Factbox: European companies cut jobs as economy sputters

(Reuters) – The highest inflation for decades and the impact of war in Ukraine have forced companies across Europe into layoffs or hiring freezes.

Here are some of the companies that have announced cuts since July:

AUTOS

* AUTOLIV: the Swedish airbag and seatbelt maker on Oct. 30 said it would to lay off 320 employees in France as part of a plan to cut around 8,000 jobs.

* BOSCH: the automotive supplier on Jan. 18 said it wanted to cut 1,200 jobs in its software development division by the end of 2026. It said in December it needed to cut up to 1,500 jobs at two German sites by 2025.

* CONTINENTAL: the automotive parts supplier said on Nov. 13 it would cut thousands of jobs in its automotive unit worldwide.

* JOHNSON MATTHEY: the British autocatalyst maker said on Nov. 22 it would cut about 600 jobs in support functions.

* MICHELIN: the French tyre maker on Nov. 28 said it would cease operations at three sites in Germany by end-2025, affecting 1,532 jobs.

* STELLANTIS: the carmaker said on Jan. 15 it would temporarily lay off 2,500 workers in Italy.

* VOLKSWAGEN: the German automaker said on Oct. 27 it intends to cut 2,000 jobs at its software unit Cariad. It also plans to slash administrative staff costs at the VW brand through partial and early retirement.

BANKS

* BANCO BPM: the Italian bank on Dec. 12 said it would lay off 1,600 employees, while pledging to hire 800 young people.

* BARCLAYS: the lender slashed around 5,000 jobs in 2023, most of them in its support unit. In November, employee union Unite said the bank was putting 900 jobs at risk of redundancy in its British business.

* BNP PARIBAS BANK POLSKA: the Polish bank said on Dec. 13 it had agreed with unions on lay-offs of no more than 800 employees in 2024-2026.

* METRO BANK: the British lender said on Nov. 30 it planned to lay off 20% of its headcount.

* UBS: the biggest Swiss bank said in August it would axe 3,000 jobs in Switzerland following its takeover of Credit Suisse.

FOOD, RETAIL AND CONSUMER GOODS

* ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV: the brewer will lay off hundreds of corporate staff in the U.S., CNN reported in July.

* ELECTROLUX: the Swedish home appliances maker on Oct. 27 said actions aimed at stepping up cost reductions and simplifying the organisation would affect 3,000 jobs.

* HALEON: the Sensodyne toothpaste-maker is looking to cut hundreds of jobs in Britain and worldwide, the Guardian reported in July.

* HUSQVARNA: the Swedish garden equipment and tools maker said on Oct. 20 it would cut about 300 positions, adding to the 1,000 job reduction plan announced in October 2022.

INDUSTRIALS AND ENGINEERING

* ALSTOM: the French train maker said on Nov. 15 it aimed to cut about 1,500 staff to help meet its mid-term targets.

* TATA STEEL: the Dutch division of the Indian steel maker said on Nov. 13 it would cut around 800 jobs at its IJmuiden plant to increase profitability.

TECH

* IG GROUP: the British online trading platform said on Oct. 31 it would cut 10% of its headcount as part of cost-saving measures.

* NOKIA: the Finnish telecom gear group said on Oct. 19 it would cut up to 14,000 jobs as part of a new cost savings plan.

* TELEFONICA: the telecom operator on Jan. 3 reached a deal with unions to lay off up to 3,421 employees in Spain by 2026.

* VIRGIN MEDIA: the British mobile operator plans to lay off 2,000 employees, the Telegraph reported in July.

OTHER

* A.P. MOELLER-MAERSK: the Danish shipping group said on Nov. 3 it would cut 10,000 jobs as it battles with lower freight rates and subdued demand.

* AIR LIQUIDE: the industrial gases firm in July said it might reduce its French workforce by 430 net positions.

* BAYER: the German drugmaker said on Jan. 17 it had agreed with shop stewards a significant reduction in managerial jobs to be completed by the end of 2025, but said it could not provide a specific number of positions affected.

* CAPITA: the British outsourcing firm said on Nov. 21 it would cut about 900 jobs globally.

* DELIVERY HERO: the online takeaway food company said on Dec. 18 it would close tech hubs in Turkey and Taiwan and adjust the headcount at its Berlin headquarters, but did not say how many employees would be affected. It said it had reduced the workforce of its headquarters and global service roles by around 13% in 2023.

* NESTE: the Finnish oil refiner and biofuel producer said on Nov. 1 it planned to shed 400 jobs globally to prepare for increasing competition in renewable fuels.

* LANXESS: the speciality chemicals maker said on Oct. 18 it planned to cut 870 jobs worldwide.

* ROLLS-ROYCE: the British airplane engine maker said on Oct. 17 it would cut up to 2,500 jobs as its new CEO seeks to build a more efficient business.

* SHELL: the oil major has begun cutting jobs beyond the previously announced 15% reduction in its low-carbon division, Bloomberg News reported on Dec. 21.

* UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP: the record label said on Jan. 12 it will lay off some employees in 2024, but did not comment on the exact number. Bloomberg News reported UMG might cut hundreds of jobs in Q1, mostly in its recorded music division.

Source: Regulatory filings, Reuters stories and company websites

(Compiled by Agata Rybska, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Boleslaw Lasocki, Laura Lenkiewicz and Victor Goury-Laffont in Gdansk; editing by Jason Neely, Mark Potter and Milla Nissi)