BELLEVUE, Wash. – The tech-heavy workforce in Bellevue is feeling the strain as Amazon and T-Mobile slash hundreds of jobs in the region. These layoffs come as the companies adjust their operations to meet shifting economic and industry demands.
Amazon has announced the elimination of 2,198 positions across Washington state, with 626 corporate jobs in Bellevue targeted for cuts. This is part of a wider reduction of 16,000 positions companywide. Regulatory filings with the Washington state Employment Security Department reveal that these reductions follow an earlier round of layoffs in October, which impacted more than 2,300 employees in the Puget Sound area.
The layoffs, according to Amazon, are part of its efforts to streamline operations by removing layers of management and reducing bureaucracy. This restructuring aligns with the company’s intensified focus on artificial intelligence, which includes investments in data centers and advanced computing technology. Other job cuts at Amazon include 1,407 positions in Seattle, 30 in Redmond, 19 at fulfillment centers, and 116 for fully remote workers.
T-Mobile, headquartered in Bellevue, is also restructuring its workforce, leading to 393 layoffs across Washington state. The company is focusing on better aligning its teams and streamlining operations, particularly in light of ongoing integrations of prior acquisitions. Affected roles include several vice presidents and senior management positions, with layoffs spanning T-Mobile’s Bellevue headquarters, data centers in Bellevue and East Wenatchee, and various retail locations, including Bothell, Bellingham, Woodinville, and Spokane Valley.
Employees affected by T-Mobile’s decision have been given 60 days’ notice, with departures set to take effect on April 2. Monica Frohock, senior director of the Magenta Service Center, cited "changing business needs" as the reason behind the cuts in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice. Washington remains the center of T-Mobile’s workforce, making these layoffs particularly impactful for the local economy.
Meanwhile, Amazon has provided U.S.-based employees 90 days to apply for other roles within the company. Those unable to secure new positions will receive severance packages, which include pay, outplacement services, and health insurance benefits.
The layoffs are already sparking concern among local businesses. "We have employees here whose husbands work at T-Mobile and Amazon, or wives, and that’s going to be nothing but bad news", said Rob Pickering, owner of Snapdoodle Toys and Games. Pickering expressed uncertainty about the financial impact these cuts might have on his stores, adding, "Bellevue seems to be a little more recession-proof, but I do not know if that’s going to hold much longer. T-Mobile’s news was just today, so I’m nervous. Let’s just say I’m being very cautious."
Edwin Sanchez, manager of E & A Pro Flooring, a remodeling company in Bellevue, also highlighted the potential effect on daily business activity. "We are right behind the T-Mobile, I believe it’s their headquarters or their main offices, so during lunch time you see a whole lot of people just walking in. A lot of foot traffic here for us", he said.
The layoffs at Amazon and T-Mobile are part of a larger trend impacting the state’s tech industry. Since January 2025, nearly 9,800 Washington-based tech workers have lost their jobs, including recent reductions at Microsoft and Meta.
Despite the challenges, some optimism remains. Pickering noted that during tough times, families may still prioritize spending on toys and games as a way to foster normalcy for their children. He remarked, "Sometimes people who are unemployed with children stay home and buy more games to give their kids a sense of normalcy as they ride out turbulent times."
The coming months will reveal how deeply these workforce reductions impact Bellevue and the broader region’s economy. For now, caution and uncertainty dominate the community’s outlook as it braces for the ripple effects of these layoffs.
