Layoffs Hit The Highest Level Since 2020

[Matt2496]

US layoffs soar past 1.1M in 2025, highest level since the pandemic

November layoffs dropped 53% from last month but rose 24% yearly, pushing 2025 job cuts to levels not seen since COVID-19 pandemic struck the American workforce.

www.foxbusiness.com

I would guess increase in AI usage and DOGE cuts are at least a chunk of this.

This isn't being talked about very much right now, but was just wondering what everyone's thoughts were on this? Those of you who employ/hire people, what are yall seeing out there?

 

[Coy53175]

Market is strong in the Power/Electrical Industry. No slow down in sight.

 

[lawgator1]

US layoffs soar past 1.1M in 2025, highest level since the pandemic

November layoffs dropped 53% from last month but rose 24% yearly, pushing 2025 job cuts to levels not seen since COVID-19 pandemic struck the American workforce.

www.foxbusiness.com

I would guess increase in AI usage and DOGE cuts are at least a chunk of this.

This isn't being talked about very much right now, but was just wondering what everyone's thoughts were on this? Those of you who employ/hire people, what are yall seeing out there?

I'm in a service oriented local economy and hiring has slowed a bit, but not anything alarming. Seems like most business people believe we are in a slow down and so are proceeding cautiously before adding people.

AI can't clean a hotel room and at the moment there aren't robots serving the $25 hamburgers out at Disney. When that kicks in, ugh for the Orlando economy.

 

[TNVOLNAVY]

US layoffs soar past 1.1M in 2025, highest level since the pandemic

November layoffs dropped 53% from last month but rose 24% yearly, pushing 2025 job cuts to levels not seen since COVID-19 pandemic struck the American workforce.

www.foxbusiness.com

I would guess increase in AI usage and DOGE cuts are at least a chunk of this.

This isn't being talked about very much right now, but was just wondering what everyone's thoughts were on this? Those of you who employ/hire people, what are yall seeing out there?

Good news if the “Layoffs” included ditching worthless fed employees and deported illegals.

 

[McDad]

Linked article says Verizon and tech sectors were the business and sector reporting highest number of layoffs.
I don't know if that is a harbinger of a worsening economy or not.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

US layoffs soar past 1.1M in 2025, highest level since the pandemic

November layoffs dropped 53% from last month but rose 24% yearly, pushing 2025 job cuts to levels not seen since COVID-19 pandemic struck the American workforce.

www.foxbusiness.com

I would guess increase in AI usage and DOGE cuts are at least a chunk of this.

This isn't being talked about very much right now, but was just wondering what everyone's thoughts were on this? Those of you who employ/hire people, what are yall seeing out there?

I drove to South Florida recently, and I did not go through one tollbooth operated by a person. AI tech appears to have put all of those people out of the job on the FL turnpike. The system in place now takes a pic of your plate and sends the bill to you in the mail.

 

[hndog609]

Linked article says Verizon and tech sectors were the business and sector reporting highest number of layoffs.
I don't know if that is a harbinger of a worsening economy or not.

I don't want to get too far out over my skis but that may be a harbinger for AI coming in. It bears watching.

 

[NEO]

If your job can be automated it’s gonna be.

No employer tax.

No workers comp.

No calling in sick.

No unions.

No scheduling employees.

Just a cold heartless machine that never complains and just keeps working.

 

[utvolpj]

I drove to South Florida recently, and I did not go through one tollbooth operated by a person. AI tech appears to have put all of those people out of the job on the FL turnpike. The system in place now takes a pic of your plate and sends the bill to you in the mail.

That was happening before AI. Getting rid of the toll booths made them so much easier to drive. Most have been torn down and I haven't driven thru one with a person in a few years

 

[McDad]

I don't want to get too far out over my skis but that may be a harbinger for AI coming in. It bears watching.

Does ai and the work it replaces concern you long term?

 

[PEPPERJAX]

That was happening before AI. Getting rid of the toll booths made them so much easier to drive. Most have been torn down and I haven't driven they one with a person in a few years

I drove to Miami years back and remember giving cash to tollbooth operators. Completely different now but that’s a drive I make about once every five years.

