In a broad effort to streamline operations and reduce costs, a growing number of U.S. companies across various industries have announced significant layoffs.
The job cuts come amid an environment of economic uncertainty and follow similar measures taken last year as businesses brace for a slower market.
According to data from the Labor Department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for early February, overall job vacancies fell by 1.3 million compared with the previous year’s end, although they still remain above the 2019 average. This suggests a gradual cooling of the labor market rather than a precipitous decline.
Among the companies making announcements in 2025 are major players in consumer and retail, aviation, energy, technology, healthcare, and finance. For example:
Consumer and retail:
Starbucks plans to cut 1,100 jobs (0.52% of its workforce)
Brown-Forman will reduce 648 positions (12% of its staff)
Kohl’s announced 9,600 layoffs (10% of its workforce)
Estee Lauder will eliminate 7,000 jobs (11.29% of its workforce)
Amazon has reduced 1,700 full-time roles
Walmart and Wayfair have also reported job cuts in select regions.
Aviation and space:
Southwest Airlines is set to shed 1,750 positions, affecting 15% of its corporate roles
Blue Origin plans to cut 1,400 jobs (10% of its workforce).
Energy and natural resources:
Chevron is trimming 8,000 jobs (20% of its workforce)
Other energy firms, including Halliburton, Lyondell Basell, SolarEdge Technologies, Archer-Daniels-Midland, and Dow, are also reducing headcount by varying percentages.
Technology and media:
Meta Platforms is letting go of 5% of its lowest performers
Microchip Technology will cut 2,000 jobs, representing 9% of its staff.
Healthcare and pharma:
UnitedHealth is offering buyouts in its benefits operations unit and may pursue further layoffs if its resignation targets are not met
Bio Rad is cutting 5% of its workforce.
Banking and finance:
Morgan Stanley is planning to lay off about 2,000 employees (2% to 3% of its workforce) as part of its cost-reduction drive.
These job cuts are part of a wider trend among U.S. businesses as they adjust to a challenging economic landscape characterized by uncertainty over trade policies, shifting market dynamics, and cautious consumer sentiment. Many companies have cited the need to improve operational efficiency and align costs with a more subdued outlook for capital markets.
As industry observers note, these layoffs reflect the difficult balancing act that companies face in maintaining competitiveness while adapting to an environment where revenue growth may be slowing and future economic conditions remain uncertain.
In a broad effort to streamline operations and reduce costs, a growing number of U.S. companies across various industries have announced significant layoffs.
In a significant policy shift, several U.S. national security agencies have suspended work on a coordinated initiative designed to counter Russian sabotage, disinformation, and cyberattacks.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced at a news conference in Helsinki with Finnish President Alexander Stubb that he will speak with U.S. President Donald Trump later today to discuss the details of Trump’s recent ceasefire talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
U.S. President Donald Trump has released a trove of documents related to the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy, fulfilling a campaign promise to provide greater transparency on the historic event.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang forecasted a rapid arrival of humanoid robots in manufacturing, stating that widespread use in factory settings is likely within the next few years.
A massive, unanticipated disconnection of data centers in a 30-square-mile area outside Washington, D.C. has exposed a fresh vulnerability in America’s electrical grid, raising concerns that the rapid expansion of Big Tech’s energy-hungry facilities could trigger cascading outages.
President Donald Trump has completed a "very good" telephone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to remarks made by Trump.
At just 15, New Zealand’s Sam Ruthe made history Wednesday by running a mile in 3:58.35 at Mt. Smart Stadium, becoming the youngest athlete to break the four-minute barrier. Ruthe surpassed his previous best and edged out Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s 16-year-old record.
The inside of a Herculaneum delicate & ancient scroll, unseen for nearly 2,000 years, has been revealed using Artificial Intelligence.
Regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan process, we cannot forget the years of occupation, and we will not forget them, President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 12th Global Baku Forum.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia and Ukraine cease attacking each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin said following a lengthy phone discussion between the leaders.
President Donald Trump has vowed to respond to the European Union's counter-tariffs, escalating tensions over the U.S. steel and aluminum duties that have sparked a trade dispute between the two economic powers.
Malaysia has agreed to terms with exploration firm Ocean Infinity to restart the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 wreckage, its transport minister said on Wednesday.
President Donald Trump has completed a "very good" telephone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to remarks made by Trump.
At just 15, New Zealand’s Sam Ruthe made history Wednesday by running a mile in 3:58.35 at Mt. Smart Stadium, becoming the youngest athlete to break the four-minute barrier. Ruthe surpassed his previous best and edged out Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s 16-year-old record.
The White House has affirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump still intends to implement new reciprocal tariff rates on April 2, despite earlier remarks from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinting at a possible delay.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang forecasted a rapid arrival of humanoid robots in manufacturing, stating that widespread use in factory settings is likely within the next few years.
A massive, unanticipated disconnection of data centers in a 30-square-mile area outside Washington, D.C. has exposed a fresh vulnerability in America’s electrical grid, raising concerns that the rapid expansion of Big Tech’s energy-hungry facilities could trigger cascading outages.
President Donald Trump has completed a "very good" telephone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to remarks made by Trump.
At just 15, New Zealand’s Sam Ruthe made history Wednesday by running a mile in 3:58.35 at Mt. Smart Stadium, becoming the youngest athlete to break the four-minute barrier. Ruthe surpassed his previous best and edged out Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s 16-year-old record.
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