US Labor Market Overview - US job cuts in 2023 have surpassed 1.17 million, the highest since 2020 [1] - November layoff plans totaled 71,321 [1] - Year-to-date job cuts are 54% higher than the same period last year [1] - Private employers cut 32,000 jobs in November, the biggest decline in over two and a half years [3] Reasons for Layoffs - Restructuring was the most cited reason for November layoffs [2] - Closings and market or economic conditions also contributed to layoffs [2] - Tariffs drove over 2,000 cuts in November and nearly 8,000 year-to-date [2] - AI was cited for over 54,000 layoffs this year [2] Labor Market Concerns - Rising concerns exist regarding the state of the US labor market [3] - October saw 153,000 cuts, the highest for the month in 22 years [3]

Core Insights - Layoffs have increased in recent months, indicating a slight rise in job market instability, but the overall job market has remained fundamentally steady since the summer [1] Group 1 - The Labor Department's monthly survey indicates a rise in layoffs, suggesting potential challenges in certain sectors [1] - Despite the increase in layoffs, the job market has not shown significant volatility, maintaining a steady state since the summer [1]

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - Layoffs announced by U.S. employers in November decreased from October but still reached the highest total for the year since the pandemic-induced layoffs in 2020, indicating ongoing challenges in the job market [1][8]. Group 1: Layoff Statistics - U.S. employers announced 71,321 layoffs in November, a decrease of 53% from 153,074 in October [1]. - November layoffs were up 24% from 57,727 in the same month last year, marking the highest level for November since 2022 [2]. - Year-to-date job cuts reached 1,170,821 through November, a 54% increase from 761,358 in the same period of 2024 [7]. Group 2: Historical Context - Job cuts in November have exceeded 70,000 only twice since 2008, specifically in 2022 and 2008 [3]. - Historically, job cuts in November were below 70,000 from 1993 until 2000, with a significant spike during the recession year of 2001 [6]. Group 3: Industry-Specific Layoffs - The telecommunications sector led with 15,139 layoffs in November, primarily from Verizon, marking the highest monthly total since April 2020 [11]. - The tech sector announced 12,377 layoffs in November, bringing the total for 2025 to 153,536, an increase of 17% from last year [14]. - The food industry, particularly beef companies, announced 6,708 layoffs in November, totaling 34,165 for the year, a 26% increase from last year [14]. - Retailers reported 3,290 layoffs in November, with a cumulative total of 91,954 for the year, up 139% from 2024 [15].

Core Insights - The ongoing inflation and changes in federal policies are significantly impacting both households and corporations, leading to layoffs and restructuring efforts across various industries [1] Company Overview - United Supermarkets, a grocery chain founded in 1916, operates 96 stores under multiple banners and employs around 18,000 workers [2][3] Layoffs and Restructuring - United Supermarkets plans to lay off 126 workers at its main office in Lubbock, Texas, on January 19, 2026, affecting various roles including director-level and marketing positions [4] - The company aims to transition affected employees into alternative roles during the restructuring process, with new operating systems expected to be implemented by mid-to-late 2026 [5][6] Cost-Cutting Strategies - Albertsons, the parent company of United Supermarkets, is executing a cost-cutting strategy that includes reducing Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses [7] - Albertsons has already eliminated hundreds of corporate roles across its Safeway banner, including significant layoffs in Phoenix and Pleasanton [8] Financial Performance and Future Plans - Albertsons anticipates $1.5 billion in savings from fiscal 2025 through fiscal 2027, which will be reinvested into digital expansion and operational productivity [9][10] - The company reported a 2.2% increase in same-store sales and a 23% rise in digital sales during the second quarter of fiscal 2025 [10] Industry Trends - The grocery industry is facing challenges due to a failed $24.6 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons, which was blocked by the FTC [11][12] - Both companies are undergoing significant operational changes to reduce costs and improve efficiency in response to economic pressures [12] Labor Market Conditions - The labor market is experiencing a slowdown, with 911,000 fewer jobs added than expected over the past year, and the unemployment rate rising to 4.3% [17][18] - The reliance on layoffs as a strategy to manage economic shifts may lead to long-term costs that undermine company stability and performance [19]

Layoff announcements skyrocketed toward the end of 2025 as generative AI and economic tightening pressure corporations to restructure their workforces. Many companies are cutting costs by trimming middle management and [music] in certain industries eliminating entry-level roles that can be replaced by AI. But layoffs aren't the only thing experts are concerned about.Generative AI is speeding up how people work, but that efficiency can come at the tradeoff of maintaining skills and rising up the corporate la ...

Core Viewpoint - Initial claims for US unemployment benefits have decreased significantly, reaching the lowest level in over two years, indicating that layoffs are limited despite a slowdown in hiring across the economy [1] Group 1 - The number of initial claims for unemployment benefits fell sharply last week [1] - The current level of claims is the lowest seen in more than two years [1] - This decline suggests that layoffs remain muted in the current economic environment [1] Group 2 - The overall hiring across the economy is experiencing a slowdown [1] - Despite the hiring slowdown, the labor market shows resilience with low levels of layoffs [1]

Announced layoffs at US companies fell last month after surging in October, but were still the highest for any November in three years, according to data from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. https://t.co/GujthlcnZL ...

US companies fired their employees last month by the most since early 2023: Here’s your Evening Briefing https://t.co/VwxdInnLgu ...

President Donald Trump's tariffs are biting more and more into companies' bottom line. The barrage of import taxes this year put in place by the Trump administration has contributed to an uncertain business environment due to their on-again, off-again nature. Employers, as a result, are hesitant to add more workers or expand their operations. More companies instead are moving to shrink their headcount, according to the latest survey from the Institute for Supply Management released on Tuesday. That trend ...

Core Insights - Apple Inc. has laid off dozens of sales workers in the United States, marking a rare job cut for the company despite its record high revenues expected to reach close to $140 billion in the December quarter [1][4] - The layoffs are part of a strategy to streamline the sales workforce and eliminate overlapping responsibilities, with a shift towards third-party resellers for sales [5][6] - Affected employees include account managers for schools, government agencies, and major businesses, as well as staff at briefing centers for institutional meetings [3][12] Company Actions - Apple confirmed the job cuts and stated that the changes affect a small number of roles, while also continuing to hire for new positions [2][4] - Laid-off employees have until January 20 to secure another position within the company or will receive a severance package [4] - The layoffs included long-time managers and employees with 20 to 30 years of service, particularly impacting the government sales team [6][9] Industry Context - Apple typically relies less on layoffs compared to other tech companies, with CEO Tim Cook previously stating that layoffs are a "last resort" [9][10] - The technology sector has seen widespread layoffs, with companies like Amazon and Meta also announcing significant job cuts recently [11]