The Major Layoffs Announced in Q3 2025
Work News | New Stardom
Trend Analysis
Visual by New Stardom
Microsoft, Novo Nordisk, and Recruit Holdings were among major employers cutting thousands of jobs between July and September, underscoring how corporate restructuring persisted through the third quarter of 2025.
Q2 had already closed with significant layoffs at Microsoft, Volvo Cars, and the United Nations, showing early signs of continued downsizing across sectors.
More recent layoffs in October, including those at Heineken, Amazon, and Nestlé, signal that corporate restructuring is continuing into Q4.
Job Cuts Hit Technology, Energy, and Pharma
Microsoft began the quarter by confirming roughly 9,000 redundancies worldwide, about 4 percent of its workforce. The company said the move was part of a continuing effort to streamline operations and focus spending on AI-related products.
Technology manufacturing was also hit. Intel reported its global workforce had shrunk by about 20,000 positions by late September, the result of a two-year restructuring meant to reduce expenses and refocus on chip design.
Japan’s Recruit Holdings, the parent company of Indeed and Glassdoor, followed with 1,300 layoffs in July. Executives cited overlapping roles and integration costs as the firm consolidated its employment platforms under a unified AI infrastructure.
In the energy sector, ConocoPhillips announced plans in early September to eliminate between 2,600 and 3,250 positions, representing roughly a quarter of its staff. ExxonMobil confirmed an additional 2,000 global job cuts on September 30 as part of a cost-reduction program aimed at offsetting weaker margins.
Outside tech and energy, Novo Nordisk announced it would cut 9,000 jobs, or more than 11 percent of its global headcount, citing productivity targets and changing demand in its pharmaceuticals division.
Europe’s aviation sector closed the quarter with further consolidation. Lufthansa confirmed that several thousand positions would be lost as it seeks to restore profitability and adapt to slower business-travel recovery.
Companies Brace for Continued Restructuring
Across all sectors, the scale of cuts in Q3 2025 suggests that companies remain cautious about costs even as global growth stabilizes. Many executives describe these decisions as strategic repositioning rather than crisis measures, reflecting a shift toward leaner, AI-integrated operations.
For employees, the trend points to continued volatility in white-collar employment, particularly in mid-management and support roles.
Q4 began with new layoffs at Heineken, Amazon, and Nestlé, showing that corporate restructuring remains active into the final months of 2025. New Stardom will continue tracking these developments as more companies announce job changes.
Follow global work and job trends. Subscribe to The Monthly Work Roundup newsletter.
Read Next
Have insights on work and the future of work? Submit an opinion piece to New Stardom. Love work and career books? Explore our fun workplace book collection.
New Stardom is an independent magazine covering the Future of Work, AI, and emerging job trends.