 

[hndog609]

Does ai and the work it replaces concern you long term?

Uncertainty always gives me a bit of the heebe jeebies. As NEO said AI and robotics is absolutely going to downsize (or even basically replace) chunks of the economy/workforce. It's basically inevitable. What does that actually mean in regards to our economy? Not sure. The long term might actually turn out favorably (until Skynet comes online of course) there's sure to be some short term pain in a number of sectors.

 

[utvolpj]

I drove to Miami years back and remember giving cash to tollbooth operators. Completely different now but that’s a drive I make about once every five years.

I have one very close that I use several times a week. I think they removed people about 7-8yrs ago. It was mostly retirees manning them. They've been slowly tearing them down and fixing the roads

A quick search claims the last manned booth in South Florida was in 2017. Sounds about right

 

[NEO]

Does ai and the work it replaces concern you long term?

True story.

Amazon is pushing AI hard in Nashville HQ. One engineer had his code hack into his phone and downloaded photos and text from engineer to his mistress and then threatened its creator with a fail safe that if the creator cancelled the code the proof would automically be sent to the wife.

Guy working with engineer has no idea how the outcome was handled and the code was taken over by another department once engineer escalated the issue.

Meta server center in Gallatin is highly utilizing robots that are working side by side with human employees.

Next 25 years will be like living in a sci fi movie.

 

[FLVOL_79]

I drove to South Florida recently, and I did not go through one tollbooth operated by a person. AI tech appears to have put all of those people out of the job on the FL turnpike. The system in place now takes a pic of your plate and sends the bill to you in the mail.

We calling cameras AI now? If it can't draw me pictures of Biden drawing weiners on Trumps face while he sleeps on camera, it ain't AI.

Also they got rid of most toll workers like 10 years ago. Same with transponders. Toll by plate.

 

[FLVOL_79]

Does ai and the work it replaces concern you long term?

Skynet

 

[FLVOL_79]

Good news if the “Layoffs” included ditching worthless fed employees and deported illegals.

Almost ALL feds laid off were hired back because it was illegal. Illegals don't make a chunk of the numbers either. Just Americans. MAGA!!

 

[norrislakevol]

The automotive industry is slow right now, expected to pick up after April supposedly.

As far as AI goes, some will be replaceable, and others will be in more demand. If you are in engineering or maintenance, then you will likely see more, better paying opportunities in the future. In other words, if you can think and learn then the future for you is profitable, and bright.

 

[McDad]

if you can think and learn then the future for you is profitable, and bright.

Good that I'm aging out of the workforce

 

[norrislakevol]

Another thing to consider: If AI becomes widespread in the workforce, replacing millions of workers, then what are they to do? What will happen to the economy? It would get crushed....unless, the large companies that have replaced such workers are forced to pay out the those not working. I will bet you anything that is what will happen, then crime and violence would explode everywhere. Idle hands are the devils workshop.

 

[utvolpj]

Another thing to consider: If AI becomes widespread in the workforce, replacing millions of workers, then what are they to do? What will happen to the economy? It would get crushed....unless, the large companies that have replaced such workers are forced to pay out the those not working. I will bet you anything that is what will happen, then crime and violence would explode everywhere. Idle hands are the devils workshop.

Ubi. Elon has talked a lot about it recently but he calls it universal high income

 

[Majors]

Most businesses for years have realized they can do more with less and not miss a beat.

 

[McDad]

Another thing to consider: If AI becomes widespread in the workforce, replacing millions of workers, then what are they to do? What will happen to the economy? It would get crushed....unless, the large companies that have replaced such workers are forced to pay out the those not working. I will bet you anything that is what will happen, then crime and violence would explode everywhere. Idle hands are the devils workshop.

This same concern has been around for millenia. I'm not saying it isn't valid. I'm saying this isn't the first iteration of human labor competing with more reliable, more efficient, less costly replacement.

Humans to animals to machines to robots to computers. All of those transitions were concerning. Now we add computers to Ai.

 

[Orangeburst]

Good that I'm aging out of the workforce

 

[McDad]

View attachment 797297

I've always like how Jonah ashes his cig in time with the beat in this clip.