AWS CEO Matt Garman has announced plans to hire 11,000 developers in 2026 while defending earlier layoffs. His announcement reflects shifting workforce strategies and evolving talent needs in the global tech and cloud computing industry. According to leadership, the company is hiring just as many developers as ever, indicating that the total number of technical roles remains a priority for long-term growth.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman has addressed internal shifts at the tech giant, clarifying the strategy behind the recent Amazon layoffs that eliminated approximately 30,000 roles.
Garman challenged the narrative that artificial intelligence is directly responsible for the Amazon layoffs at the AWS What’s Next event. He described the idea that AI is eliminating software engineering roles as exaggerated, noting that the demand for skilled developers is actually accelerating.
The company is focusing on AI-assisted tools to handle operational workflows. It is expected to reduce the need for traditional middle management. Advanced tools are increasingly taking over repetitive tasks such as debugging, writing routine code, and managing operational workflows. Garman said they are helping developers focus on more complex responsibilities.
“I can tell you we are hiring just as many software developers as we ever had inside of Amazon,” Garman said. “And in fact, I see the demand for that really accelerating.” He added that Amazon planned to hire around 11,000 software development engineer (SDE) interns and full-time employees this year, stressing that “this is not jobs going away.”
Garman highlighted that projects that previously required a two-year timeline are now being completed in just two quarters, showcasing how AI acts as an accelerator for existing teams rather than a replacement.
“These agents are increasingly taking over repetitive, time-consuming tasks such as debugging, writing routine code, or handling operational workflows. But instead of reducing the need for engineers,” Garman argues, “they are freeing developers to focus on higher-value work like system design, architecture, and solving complex customer problems.”
Garman added that this shift is already visible inside Amazon. Teams are fixing bugs in minutes rather than weeks and rebuilding large systems significantly faster with AI-assisted tools. “The jobs will be a little bit different,” he explained, pointing out that tasks like writing small code snippets may become less central, while system design and understanding broader architecture are becoming more valuable.
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The company implemented a series of reductions starting in late 2025 with 14,000 roles, followed by another 16,000 in January 2026.
Despite the scale of these Amazon layoffs, the firm is concurrently launching a fresh hiring push in 2026. This dual approach suggests a massive restructuring of the global workforce.
AI is reshaping the workforce in a paradoxical way, automating repetitive, routine tasks while simultaneously creating demand for highly skilled developer roles. As machines take over efficiency-driven functions, human value shifts toward innovation, oversight, and building the very systems that power this transformation.