Companies unexpectedly cut 301,000 jobs in January as omicron slams jobs market, ADP says

[nitpicker]

7. My SWAG

As daily cases and deaths rose in January, and more conferences offered on-line options or went virtual, there was less need for check-in staff. And associated jobs.

I think fewer people are willing to go to restaurants now that the holidays are passed, unless it's an office retirement.

And I've noticed that some stores ((e.g. the local Best Buy)) have shifted from 10-9 to 11-7, so they need only one shift. Even one grocery store has moved from 24-hour operations to 6 am-9 pm.