美国就业市场降温信号显现：今年企业裁员人数创2020年以来新高

Core Insights - The U.S. job market is showing signs of cooling, with nearly 950,000 layoffs announced by companies as of September, the highest level for this period since 2020 [1][3] - Major companies like Starbucks, Amazon, Target, and Southwest Airlines have announced significant layoffs, raising concerns that these actions may signal broader economic issues rather than isolated cost-cutting measures [1][2] Layoff Trends - Government sectors have been heavily impacted, with nearly 300,000 positions cut this year [3] - The tech and retail industries are also experiencing significant layoffs, with Amazon attributing 14,000 job cuts to artificial intelligence [3] - The total number of layoffs in the first nine months of this year exceeds the total for any complete year since 2009, excluding the pandemic year [3][4] Economic Concerns - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell noted a "very slow cooling" of the labor market, but there is heightened vigilance regarding potential further deterioration [4] - Economists are particularly concerned if initial unemployment claims remain at or exceed 260,000, compared to the previous range of 220,000 to 240,000 [4] Structural Changes in Labor Market - The U.S. labor market is undergoing a structural shift from a "low hiring, low firing" model to a more aggressive approach to layoffs [5][6] - Many companies are now more willing to cut jobs, with over 60% of executives in a LinkedIn survey indicating that AI will take over tasks currently performed by junior employees [6] Cost Management Strategies - Companies are absorbing tariff costs rather than passing them onto consumers, leading to labor cost reductions to protect profits [6]