Mass Layoffs Rise in 2025, Raising Worker Fears/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ As economic uncertainty deepens and AI investment rises, major corporations across industries are announcing large-scale layoffs. From tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft to legacy firms like HP and Nestlé, thousands of workers are being let go. Analysts warn that more job cuts may follow as companies restructure and react to global pressures.
2025 Layoff Trends Quick Looks
- Layoffs rising across tech, retail, shipping, and manufacturing sectors
- AI investments, tariffs, and cost-cutting driving job reductions
- Amazon, HP, Verizon, Nestlé, and Microsoft among biggest job cutters
- Government jobs slashed following Trump’s return to office
- Workers face anxiety as hiring freezes and cuts grow nationwide
- UPS alone has cut over 48,000 jobs in 2025
- Paramount, Target, ConocoPhillips and others scale down operations
- Federal jobs report delayed due to shutdown; unemployment at 4.4%
Deep Look: Layoffs Surge in 2025, Fueling Job Market Anxiety Across Sectors
NEW YORK — As economic headwinds mount and companies brace for rising operational costs, mass layoffs are sweeping through industries from tech and media to logistics, retail, and manufacturing. While some sectors have adopted hiring freezes, others are making dramatic staff reductions — triggering widespread anxiety in the American workforce.
Adding to the concern is the federal government’s own instability. The recent 43-day government shutdown and thousands of federal job cuts early in President Donald Trump’s second term have intensified fears about job security and broader economic momentum.
A delayed Labor Department report showed the U.S. economy added 119,000 jobs in September, but unemployment ticked up to 4.4%. Worse, August’s job growth was revised down, showing a net loss of 4,000 positions. No full jobs report will be released for October due to the shutdown — leaving economists, policymakers, and job seekers in the dark.
Companies Announcing Major Layoffs in 2025
HP
In November, HP announced plans to cut 4,000 to 6,000 jobs by fiscal 2028 as part of a broader restructuring strategy focused on AI-driven productivity. The move comes as the PC and printer giant shifts toward streamlining operations and reducing labor costs.
Verizon
Verizon has started laying off more than 13,000 workers, citing the need to simplify operations and reorganize its business model. CEO Dan Schulman described it as a necessary “reorientation” of the telecom giant.
General Motors
GM is reducing its manufacturing workforce by about 1,700 employees across Michigan and Ohio. The move responds to slowing demand for electric vehicles. Additional “temporary layoffs” are expected in early 2026.
Paramount
Following an $8 billion merger with Skydance, Paramount is shedding 2,000 jobs, about 10% of its workforce. In October alone, 1,000 positions were eliminated. Another 1,600 roles are being cut due to divestitures in Latin America, and 600 employees accepted voluntary severance packages.
Amazon
Amazon announced in October it would lay off 14,000 corporate employees, roughly 4% of its workforce. The company is shifting resources to artificial intelligence investments and offering affected workers 90 days to find internal roles.
UPS
UPS has cut 48,000 jobs in 2025 as part of its turnaround plan. The shipping giant also closed operations at 93 buildings, reflecting the evolving logistics landscape and decreasing volume from small businesses.
Target
Target revealed it would cut 1,800 corporate jobs, about 8% of its global white-collar workforce. These layoffs are part of Target’s push to streamline and respond to shifting retail patterns.
Nestlé
The Swiss food conglomerate Nestlé is cutting 16,000 positions globally over two years. The decision, announced in October, is tied to inflationary pressures, supply chain volatility, and U.S.-imposed tariffs.
Lufthansa Group
In September, Lufthansa announced plans to eliminate 4,000 jobs by 2030. The airline is embracing digitalization and AI, and consolidating roles across its member airlines to reduce redundancies.
Novo Nordisk
Also in September, Denmark-based Novo Nordisk said it would cut 9,000 jobs, about 11% of its global workforce. The pharmaceutical company, known for drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, is pivoting toward increased production of obesity and diabetes medications amid growing demand and competition.
ConocoPhillips
Energy giant ConocoPhillips is preparing to lay off up to 3,250 workers, or about 25% of its staff. The layoffs are part of a broader cost-cutting initiative slated for completion by the end of 2025.
Intel
Intel continues shedding jobs as it restructures under new leadership. By year’s end, Intel will employ about 75,000 core workers, down from nearly 100,000 in 2024. The company has already slashed 15% of its workforce and attributed the cuts to stagnant chip sales and rising global competition.
Microsoft
Microsoft began 2025 by laying off 6,000 employees, followed by an additional 9,000 job cuts later in the year — its largest reduction in over two years. The company cited organizational restructuring while continuing to invest aggressively in AI initiatives.
Procter & Gamble
Consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble announced plans to cut up to 7,000 jobs — about 6% of its global workforce — through 2027. The company cited restructuring needs, efficiency upgrades, and tariff pressures as reasons for the cuts.
Government Cuts Deepen Uncertainty
In addition to private-sector cuts, federal employees have faced rising anxiety after mass layoffs early in 2025 and a record-length government shutdown. The result: delayed data, stalled hiring, and a pervasive sense of instability across public service sectors.
Economic Signals: No Quick Recovery in Sight
While some economists initially predicted a soft landing in late 2024, the ripple effects of new tariffs, sluggish hiring, and rapid tech transformation have shifted expectations.
AI-driven reorganization, once seen as a growth driver, is also now a source of job loss — particularly among administrative, sales, and mid-tier tech roles. Companies are opting to reallocate capital to automation rather than expanding human resources.
Amid these shifts, many analysts are calling 2025 a “no-hire, no-fire” labor market — where job openings are rare, but job security is increasingly fragile.
Outlook: More Layoffs Likely Ahead
The cascading effects of economic and technological restructuring suggest layoffs may continue into early 2026. Worker anxiety is growing, especially in industries undergoing rapid digital transformation or facing margin pressure from trade policy changes and global instability.
Employers are watching every dollar — and employees are watching every headline.
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