Amazon aims to shed more than 18,000 roles as it cuts costs, the technology giant confirmed today.
Chief executive Andy Jassy said in a note to staff that affected workers will be informed from January 18.
The cuts amount to around 6% of the firm's roughly 300,000-strong workforce.
The group employs thousands of people in Scotland – home to Amazon’s biggest fulfilment centre in the UK at Dunfermline.
Amazon is the latest big technology company to unveil major layoffs as the cost-of-living crisis sees customers cut back on spending.
The announcement comes after the technology giant said last year that it would reduce its headcount.
Support for staff
Mr Jassy said: "We are working to support those who are affected and are providing packages that include a separation payment, transitional health insurance benefits, and external job placement support.
"Amazon has weathered uncertain and difficult economies in the past, and we will continue to do so.”
The BBC says Mr Jassy did not specify where affected employees were located, but he said the firm would communicate with organisations that represent employees "where applicable in Europe".
He also said the "majority of role eliminations" would be in the Amazon stores operations and its people, experience and technology team.
In November, Amazon said it was starting a round of layoffs as it focused on reducing expenses but did not give a figure of how many jobs it would cut.
At the time, it was reported that the company would shed around 10,000 roles.
Hiring freeze
The firm had already introduced a hiring freeze and halted some of its warehouse expansions, warning it had over-hired during the pandemic.
It has also taken steps to shut some parts of its business, cancelling projects such as a personal delivery robot.
Mr Jassy said in the note that reviewing Amazon's business "has been more difficult given the uncertain economy and that we've hired rapidly over the last several years."
Dan Ives, from investment firm Wedbush Securities, told the BBC he believed Amazon will face "more pain ahead" as customers tighten their belts.
"Amazon is seeing darker macroeconomic conditions and Jassy is ripping the band-aid off to preserve margins," he said.
Tens of thousands of jobs are being shed across the global technology industry, amid slowing sales and growing concerns about an economic downturn.
Meta job losses
In November, Facebook owner Meta announced it would cut 13% of its workforce.
The first mass lay-offs in the social media firm's history will result in 11,000 employees, from a worldwide headcount of 87,000, losing their jobs.
Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the cuts were "the most difficult changes we've made in Meta's history".
The news followed major layoffs at Twitter, which cut about half its 8,000 staff after multi-billionaire Elon Musk bought the firm in October.