"Amid wider economic uncertainty, some analysts have said that businesses are at a "no-hire, no fire" standstill. That's caused many to limit new work to only a few specific roles, if not pause openings entirely. At the same time, sizable layoffs have continued to pile up - raising worker anxieties across sectors. Some companies have pointed to rising operational costs spanning from U.S. President Donald Trump's barrage of new tariffs and shifts in consumer spending."
"Shortly after Trump returned to office at the start of the year, federal jobs were cut by the thousands. And the record 43-day government shutdown also left many without paychecks. The impasse put key economic data on hold, too. In a delayed report released last week, the Labor Department said U.S. employers added a surprising 119,000 jobs in September. But unemployment rose to 4.4% - and other troubling details emerged, including revisions showing the economy actually lost 4,000 jobs in August."
Economic uncertainty has left many businesses in a no-hire, no-fire standstill, with firms restricting new hires to a few roles or pausing openings altogether. Sizable layoffs continue across sectors, heightening worker anxiety. Companies point to rising operational costs, tariffs, shifting consumer spending, corporate restructuring, and redirection of funds to artificial intelligence as drivers. Federal employees faced additional cuts after Trump's return and a record 43-day government shutdown that left many without paychecks. The shutdown disrupted economic data; September showed a surprising 119,000 jobs added while unemployment rose to 4.4% and August was revised to a 4,000-job loss.
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