Amazon is accelerating automation in warehouse operations.

Amazon plans to reduce its warehouse workforce. The e-commerce giant aims to increase the use of robots in its operations to automate processes. An internal report published by The New York Times reveals that this change could negatively impact over 600,000 jobs.

The company's strategy to sell more products in its online marketplace, coupled with the increased use of robots, will reduce the need for human labor. According to data from Bloomberg, Amazon has approximately 1.56 million full-time and part-time employees worldwide. Only 350,000 of these employees work in corporate offices. The company currently holds the position of the second-largest employer in the United States.

In the coming years, Amazon will focus more on robotic operations, which will decrease hiring opportunities within the company. By 2033, it is expected that technology will replace thousands of jobs currently performed by humans. When human employees are not utilized, Amazon reportedly saves 30 cents per shipment.

Following the leaks of these developments, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel denied plans to reduce the need for human labor. Nantel stated, “Leaked documents often paint an incomplete and misleading picture of our plans, and that is the case here.” She added, “In this case, the documents merely reflect a team's perspective and do not represent our overall hiring strategy across various operational business lines.”

Nantel also emphasized that they will hire 250,000 new employees during the holiday season. However, no clear information was provided regarding how many of these opportunities will be permanent.

The prospect of reduced warehouse jobs has begun to create anxiety in communities dependent on these job opportunities. The Times reported that Amazon employees are three times more likely to identify as Black in the U.S. Additionally, California is the state with the highest concentration of Amazon jobs, and its largest fulfillment center is located in Ontario.

The leaked documents also indicate that Amazon plans to increase its corporate responsibility initiatives to mitigate negative reactions. The company suggests using the term “co-bot” instead of expressions like “artificial intelligence” and “automation,” claiming that the jobs will support human workers. However, the spokesperson also denied the validity of this.

On the other hand, concerns are rising as other large companies are taking similar steps. Amazon has attempted to suggest the future of job establishments with automation. However, some believe that this situation will lead to an inevitable disruption in the job market.