United Parcel Service has announced that it has eliminated approximately 48,000 jobs in the first nine months of 2025 alone. The cuts, which represent nearly 10% of the company’s global workforce, are part of an aggressive turnaround strategy dubbed the “most significant strategic shift in our company’s history,” according to CEO Carol Tome. As brown trucks continue to rumble through neighborhoods delivering holiday packages, the news serves as a sobering reminder of the human cost behind corporate efficiency drives.
Job Cuts By The Numbers
- 34,000 operational roles: Primarily affecting drivers, warehouse workers, and front-line logistics staff. About 70% of the total cuts targeted these positions, with many stemming from voluntary buyouts for full-time drivers—90% of whom exited by August 31.
- 14,000 management positions: Part of a broader “Fit to Serve” initiative to flatten the organizational structure, reducing management headcount by nearly 18% from 78,000 at the end of 2024.
Despite the job cuts, UPS reported a profitable quarter, earning $1.31 billion on $21.4 billion in revenue. The logistics company exceeded Wall Street’s expectations and sent its shares up by over 7% in trading. However, revenue dipped slightly from the prior year, reflecting ongoing volume pressures.
For investors, the strategy pays off: UPS projects Q4 revenue of $24 billion and an 11-11.5% operating margin, positioning it for holiday demand. Yet, as Rep. Ro Khanna noted on X, these layoffs signal a need for an “AI New Deal” to retrain workers displaced by tech.