• Brazil: 10,000+ employees

Recent layoffs, restructuring and automation impact

Amazon’s workforce strategy has evolved significantly since the pandemic, balancing efficiency with growth opportunities.

2022-2023 corporate workforce reduction

Amazon eliminated over 27,000 positions across multiple divisions, primarily affecting:

• Corporate communications and marketing roles
• Middle management positions
• Alexa and devices division
• Prime Video and entertainment units

2025 management restructuring

Reports indicate Amazon plans to reduce management layers by eliminating up to 14,000 managerial positions, aiming to increase efficiency and reduce bureaucracy.

Automation and robotics integration

Amazon operates over 750,000 robots across its fulfillment network, supporting approximately 75% of customer orders. However, automation has enhanced rather than replaced human workers, with robotics enabling:

• Faster order processing and reduced physical strain
• Creation of new technical and maintenance roles
• Improved workplace safety metrics
• Enhanced productivity per employee

How Amazon’s headcount compares to competitors

Amazon ranks among the world’s largest private employers, competing for talent with other major corporations.

Company	Employee Count (2025)	Revenue per Employee
Walmart	2.1 million	$250,000
Amazon	1.56 million	$385,000
UPS	500,000	$220,000
FedEx	485,000	$185,000
Alphabet (Google)	190,000	$1.8 million
Apple	164,000	$2.3 million

Productivity insights

Amazon’s revenue per employee of $385,000 reflects the company’s operational efficiency and technology leverage. While lower than tech-focused companies like Google and Apple, Amazon’s figure significantly exceeds traditional retailers and logistics providers.

Diversity and inclusion snapshot

Amazon publishes annual workforce diversity data, showing progress toward representation goals.

U.S. workforce demographics (2024)

• Gender: 42% women, 58% men
• Race/Ethnicity:
  • White: 36%
  • Black/African American: 26%
  • Hispanic/Latino: 22%
  • Asian: 13%
  • Other: 3%

Leadership representation

• Senior leadership: 32% women, 68% men
• Board of directors: 40% women, 60% men
• Technical roles: 28% women, 72% men

Amazon has committed to achieving gender parity in senior leadership roles by 2030 and continues expanding recruitment from underrepresented communities.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Amazon employ so many people?

Amazon’s massive workforce reflects its diverse business model spanning e-commerce, cloud computing, logistics, retail stores, and entertainment. The company operates over 1,000 fulfillment centers globally, requiring significant human capital for operations, customer service, and technical innovation.

How many Amazon employees are warehouse associates?

Approximately 65% of Amazon’s workforce (roughly 1 million employees) work in operations and fulfillment roles, including warehouse associates, delivery drivers, and logistics coordinators.

How many of Amazon’s workers are robots?

Amazon operates over 750,000 robots across its network, but these complement rather than replace human workers. Robots handle repetitive tasks like moving inventory, while humans focus on complex problem-solving, quality control, and customer service.

Does the employee count include contractors and drivers?

Amazon’s official employee count includes only direct employees, not independent contractors or third-party delivery service partners. Including contractors would add several hundred thousand additional workers to the total.

What benefits do Amazon employees receive?

Amazon offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, parental leave, and educational assistance. Full-time employees receive benefits starting day one, while part-time and seasonal workers access benefits after 90 days.

How often does Amazon release employee numbers?

Amazon reports workforce data quarterly in SEC filings and provides year-end totals in annual reports. The company also publishes diversity data annually and provides hiring updates during peak seasons.

What is the turnover rate at Amazon?

Amazon doesn’t publish company-wide turnover rates, but industry estimates suggest warehouse turnover approaches 100% annually. The company has invested heavily in retention programs, including pay increases and career development opportunities.

Will Amazon’s headcount keep growing?

Amazon’s workforce growth will likely continue at a moderate pace, driven by international expansion, AWS growth, and new business initiatives. However, automation and efficiency improvements may limit the rate of expansion compared to historical levels.

Key takeaways and what to watch in 2025-26

• Stabilized growth: After pandemic volatility, Amazon’s workforce is growing at a sustainable 2-3% annual rate
• Geographic expansion: International markets, particularly India and Latin America, drive new hiring
• Automation balance: Robotics enhance productivity without eliminating jobs, creating new technical roles
• Seasonal flexibility: The 250,000 seasonal hiring model provides operational flexibility while offering career pathways

Emerging trends to monitor: AI integration in customer service, drone delivery pilot programs, and continued AWS expansion as cloud adoption accelerates globally.

Sources and methodology

• Amazon Q1 2025 Quarterly Report — Latest workforce figures and financial data
• Amazon Official Workforce Data — Diversity and inclusion metrics
• Statista Amazon Employment Database — Historical employment trends
• Amazon Seasonal Hiring Announcements — Holiday workforce data
• MacroTrends Amazon Employee Count — Long-term growth analysis
• Stock Analysis Amazon Employee Data — Financial performance metrics