Global commercial tensions, daughters of the Protezonistic strategy promoted by the American president Donald Trumpare transforming into an increasingly heavy brake for the American labor market. According to what reported by Financial Timesthe US industries most exposed to the duties have drastically reduced hires, in some cases reaching personnel. A trend that has slowed down employment growth and put in difficulty key sectors such as manufacture, wholesale trade, retail and energy.
The report on the occupation of August, published last week, photographs the situation clearly: the American economy added just 22,000 new places, one of the lowest data in recent years. The decreases were drawn the production sectors penalized by the duties introduced by President Donald Trump.
The manufacture has lost 12,000 seats in one month, bringing the negative balance to 78,000 since the beginning of 2025. A particularly alarming figure if we consider the central role of the industrial sector in American growth. It is not better to the mining sector, which also includes oil and gas, which fell 6,000 units in August. The budget of wholesale trade, where employment fell by 32,000 seats in the same period is even heavier.
Trump duties, American companies cut hires and start layoffs
Executives and analysts attribute braking to the duties wanted by the Trump administration. The rates, designed to protect internal production, have instead increased the supply costs and made difficult for companies to plan new expansions. Uncertainty weighs on investments, slows down growth plans and translates into staff cuts.
The most emblematic case is that of John Deere, giant of agricultural machinery. The company has estimated in 300 million dollars the additional costs related to duties in only 2025, a figure that, according to the forecasts, will double by the end of the year. Faced with a net profit of the third quarter down 26% compared to the same period of 2024, the group announced the dismissal of 238 employees in various factories between Illinois and Iowa.
