America's largest job cutter is also its largest visa importer

Amazon has become a focal point in discussions about job cuts and immigration practices within the tech industry. Recent patterns reveal that while Amazon leads in layoffs, it simultaneously imports a large number of foreign workers, raising significant concerns regarding the treatment of U. S. workers and the genuine need for foreign labor in the current job market.

1. Layoff Statistics:

• Amazon has been responsible for the most layoffs in the tech sector since the pandemic, with a record cut of 30,000 employees on October 27, 2025.

• Cumulatively, Amazon has laid off approximately 65,000 employees, almost equal to its total workforce growth from 2021 to 2024.

2. Workforce Growth Analysis:

• Between 2021 and 2024, Amazon’s workforce grew by about 71,661 employees, primarily in roles eligible for H-1B visas.

• The company requested 115,607 H-1B visas during this period, which exceeds net job growth by over 43,000 positions, suggesting a strategy focused on visa acquisition rather than domestic hiring.

3. Demand for H-1B Visas vs. Job Creation:

• The demand for H-1B visas at Amazon significantly outpaces actual job creation. For every new professional job, Amazon sought roughly 1.7 H-1B visas.

• In the retail trade sector, where Amazon filed many visa applications, job losses were prevalent, indicating that these visas may be used more for displacing U. S. workers than filling skill gaps.

4. State-Level Context:

• In Virginia, a major hub for Amazon, the company was approved for 62,897 visas while the state added only 24,750 STEM-related jobs, pointing to a mismatch between visa approvals and local job growth.

5. Green Card Filings and Employment Practices:

• Amazon filed 21,012 PERM applications, claiming no qualified U. S. workers were available, even in fields with active applicants. This raises questions about genuine recruitment efforts for open positions.

6. Student Visa Employment:

• In 2024, Amazon hired 13,372 foreign workers via OPT and STEM OPT programs while simultaneously laying off U. S. employees. This indicates a reliance on cheaper, foreign labor rather than investing in the domestic workforce.

7. Collapse of Labor Shortage Claims:

• The combination of mass layoffs and significant visa approvals challenges the narrative of a labor shortage within Amazon's operational landscape.

8. Potential Consequences and Questions Raised:

• Federal scrutiny is likely as patterns emerge of mass layoffs coinciding with large-scale visa petitions, highlighting potential abuses of immigration programs. This could indicate an ongoing effort to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor alternatives.

Amazon's recent employment practices demonstrate a troubling trend, where significant job cuts coincide with high levels of foreign labor importation. This reveals a possible strategy focused on cost control and labor dependency, undermining opportunities for American workers and questioning the integrity of the immigration system's intention to address genuine labor needs. The findings emphasize a critical need for reevaluation of hiring practices and immigration policy enforcement to ensure fair treatment of U. S. workers in the evolving job market. 

https://www.wnd.com/2026/01/troubling-americas-largest-job-cutter-is-also-its/