People often get hyper-focused on a single cause, but there is a whole range of forces driving a sharp decline in jobs. All of this is visible, yet we are marching toward an economic crisis of our own making. I believe the best term for this is "gray rhino".

* Tariffs and Trade Uncertainty – Elevated tariffs and rapidly shifting trade policies are raising costs for manufacturers and discouraging hiring and investment (Investopedia; Atlanta Fed survey; CBO analyses).

* Automation and AI Displacement – Automation and AI, especially in low-skill occupations, are reducing new job creation and wages for some workers (academic studies in arXiv and PMC).

* Restrictive Immigration Policies – Tightened immigration and visa processes are straining labor supply, particularly in sectors that rely on immigrant workers (Axios, 2025 labor coverage).

* Small Business Strain from Economic Pressure – Tariff-related uncertainty is leading small businesses to slow hiring or lay off employees (Joint Economic Committee report, 2025).

* Offshoring and Outsourcing Trends – Technological advances are enabling offshoring and automation, substituting domestic labor with remote or machine-based alternatives (academic research in World Development, 2024).

▲

gruez 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

Is this AI generated? Besides the em-dashes, I don't think anyone cites "Investopedia" as a source (not the specific entity, but in that format), or makes citations in (source, year) format.

▲

Apes 2 days ago | parent [-]

I created the list and had an LLM review it to ensure I wasn't just pulling stuff out of thin air. Looks like it switched my hyphens for em-dashes.

▲

kelipso 2 days ago | parent [-]

Isn’t it usually the opposite you are supposed to do? LLM output and make sure it is factual because LLMs cannot tell what is factual or not?

I can’t even get myself to read what you “wrote” because of the LLM tinge though lol.

▲

Apes 2 days ago | parent [-]

It seems odd that you're fixated on the tool used rather than the content itself. Do you refuse to wear clothes because a machine made them?

	▲	kentm 2 days ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Machines don’t typically make clothes that are not wearable. An LLM will produce content that is incorrect.
	▲	kelipso 2 days ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		Because I don’t have to waste my valuable time and mental energy to check the knitting before I wear them. Hey I review and use LLM code slop as much as the next programmer, and I use it for lots of topics too, but I am not spending a second on reviewing LLM slop output on HN comments. Honestly it’s somewhat insulting that you expect me to.
	▲	kotaKat 2 days ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		No, I refuse to read arrogant slop that someone had to shove through a machine because they can’t think or write for themselves anymore.

▲

woobar 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> but there is a whole range of forces driving a sharp decline in jobs

Technically, there is no decline in jobs. There were more jobs as of March 2025 than a year before. Less than reported earlier, but the overall number of jobs is still growing.

	▲	JumpCrisscross 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		> there is no decline in jobs. There were more jobs as of March 2025 than a year before. Less than reported earlier, but the overall number of jobs is still growing Correct [1]. [1] https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PAYEMS

▲

lgleason 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I don't think tariffs affected the numbers for the entire year that drastically since Trump had only been in office for 2 months out of the entire years period that this was looking at.

	▲	mandeepj 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		> I don't think tariffs affected the numbers for the entire year Major policy or hiring gets slowed down during the election year, especially surrounding the voting month. Maybe that pace never picked up due to tariffs and other policy uncertainty?

▲

AlexandrB 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

> * Restrictive Immigration Policies – Tightened immigration and visa processes are straining labor supply, particularly in sectors that rely on immigrant workers (Axios, 2025 labor coverage).

I like how this is always framed as strained supply instead of upward pressure on wages, as if increasing wages is simply impossible and only supply matters. Then people look at graphs like this[1] and wonder: "What the heck is going on?"

[1] https://www.epi.org/productivity-pay-gap/