Amazon to create 3.8 million jobs in India by 2030 as tech giant pledges $35 billion investment — Who will be hired?

Amazon Inc on Wednesday announced a mega $35 billion investment in India over the next five years, and said it will generate 3.8 million cumulative jobs across the country by 2030.

Amazon's announcement comes a day after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and pledged to invest $17.5 billion in India. However, Nadella did not specifically announce any job opportunities or the exact numbers if they arise.

The US e-commerce giant also said in a statement that it will will invest more than $35 billion in India by 2030 across businesses, including areas such as artificial intelligence and logistics infrastructure.

“Amazon reiterated its commitment to India and announced that it plans to invest more than $35 billion across all its businesses in the country through 2030, focusing on business expansion as well as three strategic pillars: AI-driven digitisation, export growth, and job creation,” the company said.

Amazon to add 1 million jobs in India

Amazon's $35 billion investment in India is set to generate an additional one million direct, indirect, induced and seasonal jobs, the company said in its statement.

“In 2030, Amazon businesses will support 3.8 million direct, indirect, induced and seasonal jobs.”

“These will stem from Amazon's business expansion as well as its growing fulfillment and delivery network, which simultaneously supports parallel industries including packaging, manufacturing, and transportation services,” the statement added.

Amazon further said that in 2024, the company added approximately 2.8 million jobs in the country, both direct and indirect, across sectors like technology, operations, logistics, retail, and creative services.

The plan was revealed in the Economic Impact Report by Keystone Strategy released at the sixth edition of Amazon Smbhav Summit held in New Delhi on Wednesday, 10 December.

Amazon promises India jobs amid tech layoffs

Amazon's 3.8 million jobs promise to India comes at a time when the company is battling mass layoffs in its technology sector.

The company in October announced that it will let go 14,000 corporate employees, marking the biggest layoff drive in three years.

The Amazon layoff drive has had an impact on every vertical of the company, from cloud computing and devices to advertising, retail and grocery stores.

It came as part of the company's restructuring plans aimed at streamlining operations, as the tech giant looks to make AI a priority.

Other announcements made by Amazon

Eye on AI: Amazon said its $35 billion India investment will focus on expanding AI capabilities, enhancing logistics infrastructure, supporting small business growth and creating jobs as part of the country's national priorities. With the investment, the company aims to further accelerate digital transformation, strengthen infrastructure, and support innovation across the country.

Increasing exports: To push export growth from India, Amazon launched a manufacturing-focused initiative, "Accelerate Exports", designed to connect digital entrepreneurs with trusted manufacturers while enabling manufacturers to become successful global sellers. As part of the program, Amazon will host on-ground onboarding drives in over 10 manufacturing clusters across India, including Tirupur, Kanpur, and Surat.

India remains key growth market despite US troubles

India, the world's most populous country, remains a high-growth market for large US tech firms. Amazon's commitment follows that of Microsoft's $17.5 billion investment pledge earlier on Tuesday. Before this, Google parent Alphabet made a similar $15 billion monumental investment to build a state-of-the-art AI data hub in Visakhapatnam.

Intel CEO Lip-bu Tan’s meeting with Prime Minister Modi has also highlighted India's growing importance in the global economy, despite US pressures to manufacture products locally with native talent.

The Amazon investment plan in India is the e-commerce giant's strongest signal yet that the country remains a key growth market for boosting spends and expand in businesses, even as US President Donald Trump warned US companies of tariffs if they set up businesses in other countries.