World’s largest food company is cutting 16,000 jobs due partly to automation

🎯 Impact Sentiment: Concerning

📋 Summary

• Nestlé plans to cut around 16,000 jobs globally over the next two years, targeting mainly white-collar positions as part of cost-cutting and increased automation.
• About 12,000 office roles and 4,000 manufacturing or supply chain jobs will be eliminated, amounting to almost 6% of the total workforce.
• The move is driven by operational efficiency goals and growing reliance on automation and AI, amid leadership shake-up and continued market uncertainty.
• Despite the layoffs, Nestlé's stock surged and the company reported modest sales growth, while maintaining investments for the medium term.

💡 JR Insights

• 💼 Implication: Automation and AI are now driving major headcount cuts, even at stable blue-chip firms like Nestlé. White-collar professionals—once considered safe—are now increasingly at risk of redundancy when companies pursue efficiency.
• 🚨 Risk: Relying on specialized knowledge or routine office work is becoming riskier. Roles that don't adapt to new tech or add unique value could be next on the chopping block, especially during leadership changes or cost-cutting cycles.
• ✨ Takeaway: Nobody is immune from digital disruption. If your work can be automated, start building skills in areas tech can't easily touch: strategic thinking, creativity, managing change—or the tech itself. Stay visible, flexible, and proactive about your career—or risk being blindsided.