In a significant turn for the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) sector in the country, the e-commerce giant Amazon has formalized a substantial reduction in its job creation commitments in Costa Rica. According to recent documents and agreements with the Government, the minimum target number of workers that the multinational must maintain in national territory has been reduced from 16,450 to 8,000 employees.
This modification responds to a request submitted by the company during the year 2025, motivated by a transformation in its global workforce strategies. Between 2016 and 2021, Amazon had aggressively scaled up its hiring commitments, taking advantage of the boom in digital commerce; however, the current economic landscape has forced a course correction.
The decision is not an isolated event within the Costa Rican operation. At a global level, Amazon recently announced a reduction of 16,000 jobs. Company spokespersons and analysts agree that the organization is going through a phase of “rational growth” following the excess hiring experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, the massive incursion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a decisive role. The company has stated that the automation of administrative and customer service tasks reduces the need for human capital in areas that previously required thousands of employees. “We will need fewer people to do some of the jobs that are done today and more people to do other types of jobs,” the company’s global management has stated.
Despite the reduction in the employment target, the amended agreement maintains the capital investment commitments. Amazon will retain its minimum investment plan of $103 million (in force since 2021), to which an additional $5 million is added, for a total of $108 million allocated to infrastructure and technological operations in the country.
In recent weeks, it is estimated that around 1,000 workers in Costa Rica were laid off as part of this global restructuring. Affected employees have been offered support for their labor transition and, in some cases, the possibility of applying for internal vacancies in areas of higher added value.
The news marks a milestone in Costa Rica’s relationship with major technology companies. Although Amazon remains one of the country’s largest private employers, the adjustment reflects an industry trend: prioritizing productivity per employee and technological efficiency over massive payroll volumes.
The Government, for its part, has accepted the modification, understanding the macroeconomic changes and international pressures faced by multinational corporations in an increasingly digitalized and automated market.
