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ADVERTISEMENTIn 2024, Amazon contributed over €41 billion to Europe’s GDP, and over €29 billion to the EU27, according to their latest impact report, released on June 4.
To put that in perspective, €41 billion is just a little bit more than the entire GDP of Latvia.
“Our economic impact in Europe goes far beyond the numbers,” explains Mariangela Marseglia, VP of Amazon Stores EU.
“We’re creating opportunities where they’re needed most, supporting local economies, and helping to revitalize communities across the continent.”
And whilst the impact may “go beyond the numbers”, let’s take a closer look at the stats.
“Building pathways for people”
In the EU, Amazon directly employs 150,000 people and the impact on communities outside of traditional employment hubs has created an interesting ripple effect on the local economies.
In France’s Hauts-de-France region, where unemployment sits at 8.7% – well above the national average of 7.3% – Amazon has created over 6,000 jobs in the past decade.
This region has previously suffered from the deindustrialisation that has plagued many communities in Europe, with the loss of mining, steelmaking and wool industries.
The retail giant’s fulfillment centre at Lauwin-Planque employs over 2,600 permanent staff, with 84% living within a 30-minute drive. Eleven years after opening, 71% of locals report the site has had a positive or very positive impact, with 94% highlighting job creation as a key benefit.
This is echoed across the EU as over 90,000 of Amazon’s employees are based in areas with higher than average unemployment rates, according to a report from Eurostat.
Research from Ipsos further revealed that 81% of residents near an Amazon logistics facility report increased job opportunities since the company’s arrival and over half say financial improvements have led them to consider major life decisions like purchasing property or starting a family.
While zero-hour contracts are banned in several EU countries, in the European countries that do allow them, Amazon confirmed this is not an employment method they practice.
Continued investment
In 2024, Amazon invested more than €55 billion in infrastructure and its workforce across Europe (€38bn in the EU27), bringing its total investment since 2010 to €320 billion.
Although most people know Amazon for its e-commerce platform, a huge part of its business also comes from Amazon Web Services (AWS) and its cloud computing offerings.
Future investments from the company seem centred around AWS and will drive employment in diverse skill sets.
Some €8.8 billion is planned in the Frankfurt region through 2026, supporting 15,200 full-time equivalent jobs and contributing an estimated €15.4 billion to Germany’s GDP. Moreover, £8 billion (€9.5 bn) will be invested in the UK before the end of 2028, supporting 14,000 jobs annually and contributing £14 billion (€16.6 bn) to the UK’s total GDP.
A further €6 billion is being invested in France to develop cloud infrastructure until 2031. Predictions estimate this will contribute €16.8 billion to France’s GDP and will support an average of 5,271 full-time jobs annually.
In Spain, a €15.7 billion injection will support 17,500 jobs annually and contribute an estimated €21.6 billion to Spain’s gross domestic product (GDP) through to 2033.
