Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Amazon’s ability to innovate on behalf of our customers relies on the perspectives and knowledge of people from all backgrounds. We think bigger, bolder, and better when we have diverse perspectives across our teams, and we’re committed to putting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the front and center of everything we do.

A person in an "Equality" t-shirt points and people look on. Balloons are in the scene.
A person in an "Equality" t-shirt points and people look on. Balloons are in the scene.
A person in an "Equality" t-shirt points and people look on. Balloons are in the scene.
On this Page
Our Progress
2021 Highlights
+70%
Increase in Black directors and vice presidents
100,000+
Employee participants in Amazon affinity groups
$150M
Invested in the Black Business Accelerator program
$30M
Commitment through the AWS Impact Accelerator
Our Approach to DEI

Setting goals, regularly reviewing progress, and strong management are vital to driving lasting action and improving representation and inclusion throughout our business.

A person in an "Equality" t-shirt points and people look on. Balloons are in the scene.

We take an intersectional approach to the policies, programs, and strategies we create for our employees, selling partners, suppliers, and customers to build representation and inclusion into our business.

Our work is guided by hundreds of global dedicated DEI professionals who work closely with business leaders to help Amazon maintain a diverse and high-performing work environment. In 2021, we welcomed a new Vice President of Global DEI, bringing in-depth expertise and experience. Candi Castleberry and her team are leading the refinement of Amazon’s global DEI strategy and companywide goals.

When I think about Amazon and the potential for impact, I’m energized by the possibilities. This work will require us to engage all communities, think globally, and cultivate a workplace that not only is diverse, but also inspires a deep sense of belonging for every one of our employees. If we get this right, together we can create a greater sense of inclusion, not only within Amazon, but for Amazon customers around the world.
Candi Castleberry
Vice President of Global DEI, Amazon
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We’re committed to increasing representation of employees from historically underrepresented backgrounds at every level of our organization. To do so, we focus on hiring, retention, growth, development, and promotion.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We believe that building a sense of belonging, value, and opportunity is integral to people thriving in their lives and at work—and to what we can achieve as a company. We take an intersectional approach to the policies, programs, and strategies we create for our employees, selling partners, suppliers, and customers to build inclusion into our business.
Our Commitments

In 2021, we set a number of commitments to guide our efforts and progress for improved representation and inclusion.

Commitment
Ensure that 100% of employees take companywide required inclusion training
Commitment
Retain employees at statistically similar rates across all demographics
Commitment
Double the number of U.S. Black employees in Level 8 (Director) and Level 10 (Vice President) positions year over year from 2020 numbers
Commitment
Increase the number of women at Level 8 through Level 10 positions in tech and science roles by 30% year over year
Commitment
Increase hiring of U.S. Black employees in Level 4 through Level 7 by at least 30% year over year from 2020 hiring
Commitment
Increase the number of U.S. Black software development engineer interns by at least 40%
Commitment
Reach 1.6 million underrepresented students globally through Amazon Future Engineer with real-world-inspired virtual and hands-on computer science project learning
Commitment
Hire more than 100,000 U.S. veterans and military spouses by 2024
Scaling Our Work Through Strategic External Partnerships

We believe we can achieve more by collaborating with leading organizations that are making a difference in historically underrepresented communities.

HBCU students at Amazon's "Beyond the yard" event.

Amazon partners with nonprofits like Management Leadership for Tomorrow, which works to strengthen the recruitment and retention of Black, Latinx, and Native American talent.

To find the best talent and support our search for diverse talent, we also partner with historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, women’s colleges, and tribal colleges. In addition, our affinity groups are instrumental in building and nurturing external relationships as brand ambassadors.

Spotlight
When we think inclusively and design with different needs in mind, technology can empower everyone and support people with disabilities in new ways.

We’re continually enhancing our devices and services with new accessibility features, whether integrating Braille into our Fire tablet or improving Alexa to support our customers with disabilities. For example, Alexa accessibility features range from adaptive listening to on-screen captioning and more.
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