Job Cuts and Cost-Cutting: UPS's Bold Moves Amid Economic Uncertainty

A major shake-up is happening at UPS. The company is planning to cut 20, 000 jobs. This is a big deal. It's all because of the economic uncertainty caused by Trump's tariffs. These tariffs are making it tough for UPS's biggest customer, Amazon, to keep up the same level of demand. UPS's shares took a small hit, dropping 1% in early trading. But the company is looking at the long term. They expect to save $3. 5 billion this year by cutting jobs and closing 73 buildings. This includes both leased and owned properties. They plan to have all these closures done by the end of June. There's a cost to these changes. UPS estimates it will spend between $400 million and $600 million by 2025. This is for things like separation benefits and lease-related costs. But they see it as a necessary step to stay competitive. UPS isn't just cutting jobs. They're also ramping up automation and selling off assets. This is all part of their plan to reduce costs and stay flexible in an uncertain economy. The CEO, Carol Tome, sees these moves as timely and necessary. She believes they will make UPS stronger and more adaptable. Amazon is a big part of this story. UPS announced earlier this year that they would cut Amazon deliveries by more than half. This is to boost profits by focusing on more profitable packages. Amazon packages made up 11. 8% of UPS's revenue last year. So, this is a significant change. But Amazon isn't the only challenge. UPS is also facing potential drops in deliveries from Chinese fast-fashion giants like Shein and Temu. Trump's tariffs, including a hefty 145% rate on China, are slowing down trade. Consumers and producers are trying to avoid price hikes, which could hit parcel delivery firms hard. The first quarter of the year saw UPS's revenue fall to $21. 5 billion. But they still beat expectations of $21. 05 billion. Revenue in their US segments grew by 1. 4% to $14. 46 billion. This is due to increased revenue per piece, even as overall volumes declined. They recorded an adjusted profit per share of $1. 49, beating expectations of $1. 38. UPS is sticking to its full-year forecast from January. They're aiming for $89 billion in revenue and an operating margin of 10. 8%. It's a tough time, but UPS is making bold moves to stay ahead.