New data show that the US labor market is undergoing a noticeable shift. Employers announced nearly 950,000 job cuts between January and September 2025, highlighting a departure from the earlier “no hire, no fire” scenario to what analysts are calling a “no hire, more fire” environment. Reuters+1
Major names across tech, retail, and government sectors are part of this trend. For example, companies such as Amazon, UPS, and Intel have announced large-scale job reductions, citing automation, cost-cutting, and the end of pandemic-era hiring booms. Reuters
The slowdown is especially significant because it comes at a time when government data releases like the official employment report have been delayed due to the ongoing federal shutdown. Private-sector job trackers suggest that hiring is weak and layoffs are rising. Reuters+1
Why it matters:
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A weakening labor market can affect consumer spending, which is a major driver of the US economy.
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With hiring down and layoffs up, workers may become more cautious, affecting industries that depend on discretionary spending.
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For your readers, this signals a moment of change in the US economy: not outright collapse, but caution and recalibration.
Key Takeaway:
The US job market has now entered a phase where companies are not aggressively hiring and are increasingly trimming jobs. If this continues, it may reshape economic growth patterns in the near term.
