Kuehne + Nagel expects around 20,000 job cuts

Kuehne + Nagel may have to reduce its 83,000-strong workforce by 20-25% as it looks to navigate its way through the economic crisis associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The freight forwarder’s controlling shareholder Klaus-Michael Kuehne told German newspaper Die Welt that warehouse workers are the most likely staff to be affected.

Cuts are particularly likely in locations such as the US where, unlike in some European countries, there is no system of short-time working to fall back on to prevent widespread layoffs, he added.