Amazon’s employment in Washington state, including both warehouse and corporate workers, declined by 3,000 people to a total of 87,000 employees between early 2023 and early 2024 – representing the first recorded year-over-year employment decline in the state since the company was founded nearly 30 years ago. Despite this decrease, Amazon is seeing growth in its workforce in downtown Bellevue and continuing to expand its employee base in Virginia, home to Amazon’s second headquarters. The company periodically updates its state-by-state employment and economic statistics on its Investing in the U.S. page, allowing legislators, policy makers, and others to understand Amazon’s impact in individual states.
Amazon’s latest data shows an overall increase of 22,500 employees in the U.S. between early 2023 and 2024, signifying a return to growth after experiencing a decline of nearly 100,000 employees domestically the previous year. California remains the company’s largest state for employment, with 153,000 workers as of January 2024, despite a decline of 9,000 employees over the year. New employees were added in Alaska, Wyoming, and Montana, leaving Vermont as the only state where Amazon does not yet have employees. Globally, Amazon’s total employment decreased year-over-year, from 1.541 million at the end of 2022 to 1.525 million at the end of 2023, with U.S. employment comprising about 67% of the total.
In response to these employment shifts, Amazon spokesperson Zach Goldsztejn stated that the changes in employee numbers reflect the company’s business needs, as it regularly adjusts its hiring to better serve its customers. As Amazon continues to expand its workforce across its “Puget Sound headquarters,” which includes Bellevue and Seattle, the company has seen a decline in employment at its corporate headquarters in Seattle from 60,000 employees in 2020 to 50,000 currently. Amazon also recently restarted construction on new office towers in Bellevue.
Virginia experienced growth in Amazon employees over the course of the year, with an increase of 3,000 employees to a total of 39,000 as of January. The state-by-state trends over the past year show variations in employment numbers, with some states seeing growth while others experience declines. Amazon’s presence continues to evolve in different regions as the company adapts to changing business needs and expands its operations. Despite fluctuations in employment numbers, Amazon remains a major employer in various states across the U.S., contributing to the overall economy and workforce.
