Jobs at the Port of Los Angeles, the largest and busiest port in the United States, have been reduced by half as ongoing tariff tensions impact trade with the Asia-Pacific region.
Over the past 25 work shifts, only 733 jobs were available for 1,575 longshore workers seeking employment, according to the Los Angeles Times, citing Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. The port processed 25 percent less cargo than anticipated for May.
“They haven’t been laid off, but they’re not working nearly as much as they did previously,” Seroka explained. “Since the tariffs went into place, and in May specifically, we’ve really seen the work decline significantly.”
The decrease in job opportunities is attributed to lower cargo volumes moving through the port, a direct consequence of the trade disputes affecting international commerce.
The Port of Los Angeles has held the title of the largest container port in the United States every year since 2000. In California alone, nearly one million jobs are connected to trade through the port, highlighting the significant impact of these reductions on the local economy and workforce.
