Amazon Announces New Layoffs in Costa Rica Amid Global Restructuring

Amazon announced a fresh round of job cuts in Costa Rica, targeting finance, call-center, and human-resources staff not previously affected. The company has not disclosed the number of positions eliminated. Affected employees will receive salary and limited benefits for 60 days, have had facility access revoked, and are offered outplacement assistance.

Tico Times

The cuts follow Amazon’s global downsizing that began with roughly 16,000 roles cut in January 2026 and an earlier October 2025 reduction of 14,000 office jobs, with a broader target of up to 30,000 corporate positions. In parallel, Costa Rican authorities lowered the free-trade-zone workforce floor for Amazon Support Services Costa Rica from 16,450 to 8,225, giving the firm leeway to trim staff while staying compliant. Amazon has invested more than C=2 trillion in Costa Rica over the past decade.

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Costa Rica’s services sector supplies a large share of formal employment and foreign investment. Amazon, operating locally since 2008, has expanded from a customer-service hub to a multi-service employer covering finance, software development, and merchant support. Repeated layoffs raise concerns about job security for local workers and the stability of a sector that underpins the national economy. Labor analysts argue that successive cuts expose employees to strategic decisions made abroad, and Amazon’s refusal to publish a country-specific layoff count leaves the scale of the latest reductions ambiguous.

Tico Times

The termination notice, signed by Amazon People Experience & Technology, said the company had reviewed its organization, priorities and future needs before eliminating positions. Amazon reiterated its commitment to Costa Rica, citing the C=2 trillion investment, and pledged HR-staff meetings and outplacement services for those affected.

Tico Times

• “The message said Amazon had reviewed its organization, priorities and future needs before deciding to eliminate some positions.” — Amazon People Experience & Technology

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• “Amazon has said it remains committed to Costa Rica and has cited more than C=2 trillion in investment in the country over the last decade.” — Amazon statement

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• “While Amazon remains a major employer, the repeated rounds of cuts show how exposed local workers can be when multinational companies adjust global staffing targets.” — Analyst observation

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• “Amazon has not released a country-specific number for the latest layoffs, leaving workers and the broader business community waiting to see how deep the new round will be in Costa Rica.” — Report summary

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Amazon will hold HR meetings with displaced staff in the coming weeks. Costa Rican business leaders await detailed figures on the layoff magnitude and will monitor compliance with the revised free-trade-zone terms. The episode may prompt renewed dialogue on multinational employment practices in the country.

Tico Times