THE HOT STORY

Glassdoor and Indeed to cut 1,300 jobs amid AI integration

The Japanese parent of Indeed and Glassdoor is to cut 1,300 roles across the two job sites amid a shift toward artificial intelligence, according to a memo seen by Reuters which detailed that the cuts are mostly in the U.S. and within the research and development, growth, and people and sustainability teams. Recruit Holdings did not provide a specific reason for the layoffs, but CEO Hisayuki "Deko" Idekoba said "AI is changing the world, and we must adapt by ensuring our product delivers truly great experiences for job seekers and employers."

Reuters

WORKFORCE

Federal agencies find that workers may have already quit

The Wall Street Journal reports that federal agencies have experienced significant workforce reductions through voluntary departures, early retirements, and buyouts, reducing the need for additional layoffs. Agencies including the Veterans Affairs (VA) and Labor Departments say attrition has helped meet staffing goals, with the VA expecting 30,000 employees to leave by fiscal year-end. “There should not be a rush to implement [the] extreme plans that were created by Elon Musk before there has been time to review and evaluate the consequences,” said Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, referring to the Tesla and SpaceX leader who led the Department of Government Efficiency, the agency which claims to have saved taxpayers more than $170bn with its aggressive cost-cutting.

The Wall Street Journal

Chicago Public Schools announces over 1,450 staff layoffs

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has laid off over 1,450 school-based staff, including 432 teachers, as part of efforts to address a $734m budget deficit. According to Ben Felton, CPS chief talent officer, 123 special education teachers and up to 300 special education classroom assistants will be eligible for retention pools, allowing them to be paid centrally and deployed to schools with vacancies. The layoffs, which affected 57% of district-run schools, are part of a broader budget crisis, with CPS's deficit now estimated at $500m. Budget Director Mike Sitkowski acknowledged the district's "tough situation" and emphasized the need for a student-centered approach to resolving the deficit. The Chicago Teachers Union expressed frustration over the layoffs, calling them a "harmful and distressing annual ritual at CPS."

Chalkbeat

Chicago Tribune

LEGAL

Judge halts immigration raids in California

A federal judge in Los Angeles has ordered the Trump administration to cease indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in seven California counties, including Los Angeles. The lawsuit, filed by immigrant advocacy groups, claims that the administration is targeting individuals based on their skin color. The plaintiffs include detained immigrants and U.S. citizens. One citizen was detained despite presenting identification. Judge Maame E. Frimpong noted a “mountain of evidence” indicating violations of the Fourth and Fifth amendments. Additionally, she barred the federal government from restricting attorney access at a Los Angeles detention facility. The White House has responded by asserting that “no federal judge has the authority to dictate immigration policy.”

The Columbian

Ethics adviser ousted by Bondi

Attorney General Pam Bondi has dismissed her personal ethics adviser, Joseph Tirrell, who had served nearly 20 years at the Justice Department. His termination on July 11 was executed without a stated reason, following a pattern seen in other recent dismissals within the department. Tirrell, who previously worked at the FBI, was responsible for overseeing ethics matters, including financial disclosures and conflict of interest waivers for senior officials. His removal coincides with the firing of approximately 20 employees linked to Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigations.

Bloomberg Tax

RISK

Nvidia CEO advised on meetings ahead of China trip

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jim Banks have cautioned Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang against meeting with companies in China that may undermine U.S. chip export controls during his upcoming trip. They expressed concerns that such meetings could legitimize firms collaborating with the Chinese military and emphasized the importance of adhering to export restrictions. Nvidia, meanwhile, is preparing to launch more affordable AI chips for the Chinese market, which has raised further alarms among lawmakers regarding national security implications.

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Deep cuts agreed in major overhaul at Thyssenkrupp

German industrial giant Thyssenkrupp and the IG Metall labor union have reached an agreement on reduced working hours, lower bonus payments and site closures as part of a push to overhaul the country's largest steelmaker and prepare it for a standalone future. The agreement comes after Thyssenkrupp's announcement that up to 11,000 jobs at the TKSE steel unit, or around 40%, had to be cut or outsourced and that annual production capacity would be lowered to 8.7-9.0 million tons from 11.5 million tons. "We went to the pain threshold and only made concessions where it was really necessary in order to secure jobs and locations," said Tekin Nasikkol, head of Thyssenkrupp's works council and member of the group's supervisory board, adding "We have now created the conditions for the company to emerge from the difficult situation out of its own strength."

Reuters

U.K. labor market shows signs of cooling

The U.K. labor market is experiencing a significant slowdown, with the supply of available workers increasing at the fastest rate in nearly five years. According to analysis by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), there has been a decline in permanent vacancies and reduced demand for employees. Consequently, wage growth in the private sector has slowed from 5.5% to 5.3%, marking the slowest pace in four months. Neil Carberry, chief executive of the REC, noted that companies are hesitant to hire due to "the scar tissue left by the spring tax hikes and fear of further business tax rises." Jon Holt, group chief executive and U.K. senior partner at KPMG, said the threat of rising employment costs is contributing to a "wait and see" approach among employers. Official jobs market figures show unemployment rose to a four-year high of 4.6% in the three months to April, up from 4.5% in the previous three months.

Reuters

The Guardian

The Times

Deal reached in Finnish aviation labor dispute

A prolonged labor dispute in Finland's aviation sector has concluded with a new collective agreement between the Finnish Aviation Union (IAU) and Service Sector Employers Palta. The agreement, which is expected to last approximately 1.5 years, comes after over six months of negotiations that led to Finnair canceling more than 1,200 flights, affecting around 100,000 passengers. Palta's Director of Labour Market Affairs, Minna Ääri, said: "After prolonged negotiations, it's good that we were able to reach a mutually acceptable deal." Ääri did however express disappointment over the lack of broader working condition improvements. Wage increases under the new deal are expected to follow Finland's general line, with an estimated rise of around 7.8% over the next three years.

YLE Uutiset

OTHER

Back-to-school spending stalls in 2025

Deloitte’s latest forecast shows back-to-school spending will remain flat at $30.9bn - or $570 per student - due to rising prices and economic uncertainty. This represents a 7% drop from 2021 levels, with last year’s average at $586 per child. The survey of 1,203 parents found shoppers are cautious amid tariff-driven cost increases. Major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Amazon are launching aggressive deals, including a four-day Amazon Prime Day, to attract spending.

Reuters

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