Thousands of former Amazon employees are facing uncertainty after the company’s largest round of layoffs, as the technology sector continues to be reshaped by artificial intelligence and cost-cutting measures.

Among those affected is Jake Linsley, who worked as a finance manager at Amazon for nearly six years. He said he discovered he had lost his job after receiving an unexpected text message from the company early one morning in January.

Linsley was one of around 16,000 employees laid off during Amazon’s workforce reduction in late January. Combined with more than 14,000 job cuts announced three months earlier, the layoffs marked the largest in the company’s history.

Many of the affected employees had built careers at one of the world’s biggest technology companies, enjoying competitive salaries, career growth opportunities, and attractive workplace benefits. However, they now face a highly competitive job market where opportunities have become increasingly limited.

The wider technology industry is also experiencing significant workforce reductions. Companies including Meta, Salesforce, and Cisco have announced thousands of layoffs as businesses continue investing heavily in artificial intelligence while reducing costs in other areas.

For some workers, the challenge extends beyond finding a new employer. As AI automates more tasks, certain positions are disappearing entirely, forcing professionals to develop new skills or transition into different career paths.

According to consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the US technology sector has eliminated approximately 140,000 jobs so far this year, making it the industry with the highest number of layoffs. Job cuts peaked in May before showing signs of easing in June, though uncertainty remains across the sector.

As AI investment accelerates, many former tech employees continue to navigate a job market that has become more competitive and increasingly influenced by rapid technological change.