Amazon Seeks Laid-Off Talent for AI Roles Amid Ongoing Hiring Challenges

Amazon has resumed reaching out to former employees for AI and cloud-computing roles, according to recruiter emails obtained by Business Insider. The company, which eliminated over 30,000 positions in the past year, is seeking talent with experience in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The outreach is part of a broader hiring practice that involves reconnecting with former employees, particularly those who were laid off. Amazon spokesperson Haley Silva confirmed that people previously let go may be considered for open positions, but emphasized that outreach is driven by available headcount rather than any effort to recapture workers who departed over the return-to-office policy.

The company's return-to-office requirements have been a point of contention in attracting AI talent, with certain job candidates choosing positions at other employers offering greater remote-work latitude. Amazon floated the idea of rehiring laid-off workers before, with AWS HR VP Ian Wilson suggesting that many former employees were eligible to be rehired.