In late October, Amazon officially cut 14,000 corporate jobs from its firm, with plans to remove up to 30,000 total roles here soon. But what does that mean for the thousands of employees now without a paycheck?

If you are one of the workers affected by Amazon’s recent layoffs, I’m sure you’re feeling the financial hardships already. With the pressure to pay the bills, have food on the table, and treat your family, what once felt comfortable is suddenly something that is hard to comprehend. Overnight, you’re forced into reevaluating your life so that you don’t lose all hope in this moment.

For many Americans today, layoff culture is something that has always been seen as fearful. It strips away security immediately, and it eliminates an essential form of income. It becomes a wake-up call for financial health, where individuals must rethink what it means to live in today’s costly economy.

Michael A. Scarpati, CEO of RetireUS, explains, “When your income stops, you suddenly have to confront your spending behaviors that may have gone unchecked for years.”

In this year especially, U.S. layoffs have hit record highs. In the last month alone, job cuts climbed to more than 153,000, which is up 175% from the same month the year prior. Additionally, layoff announcements surpassed more than a million in the first 10 months of 2025, and those numbers are still growing everyday. 

The rise in AI is one of the main reasons for recent layoffs. With large language models now able to automate responsibilities, compute data faster, and streamline workflow, corporations no longer need humans to do the routine work. Increasingly, AI has replaced humanistic tasks, ultimately stripping employees from their day-to-day roles.

Yet, despite the trend in job loss, displaced workers can take this reality as a turning point. By revisiting financial strategy, what feels impossible at first can eventually help guide one into a stronger financial life.

The first step in navigating this transition is by pivoting the shock. While a job cut may feel overwhelming, that does not mean individuals should completely pause. Rather, this is the time to take full control of the situation right away, and that starts with evaluating your expenses, looking at your savings, and setting your financial priorities. In addition, this is the perfect opportunity to make smarter decisions, whether that means changing your current habits or compromising certain spendings.

For some, overcoming layoff also becomes a moment of personal discovery. Many displaced employees might take this as an invitation to enter a new field that better suits their interests and goals. Seeking contract work, side gigs, or part-time roles, for example, can help one keep afloat while something more permanent comes along.

Another way forward is to take financial planning with more intention. In moments when the money feels particularly sensitive, being aware of where the money is going is the key to building long-term momentum. This could look like checking in on your finances on a regular basis, or maybe even creating a visible calendar that shows how the money is coming and going.

That is a common concept called financial consciousness, and it is what financial experts believe is the practice people need to regain clarity.

 “Practicing financial consciousness in this instance forces you to re-evaluate what matters in order to support your long-term stability. While job loss can feel overwhelming, it can also become a positive turning point for your financial health,” Scarpati adds.

All this to say, it is crucial to remember that while Amazon’s layoffs feel massive, workplace professionals aren’t the only ones who should reevaluate their finances. In truth, what the layoffs really signal for everyone is that financial health is important, and no one should wait for economic surprises to rebuild. 

So yes, Amazon’s announcement is a heavy one that many are still learning to work around. But in order to have the best chance of progressing, the right financial strategy is only one step away.

Because the bottom line is, we cannot let another organizational layoff hold any potential employee back.