Why 600,000 People Lost Their Jobs in 30 Days (What Changed in 2026)
Fri Feb 06 2026
The 2026 job market just accelerated — fast. Over 600,000 jobs have been cut in the last 30 days alone.
From UPS cutting 30,000 roles, to Home Depot enforcing a five-day return to office while reducing headcount, to the UK Treasury offering six-figure exit packages, this is no longer just a tech story. Layoffs are spreading across logistics, retail, finance, and the public sector.
In this episode of Espresso, I break down what’s really happening beneath the headlines — and whether this is a recession, a correction, or a structural reinvention of corporate work in 2026.
If you work in a corporate, professional, or knowledge-based role, this episode matters.
Why 600,000 jobs disappeared in just 30 days
How Return-to-Office mandates are quietly being used as a layoff tool
Why UPS is cutting volume to protect margins — and what automation means for back-office roles
What the UK Treasury’s £100,000 buyouts signal about public-sector efficiency
What you can do now to protect and future-proof your career
This isn’t about panic — it’s about pattern recognition.The hiring market is changing fast, leverage is shifting back to employers, and adaptability matters more than ever.
The takeaway:Don’t wait for a layoff. Audit your role, strengthen your human skills, use AI tools intensely, and take control of what you can control in 2026.
🔗 Sources referenced:
Business Insider – Home Depot layoffs & RTO mandate
Financial Times – UK Treasury exit packages
UPS corporate restructuring announcements
👨🏻💼 Connect with Lewis Maleh🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmaleh
🌍 About Bentley Lewishttps://bentleylewis.com/
➡️ Follow Us🔗 All socials: https://linktr.ee/BentleyLewis
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The 2026 job market just accelerated — fast. Over 600,000 jobs have been cut in the last 30 days alone. From UPS cutting 30,000 roles, to Home Depot enforcing a five-day return to office while reducing headcount, to the UK Treasury offering six-figure exit packages, this is no longer just a tech story. Layoffs are spreading across logistics, retail, finance, and the public sector. In this episode of Espresso, I break down what’s really happening beneath the headlines — and whether this is a recession, a correction, or a structural reinvention of corporate work in 2026. If you work in a corporate, professional, or knowledge-based role, this episode matters. Why 600,000 jobs disappeared in just 30 days How Return-to-Office mandates are quietly being used as a layoff tool Why UPS is cutting volume to protect margins — and what automation means for back-office roles What the UK Treasury’s £100,000 buyouts signal about public-sector efficiency What you can do now to protect and future-proof your career This isn’t about panic — it’s about pattern recognition.The hiring market is changing fast, leverage is shifting back to employers, and adaptability matters more than ever. The takeaway:Don’t wait for a layoff. Audit your role, strengthen your human skills, use AI tools intensely, and take control of what you can control in 2026. 🔗 Sources referenced: Business Insider – Home Depot layoffs & RTO mandate Financial Times – UK Treasury exit packages UPS corporate restructuring announcements 👨🏻💼 Connect with Lewis Maleh🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmaleh 🌍 About Bentley Lewishttps://bentleylewis.com/ ➡️ Follow Us🔗 All socials: https://linktr.ee/BentleyLewis