Dow Inc., based in Michigan, will cut 4,500 jobs as part of its "Transform to Outperform" plan, aiming to add at least $2 billion to operational EBITDA after a previous $1 billion cost-saving goal. Houston operations are expected to be affected. The company said the changes are meant to "radically simplify the Company's operating model, streamline its processes, reset its cost structure and modernize how it serves customers." Severance costs are estimated at $600 million to $800 million, part of $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion in total one-time restructuring costs, according to KHOU.
Dow Inc.’s shares fell 2% before the market opened following a series of workforce reductions, including 1,500 global job cuts in January 2025 and the closure of three European plants affecting 800 employees, as the company shifts toward advanced technology integration. Other major firms, like Amazon, UPS, and Pinterest, have also cut jobs, citing factors such as AI, amid what economists call a "no-hire, no fire" stall in the job market, as reported by CW39.
Last month, only 50,000 jobs were added nationwide, showing rising workforce tensions as Americans worry about limited opportunities. Companies are facing higher operational costs and external pressures, such as tariffs and changing consumer spending, prompting a redirection of investments toward technology and AI, often requiring major restructuring and workforce reductions.
