Amazon robots could replace over 160,000 new jobs by 2027, over 600,000 by 2033

Amazon is rolling out new robots at its facilities that could reportedly replace the need for 160,000 new workers by 2027.

Amazon’s robotics and automation team projects that due to the use of robots the company will not need to hire more than 160,000 people it otherwise would have needed by 2027 and more than 600,000 people it would have needed by 2033, according to interviews and internal strategy documents cited by the New York Times.

With those workers not on the payroll, about 30 cents would be saved on each item that Amazon packages and sends to consumers, according to the New York Times.

Amazon says that, contrary to the report, only some people within the company expect to cut that many potential jobs through the use of robotics.

“Leaked documents often paint an incomplete and misleading picture of our plans, and that’s the case here. In this instance, the materials appear to reflect the perspective of just one team and don’t represent our overall hiring strategy across our various operations business lines – now or moving forward,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel told the New York Post.

Seasonal demand still drives major hiring booms for Amazon; the company said it plans to bring in 250,000 positions at its facilities across America to tackle the holiday season.

The company deployed its one millionth robot at a facility in Japan earlier this year, and the average number of employees per facility was down to 670 in 2024, a 16-year low according to the Wall Street Journal.

The robots are used, Amazon says, to help human employees out.

For example, the Amazon robot “Blue Jay” uses multiple robotic arms to reach and lift items at high speed. 

The use of Blue Jay consolidates what were once three separate robot stations into one space.

“Across these innovations, the goal is consistent: reduce highly repetitive tasks, improve ergonomics, and expand career pathways. Blue Jay helps keep employees working in their ergonomic ‘power zone,’ reducing repetitive reaching and lifting,” Amazon said Wednesday.