May 2025 Work & Job Market Roundup: Employment Trends and Labor News
Editorial | New Stardom
Welcome to the May 2025 edition of New Stardom’s Monthly Work & Job Market Roundup, highlighting key employment stories and labor trends from across the globe.
Each edition draws from verified reporting, labor market data, and New Stardom’s independent analysis of employment trends, workforce shifts, and policy developments.
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The United Nations plans to cut 6,900 jobs and reduce its budget by 20% as financial shortfalls and declining foreign aid contributions strain its operations, according to UN job cuts and budget crisis reports.
The Dutch hospitality sector faces growing labor shortages, with high vacancy rates and fewer MBO students entering the field, as labor shortages in Dutch hospitality continue to challenge employers.
Volvo Cars will eliminate 3,000 white-collar positions as slowing EV demand and growing global trade tensions force the company to cut costs, as detailed in Volvo’s job cuts and trade challenges.
Denmark plans to raise its retirement age to 70 by 2040, setting the highest threshold in Europe, as part of Denmark’s pension reform responding to EU pension system pressures.
Microsoft’s latest layoffs target U.S. software engineers, as AI now generates nearly 30% of the company’s code, raising new Microsoft layoffs and tech job shifts concerns.
Microsoft is cutting around 6,000 jobs — about 3% of its global workforce — as part of a strategic restructuring focused on middle management, described in Microsoft’s restructuring and job cuts.
Ransomware attacks on major UK retailers exposed both IT weaknesses and a shortage of cybersecurity skills in UK retail, leaving companies scrambling to respond.
Apple reports that Google search traffic on Safari is declining for the first time in two decades, as AI search tools reshape search habits through platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warns that AI could replace up to half of entry-level white-collar jobs within five years, according to AI-driven job loss projections.
For professionals seeking to work in Europe in 2025, European work visa options include the EU Blue Card, Talent Passport, and Dutch residence permits.
Companies face growing challenges hiring cybersecurity specialists, as 2025 cybersecurity job trends show increasing demand for cloud security and threat intelligence skills.
Newsrooms, copywriting agencies, and marketing teams are increasingly using AI to generate content, raising questions over AI’s impact on writing and content jobs.
The Dutch government is moving to restrict zero-hour contracts and close flex work loopholes, as part of Dutch labor market reforms targeting worker protections.
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