Amazon Surprises by Actively Rehiring Former Employees

"Much Has Changed Since You Left, Please Come Back"... Amazon Surprises by Actively Rehiring Former Employees

Proposal to Rehire Laid-Off Staff with AI and Machine Learning Experience

AI Becomes Core Business Amid Investment Expansion and Ongoing Talent Shortage

Amazon, which has been conducting large-scale layoffs, is now drawing attention by inviting some of its former employees to return. Notably, as the company faces an increasing need for talent in technical fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and cloud computing, Amazon is showing a trend of considering even former employees and those who were previously laid off for rehire.

On September 23 (local time), U.S. business media outlets including Business Insider reported that Amazon recruiters, in emails they obtained, have recently reached out to former employees to introduce new job opportunities at the company and gauge their interest in returning.

In particular, within the AI Agent organization led by Swami Sivasubramanian, Vice President of Amazon Web Services (AWS), recruitment efforts targeting former employees with experience in AI and machine learning have been confirmed under the initiative named "Swami's Boomerang Reengagement Initiative."

One recruiter, in an email to a former employee, noted, "Much has changed since you were at the company," and introduced the ongoing work in AI and machine learning. It was also reported that some former employees were offered a chance to return through a simplified interview process compared to new applicants. Another recruiter, when proposing a return to a previous staff member, asked whether Amazon’s remote work restriction policy—specifically the requirement to be in the office five days a week—had been a key reason for their departure.

Amazon, which has been conducting large-scale layoffs, is showing signs of rehiring even former employees and those who were previously laid off. Yonhap News Agency

View original imageThis development illustrates Amazon's current workforce management amid simultaneous large-scale layoffs and increased investments in AI. Since October of last year, Amazon has eliminated over 30,000 jobs, and in January of this year, it announced plans to further cut around 16,000 roles across the company. Additional restructuring has continued in some divisions since then.

While Amazon has identified AI as a core business and continues to allocate manpower to related fields, the competition for AI talent among big tech companies is intensifying. As a result, demand for both existing and new employees varies considerably across different sectors.

However, Amazon has not defined this move as a specific "AI talent retrieval program." Amazon spokesperson Hayley Silva explained to Business Insider that rehiring former employees is a long-standing and routine hiring practice across the company. While laid-off employees can also be rehired depending on the circumstances, the company is currently hiring mainly for positions and roles where there is a demand and vacancy.

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Rehiring former employees has the advantage of bringing back people who already understand the company’s workflows and organizational culture, which can, in turn, shorten the time needed for employees to adapt compared to joining a new company. According to ADP data, in March 2025, 35% of new hires in the United States were people returning to their previous employers, up from a year earlier, and in the technology sector, this figure reached nearly two-thirds.