Mass layoffs: because some companies did not make good use of investor's money. So now they have to recalibrate their expenses (and the easiest way to do so is

Mass layoffs: because some companies did not make good use of investor's money. So now they have to recalibrate their expenses (and the easiest way to do so is by firing people). Labour shortage: some companies did make good use of investor's money. They keep getting money from them, and what do you do with money? Hire more people, of course. But, as you probably should know the "working age" population is shrinking over the years (inverted population pyramid). It may not be so obvious to you, but in a macro-scale that's what first world countries are experimenting right now.