For nearly a year now, tariffs have been causing a strategic paradox for global supply chains. Our industry must build long-term resilience within an environment of total unpredictability — and try to maintain optimism while constantly bracing for severe disruption. ASCM has been following along with our tariff tracker, documenting these trade policies and what they mean for supply chain organizations around the world. Now, brand new research by ASCM and CNBC reveals a stark conclusion: The tariffs have levied a significant toll on corporate stability, workforce growth and broader economic sentiment.
In the study, 32% of supply chain managers report layoffs at their companies, amid a hiring recession that is typified by rising long-term unemployment and anemic job creation. In fact, employers cut more than 1.2 million supply chain jobs in 2025, a 58% increase over the previous year. This also includes a staggering 317% year-over-year increase in job cuts in warehousing — a spike also driven by the desire to automate repetitive tasks with AI and robotics.
Our research shows that much of the downsizing is directly attributed to lack of predictability since the tariff roller coaster began. A significant 65% of ASCM-CNBC survey respondents report at least a 10-15% increase in costs in 2025, which is reshaping budgets, strategy and business viability. An additional 34% of those surveyed say their costs increased by more than 15%.
The White House has promised refunds to businesses for what they’ve spent on tariffs, though the matter is still being reviewed by the Supreme Court. “More than 1,000 businesses, including big names like Costco, Revlon and Goodyear, have already sued the Trump Administration. Companies paid some $133.5 billion in International Emergency Economic Powers Act-based tariffs through December 14,” Forbes reports. However, even if some money is returned, it will never be enough to make up for the time spent on paperwork, costs for customs bonds, deficit in interest-bearing accounts and even interest paid to predatory lenders, CNBC continues. That money is just a “tax dragging down the supply chain.”
As I told the outlet: “Navigating the tariffs is an administrative burden. We’re spending a huge amount of time tracking rule changes, validating codes and trying to find the most effective way to operate in the short term without a long-term plan. ... This isn’t just about resilience and reacting to a court ruling; it’s about having certainty in the U.S. economy and what kind of pricing models we can plan on.”
Upskilling as a sign of loyalty
Beyond the personal toll, workforce reductions also strip supply chains of vital institutional wisdom. As I said to CNBC, you cannot resource or requalify staff overnight; losing specialized knowledge creates a long-term deficit. Fortunately, ASCM supports necessary upskilling and reskilling for individuals and teams with the industry’s best educational resources, including both core certifications and specialized certificates. Get started today, and give your workforce the confidence to navigate the uncertainties ahead with professional development from ASCM.
