NEW YORK CITY, New York: A steady drumbeat of layoffs across major U.S. employers is deepening anxiety for workers already navigating a job market marked by stalled hiring and economic uncertainty.

Economists say many businesses remain stuck in a "no-hire, no-fire" posture, limiting new openings or pausing them altogether. Hiring has largely stalled nationwide, with employers adding just 50,000 jobs last month, down from a revised 56,000 in November.

Even so, a growing number of companies are cutting staff. Layoffs have been announced across sectors, as employers cite rising operating costs from President Donald Trump's new tariffs, persistent inflation, and shifts in consumer spending. Consumer confidence recently fell to its lowest level since 2014. At the same time, some companies are shrinking headcounts as they redirect spending toward artificial intelligence, often as part of broader restructuring efforts.

Outside the private sector, thousands of federal government workers lost their jobs last year after cuts by the Trump administration, further weighing on their confidence in finding stable employment.

Below are some of the most significant job cuts announced recently.

Amazon

Amazon said this week it was eliminating about 16,000 corporate roles, just three months after cutting another 14,000 positions. The e-commerce giant said the latest layoffs were part of restructuring aimed at "removing bureaucracy," while it continues to ramp up investment in AI. CEO Andy Jassy has previously said generative AI could reduce Amazon's corporate workforce.

UPS

United Parcel Service said this week it plans to cut up to 30,000 operational jobs this year as it reduces the volume of Amazon shipments it handles and continues a broader turnaround. The company said the cuts will come through voluntary buyouts for full-time drivers and attrition. The reductions follow a combined 48,000 job cuts disclosed in 2025.

Tyson Foods

Tyson Foods said late last year it would close a plant in Lexington, Nebraska, that employed about 3,200 people, nearly a third of the town's population. Layoffs began on January 20, though the company said fewer than 300 workers were being temporarily retained to help complete the closure. Tyson also announced plans in November to cut one of two shifts at an Amarillo, Texas, plant, eliminating another 1,700 jobs.

Hewlett Packard

In November, HP said it expected to lay off between 4,000 and 6,000 employees as part of a multiyear effort to streamline operations and boost productivity through AI. The computer maker said it aims to complete those actions by the end of fiscal 2028.

Verizon

Verizon began laying off more than 13,000 employees in November. In a memo to staff, CEO Dan Schulman said the company needed to simplify operations and "reorient" the business.

Nestlé

Nestlé said in mid-October it would cut 16,000 jobs globally over the next two years as part of cost-cutting efforts amid rising commodity prices and U.S.-imposed tariffs.

Novo Nordisk

In September, Novo Nordisk said it would eliminate about 9,000 jobs, roughly 11 percent of its workforce, as part of a restructuring aimed at expanding sales of obesity and diabetes drugs amid growing competition.

Intel

Intel has shed thousands of jobs as it works to revive its business. CEO Lip-Bu Tan said last year the company expects to end 2025 with about 75,000 "core" workers, down from 99,500 at the end of 2024, following layoffs and attrition.

Procter & Gamble

Ohio-based Procter & Gamble said last summer it would cut up to 7,000 jobs over two years, about 6 percent of its global workforce, citing restructuring and tariff pressures.

Microsoft

Microsoft carried out two rounds of mass layoffs last year, cutting 6,000 jobs and then another 9,000, citing "organizational changes" while investing heavily in AI.

Other recent cuts include General Motors, Paramount, Target, ConocoPhillips, and Lufthansa Group.