Earnings Season Chatter Confirms AI-Driven Workforce Disruptions Keep Soaring

With nearly all S&P 500 companies now reported, Goldman analysts combed through third-quarter results, earnings calls, and related data and found an uptick in layoff discussions. The ongoing softening in the labor market points to a growing share of layoffs now linked to AI (though still a minority).

Goldman analyst Ronnie Walker outlined the key takeaways from this past earnings season about the labor market: rising layoffs, the growing influence of AI on workforce strategies, and easing wage pressures all signal a shifting labor landscape.