Dozens of U.S. Companies Announce Layoffs in May Amid Economic Pressures
Mass layoffs are rippling across industries this May, as nearly 130 companies notify employees of impending job cuts, according to new data compiled from WARNTracker.com.
Under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), businesses must alert employees and government officials ahead of mass layoffs. These notices offer early insight into shifting economic tides, and May’s data shows widespread turbulence.
Companies cutting jobs this month span a broad range of sectors, from household names like Amazon, Starbucks, and FedEx to tech, healthcare, education, and retail. In some cases, firms cite cost-cutting amid inflation and lower demand. In others, layoffs appear to be tied more to profit protection than necessity, Newsweek reported.
Among those announcing cuts:
- FedEx
- Macy’s
- JP Morgan Chase
- Mattel
- Chewy
- Wells Fargo
- The Cheesecake Factory
- Southern California Edison
- Starbucks
- American Medical Response
Even large educational and non-profit institutions like Johns Hopkins University, Catholic Charities of Orange, and the American Bar Association are trimming staff.
Related: Prices Are About to Jump—Here’s What 7 Major Companies Announced
The number of layoffs per employer ranges from a handful to hundreds, and no region appears untouched. While some companies are still navigating post-pandemic restructuring, others are reacting to persistent inflation, rising labor costs, and shifting consumer behavior.
Related: Major Carmaker Announces Disappointing News Amid Tariffs
The layoffs also come as job openings decline, wage growth slows, and uncertainty lingers over interest rate policy. For many workers, job security is starting to feel less certain again, despite a still-low national unemployment rate.
Whether this wave marks the start of a deeper employment correction or a short-term recalibration remains to be seen. For now, thousands of workers across the U.S. are bracing for difficult transitions this month.