As manufacturers continue to navigate an uncertain operating environment amid the Trump administration's tariff policies, several companies turned to layoffs to cut costs.
The job cuts occurred even as President Donald Trump remains adamant that tariffs will usher in a new era of U.S. manufacturing and spur companies to onshore production to the United States.
The Institute for Supply Management’s May Purchasing Managers’ Index showed the industry in contraction last month as production remains muted and manufacturers run through much of the dwindling inventory they had ordered ahead of tariffs. More manufactures turned to layoffs as the primary measure to reduce headcount as near-term demand remains uncertain, according to ISM.
Here are some of the major layoffs announced or confirmed in May.
Nissan to slash 20,000 jobs over two years
Nissan Motor Co. unveiled plans for massive job cuts last month, announcing 20,000 layoffs around the globe. The automaker will also close seven plants as part of the cost-cutting plan.
The job cuts will take place by fiscal year 2027, according to the company. Nissan provided no details on which plants would be shuttered, but said impacted job functions would include direct and indirect roles and contractual positions in manufacturing, administrative, sales and research and development.
The company also aims to streamline plant operations and cut capital expenses as it works to regain profitability by FY2026.
Bridgestone confirms plans to lay off 658 workers in Tennessee
Tire manufacturer Bridgestone Americas confirmed plans to lay off 658 workers in La Vergne, Tennessee, beginning July 31. The company announced plans to shutter the La Vergne factory in January as it shifts operations to another plant in Morrison, Tennessee.
Bridgestone cited the factory's age and high output costs as reasons for the closure. The company has undergone multiple rounds of layoffs or other staff reductions over the past year — Bridgestone laid off 118 workers in Des Moines, Iowa last summer, and also offered buyouts to workers at the plant in January amid falling tractor demand.
Serta to lay off 180 in California
Mattress maker Serta Simmons Bedding plans to lay off 180 workers from its factory in Moreno Valley, California, according to a May 6 Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification. The layoffs will begin July 5, according to the notice.
Serta operates 18 manufacturing plants across the U.S. and Canada as one of the country's largest bedding manufacturers. After filing for bankruptcy in 2023, the company has named several new executive leaders as part of a turnaround plan. Serta has opened at least one new factory since then, a 500,000-square-foot factory in Wisconsin.
Chemical manufacturer Ineos to lay off 82 in Ohio
Chemical manufacturer Ineos is laying off 82 workers in Ohio as it closes its Addyston plant in the southwestern region of the state. The company plans to cut workers across multiple rounds of layoffs between this August and March 2026, according to a WARN notice.
The company first announced plans to close the plant, which produces the engineering plastic acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, last October. Ineos cited increasing competition, particularly from foreign imports, as contributing to the decision.
“After a thorough analysis, we concluded that the substantial investment needed to continue operations and achieve profitable cost competitiveness makes this site no longer economical," Steve Harrington, CEO of Ineos Styrolution and Ineos ABS, said in an October statement.
Lacroix Electronics to cut 115 in Michigan
Electrical equipment manufacturer Lacroix Electronics plans to shutter its sole U.S. facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan, laying off 115 workers, according to a May 15 WARN notice.
The company noted that while it is "actively seeking investment to continue its operations in Grand Rapids," the contract manufacturer will begin layoffs this summer, with the final job cuts occurring by the end of the year.
Lacroix operates five other plants across Poland, Germany, France, Tunisia and Mexico. The Michigan plant was established in 1980, servicing automotive, industrial and healthcare clients.
