By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Enterprise Author
NEW YORK (AP) — As layoffs pile up, staff are feeling more and more anxious concerning the job market.
Within the U.S., economists have stated that companies are largely at a “no-hire, no hearth” standstill, main many to restrict new work, if not pause openings fully amid financial uncertainty. Hiring has stagnated general — with the nation including a meager 50,000 jobs final month, down from a revised determine of 56,000 in November.
However a rising listing of firms are additionally chopping jobs. Employers have initiated layoffs throughout sectors — with many pointing to rising operational prices that span from President Donald Trump’s barrage of latest tariffs, cussed inflation and shifts in spending from shoppers, whose outlook on the U.S. economic system just lately plummeted to its lowest degree since 2014. Others are nonetheless working to downsize their workforces after a pandemic-era hiring increase, significantly in e-commerce. On the identical time, increasingly more companies are decreasing their workforces as they redirect cash to synthetic intelligence, typically baked into wider company restructuring.
Past the personal sector, 1000’s of federal authorities workers misplaced their jobs in cuts taken by the Trump administration final yr — forcing many to search for new work. That’s additional strained staff’ general sentiment about discovering secure employment at this time.
Listed here are a number of firms which have introduced a number of the largest job cuts just lately.
Dow
Chemical substances maker Dow, Inc. introduced plans to chop about 4,500 jobs on Thursday — as a part of broader push to “streamline” operations, which incorporates placing extra emphasis on AI and automation. The cuts come on high of earlier reductions taken by the corporate over the past yr. Dow moved to axe 1,500 roles in January 2025, and one other 800 over the summer time.
Amazon
E-commerce large Amazon slashed about 16,000 company roles on Wednesday — simply three months after shedding one other 14,000 staff. In its newest spherical of layoffs, Amazon cited restructuring geared toward “eradicating paperwork” in its operations, however the cuts additionally arrive as the corporate continues to ramp up spending on AI. CEO Andy Jassy beforehand stated that he anticipated generative AI to cut back Amazon’s company workforce.
UPS
On Tuesday, United Parcel Service stated it plans to chop as much as 30,000 operational jobs this yr — notably because the package deal firm continues to cut back the variety of Amazon shipments it handles amid wider turnaround efforts. UPS stated these cuts might be made by way of a voluntary buyout provide for full-time drivers and attrition. The reductions come on high of a mixed 48,000 job cuts that the corporate disclosed in 2025.
Tyson Meals
Late final yr, Tyson Meals stated it will be closing a plant that employed 3,200 folks in Lexington, Nebraska — bringing job losses for practically a 3rd of the small city’s inhabitants of 11,000. The layoffs started on Jan. 20, however the firm notified state officers that it was quickly retaining beneath 300 staff to assist full the closure. Tyson in November additionally introduced plans to chop one in every of two shifts at an Amarillo, Texas plant, eliminating a further 1,700 jobs.
HP
Additionally in November, HP stated it anticipated to put off between 4,000 and 6,000 workers. The cuts are a part of a wider initiative from the pc maker to streamline operations, which incorporates adopting AI to extend productiveness. The corporate goals to finish these actions by the top of the 2028 fiscal yr.
Verizon
Verizon started shedding greater than 13,000 workers in November. In a workers memo asserting the cuts, CEO Dan Schulman stated that the telecommunications large wanted to simplify operations and “reorient” all the firm.
Nestlé
In mid-October, Nestlé stated it will be chopping 16,000 jobs globally — as a part of wider price chopping geared toward reviving its monetary efficiency amid headwinds like rising commodity prices and U.S. imposed tariffs. The Swiss meals large stated the layoffs would happen over the following two years.
Novo Nordisk
In September, Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk stated it will minimize 9,000 jobs, about 11% of its workforce. The corporate — which makes medication like Ozempic and Wegovy — stated the layoffs had been a part of wider restructuring, as it really works to promote extra weight problems and diabetes drugs amid rising competitors.
Intel
Intel has moved to shed 1000’s of jobs because the struggling chipmaker works to revive its enterprise. Final yr, CEO Lip-Bu Tan stated Intel anticipated to finish 2025 with 75,000 “core” staff, excluding subsidiaries, by way of layoffs and attrition. That’s down from 99,500 core workers reported the top of 2024. The corporate beforehand introduced a 15% workforce discount.
Procter & Gamble
Final summer time, Procter & Gamble stated it will minimize as much as 7,000 jobs over the following two years, 6% of the corporate’s world workforce. The maker of Tide detergent and Pampers diapers stated the cuts had been a part of a wider restructuring — additionally arriving amid tariff pressures.
Microsoft
Microsoft initiated two rounds of mass layoffs final yr — first impacting 6,000 after which one other 9,000 positions. The tech large cited “organizational adjustments,” however the cuts additionally arrived as the corporate spends closely on AI.
Different firms which have taken job cuts just lately
1. Normal Motors minimize about 1,700 jobs throughout manufacturin websites in Michigan and Ohio final fall, along with lots of of momentary layoffs for different workers.
2. Skydance-owned Paramount initiated roughly 1,000 layoffs in October, and later introduced plans to chop one other 1,600 jobs as a part of divestures in Argentina and Chile.
3. Goal in October moved to get rid of about 1,800 company positions.
4. ConocoPhillips introduced plans to put off as much as 1 / 4 of its workforce, or between 2,600 and three,250 staff, taking many of the cuts earlier than the top of 2025.
5. Lufthansa Group says it should shed 4,000 jobs by 2030.
