#layoffs

#layoffs

New economic analysis by Goldman Sachs reveals a bifurcated picture of artificial intelligence's (AI) impact on the workforce, finding that while the technology's role in current layoffs remains modest and unproven across the broader economy, companies focusing on AI in their workforce discussions have sharply curtailed their job openings this year. The findings, drawn from an analysis of Q3 corporate earnings commentary and results by senior economist Ronnie Walker, were drawn from management commentary and results across nearly all the S&P 500.

Zimeno Inc., which operates as Monarch Tractor, has laid off 102 workers at two locations in Livermore, according to official WARN notices sent to the state Employment Development Department. Some of the Zimeno and Monarch Tractor layoffs occurred at the company's headquarters at 151 Lawrence Drive, and some occurred at the company's testing facility at a Wente Vineyards site on Tesla Road, both in Livermore.

Sometimes a layoff isn't a farewell forever. Rehires of people who were laid off could become more popular in a shaky job market. Visier, a people analytics firm, looked at how many people were rehired at their previous employers within 15 months of being terminated. Visier found about 5.3% of laid-off employees were rehired, based on global data from 2018 to 2024 covering 142 large organizations with over 2 million employee records.

Nevada-based Redwood employees around 1,200 employees, so the cuts affect a few dozen workers. The company, founded in 2017 by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel, initially focused on recycling scrap from battery cell production, consumer electronics, and used EV batteries. The company extracts materials like cobalt, nickel, and lithium from those discarded goods and then sells them back to its customers, which includes Panasonic. Redwood has since added cathode production.

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.

There's an old adage that goes, "No one ever got fired for hiring [insert consulting firm here]." This rang true for many years, as there was no substitute for consulting 'SaaS' ('scapegoat as a service') - but a reckoning is coming. After nearly a decade of uninterrupted growth, the days of multi-million-dollar, multi-year contracts with governmental entities and private companies are swiftly withering away.

Warren also detailed what she learned as she delved into the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the department and requested a broader investigation of the dismantling. Her effort included sending eight letters to the Education Department (ED) and a meeting with Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Warren said the department "largely failed to provide complete and transparent answers" in response to her letters.

Note, as we discuss at the very end of this, we're wondering when/if you think we should record next week. We could do it on Wednesday, Friday, or not at all. Let us know! Also, here's that graphic Nicole mentioned, which shows that we're firing cancer researchers and VA nurses and replacing them with ICE goons. Listen on Spotify (transcripts available) Listen on Apple (transcripts available)

In August, reports emerged that Microsoft had paused development on Contraband, a co-op smuggler game from Just Cause developer Avalanche. At the time, some sources noted that Microsoft put a "hold" on production rather than a full cancellation. But now, Contraband's fate appears to be sealed as mass layoffs at Avalanche have resulted in the closure of its Liverpool studio.

Today we've made the difficult but necessary decision to reorganize Crystal Dynamics' studios and teams. As a result, we've parted ways with just under 30 team members across various departments and projects as we restructure the company and business for our next generation. Crystal deeply thanks all of those impacted for their incredible talent, hard work, and dedication, which helped shape the studio in so many ways. We are committed to offering our fullest resources and support to you during this transition.

Seeing peers lose their jobs has a way of making people weird. It's not much different from grief. When someone loses a loved one, you can almost feel the tension: people fumbling for the right words, hoping not to say something insensitive, then saying something insensitive anyway. "Everything happens for a reason." "They're in a better place." That is, assuming any condolences are shared at all.

Aiming to eliminate a budget deficit that ballooned to more than $200 million, the private school has cut nearly 1,000 positions, or almost 4% of its workforce. Faculty and staff said that the layoffs have been especially stressful because they have been ongoing for months, although the university said last week that they are nearly complete - and that as many as 200 of those who lost their jobs could find new positions at the school.

Rad is nothing without its people and wants to ensure that all employees are taken care of and provided for to the fullest extent feasible. Executive leaders are hopeful that a viable solution will be found to ensure that Rad team members remain gainfully employed for the foreseeable future. However, to be fully transparent, despite our collective efforts, it is possible that this may not happen, and Rad may be forced to cease operations.

What counts as 'congregating'? What's your definition of 'congregating'?

The warning follows several months of financial crisis within the district. Just a few months ago, Oakland Unified was projected to run out of cash as early as fall 2025, with an anticipated $95 million budget shortfall. That deficit was reduced to $30 million, the district said over the summer, in large part through reduction and rearrangement of staffing. But district staff warned that Oakland Unified was still spending more than it receives and retaining too many employees with money the district simply doesn't have.