Amazon's Vision: 500K Jobs to be Automated by 2035

Amazon is on the verge of a monumental workforce evolution in the United States. According to internal documents, the retail behemoth intends to automate over 500,000 jobs in its warehouses over the next ten years, a move that could significantly change its fulfillment center dynamics.

With a growing U.S. workforce of nearly 1.2 million employees, Amazon ranks among the largest private employers in the nation. In response to escalating demands for efficiency, the company views automation as essential for achieving quicker deliveries and reducing operational costs. Through advanced robotic technologies, Amazon aims to cut down on processing costs by approximately 30 cents per item—significant savings given the company's immense scale.

However, the goals extend beyond mere savings. Amazon's leadership believes that with automation, the company can manage double the product volume by 2033 without a proportional increase in staff. To validate this paradigm, Amazon has constructed cutting-edge warehouses that are highly reliant on robotics, particularly for expedited shipping.

At its facility in Shreveport, Louisiana, approximately 1,000 robots already handle tasks such as sorting and packing, reducing the need for human workers by 25%. Buoyed by this achievement, Amazon plans to integrate similar technology into 40 more facilities by 2027, targeting locations in Virginia Beach and Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Notably, Amazon prefers the term “cobots” to describe these machines, standing for collaborative robots. The company is also mindful of avoiding terms like “AI” or “automation” publicly, opting instead for “advanced technology” to mitigate concerns in communities heavily dependent on warehouse jobs.

Despite worries about job losses, Amazon asserts it is generating higher-paying opportunities. In Shreveport, for instance, over 160 employees now work as robotics technicians at $24.45 per hour, surpassing the average warehouse wage of $19.50. The company has implemented apprenticeship programs in mechatronics to provide employees with a route to these specialized roles.

Nonetheless, this transformation prompts broader questions regarding the future of blue-collar employment. Amazon warehouses have historically offered steady jobs, especially for Black and working-class communities. Although the company claims no plans for mass layoffs, the combination of automation and natural attrition could lead to a gradual decline in the workforce over time.

Amazon's initiative signifies a pivotal moment for American industry—a clear indication that the robotic warehouse era is upon us. While the company frames this as progress, for hundreds of thousands of employees, it signals the onset of a new and uncertain chapter.