By Ricardo Lezama 
As DOGE nerds plow through government offices – sometimes with US Marshalls in tow – the effect of a waning jobs market is already being felt even before government employment reductions are factored into the count. The issue for many investors too is the constant whiplash from weird proposals regarding economic tariffs.
This week had the Department of Labor reveal February jobs numbers, and they were disappointing but not enough to justify FED reduction in interest rates. Many presume that this is Trump’s way to ensure a low interest rate scenario is reached which would prove favorable for equity holders – people who hold shares and have ties to the financial markets who would ride the wave of cheap loans flooding the market.
Investor and more importantly, consumer confidence, is diminishing as most Trump measures are inflationary by nature. In the corporate sector, hiring is diminishing and layoffs due to apprehension are increasing as a way to throttle potential issues due to economic woes.
The significant job cuts among federal employees, many are left questioning the long-term effects of such decisions, particularly from those who supported the leaders behind them. Recent comments from former President Donald Trump suggested that the termination of government jobs would not negatively impact employment numbers as these workers could simply transition to “high-paying manufacturing jobs.” This assertion, however, is meeting with skepticism from the workforce.
A user on social media posed a poignant question, reflecting on the plight of recently laid-off workers: “I wonder just how many of those people that he fired from those federal jobs voted for him… looking at jobs, wishing they hadn’t.”
An increasingly common scenario for sure.
— La Cartita News (@lacartita.com) March 7, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Critics have voiced their disdain for Trump’s comments, suggesting that the broader narrative surrounding job creation, especially in manufacturing, is overly simplistic and out of touch. One critical post noted, “Where are all these high paying manufacturing jobs coming from?” pointing to data that indicates the net negative impact of Trump’s tariffs on manufacturing roles.
On BlueSky, Cathy, a user from a historically industrial community, lamented, “It’s hard to get a job from government bureaucracy when everyone is getting fired.” Others echoed similar sentiments about the critical services provided by federal workers – from veterans’ care to postal services – emphasizing that the loss of skilled bureaucrats could have disastrous effects on public infrastructure.
Mixed Economy Just One Month In To Trump Presidency
While the U.S. economy recently reported the addition of 152,000 jobs, layoffs have been notable, especially in the tech sector, with mentions of job losses reaching up to 105,000 since January, leading to critiques on the handling of the workforce by current and former administrations. The consequences are dire, as reflected in statements from individuals like Nathan Hooven, a disabled Air Force veteran who lost his job and felt betrayed by a president he supported. On one hand, there is a rising sentiment among those affected bracing for potential breadlines, as pointed out in a heartfelt post, “Breadlines coming soon,” hinting at fears reminiscent of past economic downturns.
This discussion continues to play out nationally, with regional impacts being felt across different sectors, from manufacturing to technology. Economic experts are gathering insights to understand how these shifting dynamics will affect the labor market in the ongoing climate of job cuts and tariff debates.
The most striking thing about job numbers is that these have not factored in the federal job loss. The urgency has led to organizations like the American Geophysical Union (AGU) initiating campaigns to gather stories from federal scientists affected by job losses, showcasing the breadth of impact and rallying for legal action to reverse decisions affecting livelihoods. As discussions surrounding job creation and loss deepen, the frontline workers who have been affected are finding their voices in the larger discourse, urging for accountability and recognition of their contributions to the economy.