PORT ST. LUCIE — Amazon will begin laying off workers at its Port St. Lucie warehouse on Sept. 17. Approximately 300 employees will lose their jobs, while most of the 850 total employees have been transferred to other Amazon facilities in Florida.

The company plans to temporarily close its warehouse on Midway Road at Interstate 95. Amazon plans to reopen the facility and hire over 1,000 employees after completing a $200 million expansion project in 2028.

A July WARN filing announced that 494 employees would be laid off from September to December. Since the WARN filing, Amazon has moved additional staff to different locations within the state network.

"We have actually transferred 200 additional employees to other Amazon sites since the WARN filing," Amazon spokesperson Austin Stowe said. The reduction in the initial layoff figure reflects these internal transfers.

Stowe described the operational role of the site before the temporary closure. "When a customer presses the order button on Amazon, this is where that begins. Employees start to fulfill that order at this site. So they'll pick whatever the item is, pack it and it'll be shipped to other facilities."

For those not moving to another Amazon location, financial support is available immediately. "Employees who aren't transferring to another Amazon facility will begin receiving paid severance this month," he said.

The future iteration of the warehouse will feature updated technology. "The expansion will bring advanced robotics and conveyor systems to the new sortable fulfillment center," Stowe said.

Local economic development officials have organized resources for the displaced workforce. The Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County has hosted job fairs to connect laid-off employees to jobs at other distribution centers.

Wicker Perlis, Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County spokesperson, acknowledged the difficulty of the transition for individuals. "Obviously, this is a situation that impacts workers in a negative way. Even if they can find a new job, it's inconvenient to start a new job. We're aware of that."

Perlis noted that regional economic growth may absorb some of the labor surplus. "But we're fortunate that a lot of these projects that we've attracted in the last few years are just now coming online. The majority of the 800 or so employees have found employment. We are going to keep working to make sure that people who were affected and weren't able to find a job yet can find one."

Why It Matters

The layoffs represent 35.3% of the 850 employees at the facility. The events described span several years, as the company prepares for the 2028 reopening.

The $200 million investment indicates a long-term commitment to the location despite the current reduction in staff. The shift toward advanced robotics and conveyor systems marks a change in the operational model of the fulfillment center.

What's New

Research titled "Where Does Indigenous End and Pardo Begin? Understanding Ethno-racial Boundaries in the Amazon" was published in 2025.

Gabriel Hilaro, President of 4XH Logistics LLC, stated in an interview that he believes other transportation companies will hire the workers and that the closure will not have an economic impact on staff.

Employees is group of employees of an entitity, total number of employees of a company.