Amazon has announced plans to reduce its corporate workforce in Spain, with up to 1,200 employees expected to be affected in its Madrid and Barcelona offices. The move forms part of a wider global restructuring that will see around 14,000 corporate roles cut worldwide this year.

The company, which employs approximately 28,000 people in Spain, said the measure will only affect its corporate teams, not staff in logistics, delivery, or warehouse operations. The offices involved are Amazon Digital Spain in Madrid and Amazon Spain Service in Barcelona, where administrative, marketing, and management roles are concentrated.

Although details of the process, known in Spain as an ERE (collective redundancy plan), are still being formalised, Amazon said the goal is to “maintain an agile structure, reduce bureaucracy and redirect resources” towards key growth areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation.

---

No Impact on Deliveries or Daily Operations

For now, Amazon’s operations across Spain are expected to continue as normal. Deliveries, logistics, and customer services remain unaffected. The company is also expected to offer support to affected employees, providing a 90-day internal placement period to help them find new roles within the organisation.

While the cuts represent just over 4% of Amazon Spain’s total workforce, they have raised concern among workers in corporate positions, roles that often attract both local professionals and international employees working in Spain’s tech and business sectors.

Criticism from Government and Unions

The Spanish government and unions have strongly criticised the decision.
Second Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz called the move a “model of shame,” arguing that mass layoffs are unjustified given the company’s strong financial position.

The union CCOO (Workers’ Commissions) also rejected the measure, demanding full transparency. In a statement, they said there is “no economic justification” for the dismissals, noting that many of the affected workers have contributed directly to Amazon’s rapid growth in Spain.

At this stage, the formal negotiation process for the ERE has not yet begun. Since the offices are located in two regions, Madrid and Cataluña the company must notify Spain’s Ministry of Labour before any dismissals can proceed.

Strong Financial Results Add to the Debate

The announcement follows the release of Amazon’s third-quarter results, which revealed a net profit of $21.2 billion (€18.2 billion), a 38% increase compared to the same period last year.
Revenue also rose 13%, reaching $180 billion (€154.8 billion), with particular strength in its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud division.

These results helped Amazon’s shares hit a record high recently, climbing more than 12% and pushing its market valuation above $2.6 trillion, making it the fifth most valuable company in the world.

The timing of the job cuts, immediately after reporting record profits, has fuelled public criticism and left many employees uncertain about their future.

Could Politics Play a Role?

While Amazon’s restructuring in Spain is officially part of a global adjustment, it comes at a time when U.S.–Spain relations appear strained. The Trump administration’s renewed focus on “America First” economic policy and its often cool tone toward Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, have added a layer of tension to cross-Atlantic business relations.

At the same time, major U.S. tech leaders, including Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, have maintained close working relationships with President Trump, who has publicly praised the country’s tech innovation and investment potential. It’s unclear whether these political ties play any role in where global companies choose to streamline their European operations, but the timing has raised eyebrows among some analysts.

Here's another shot of billionaire oligarchs Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Alphabet/Google CEO Sundar Pichai all standing together, in the middle of Donald Trump's cabinet picks, at his inauguration.

It's the perfect symbol of the US plutocracy. pic.twitter.com/gjjOp6w5vs

— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) January 20, 2025

What It Means for Professionals and Expats in Spain

For many international professionals living in Spain, Amazon’s Madrid and Barcelona offices represent the type of high-skilled, English-speaking corporate roles that attract expats seeking long-term careers here.
The news of large-scale redundancies highlights the changing nature of corporate employment in Spain, even in globally successful firms.

While Spain’s strong labour laws mean employees affected by an ERE are entitled to severance and negotiation rights, the process can still cause uncertainty for workers, especially those who have relocated from abroad.
Experts note that multinational companies often restructure teams in response to automation, efficiency goals, or shifting business priorities rather than purely financial difficulties.

For expats and professionals working or planning to work in Spain, this development highlights the value of understanding how Spanish labour law works, for example, rights around notice periods, severance pay and collective redundancies. You can find trustworthy guidance at the website of the Ministerio de Trabajo y Economía Social (Ministry of Labour and Social Economy).

You can link to https://www.mites.gob.es for official government information.

The Bigger Picture: A Tough Job Market for Expats

The changes at Amazon highlight a wider challenge for those living and working in Spain. Finding stable employment can be difficult, particularly for expats competing in markets where wages are often lower than in northern Europe, especially outside major cities like Madrid and Barcelona.

Even for highly skilled workers, the rise of AI and automation has made many corporate and remote admin roles feel less secure. Amazon’s restructuring is just one example of how quickly industries can shift.

For some, the answer seems to be starting their own business, but becoming self-employed (autónomo) in Spain is known for its complexity and high monthly costs, which can discourage new ventures. Combined with the need for a strong command of Spanish, which is often essential but still doesn’t guarantee job success, it leaves many feeling that options are limited.

Still, Spain continues to attract people for its lifestyle, climate, and culture, even if navigating the job market remains a challenge.