Back in 2017, AT&T had a workforce of 280,000, but by early 2025, that number had plummeted to 141,000. Similarly, Verizon reported fewer than 100,000 employees by the end of 2024, having cut 32,600 jobs in the prior four years, despite an increase in annual revenues by $6.5 billion. Now, UScellular finds itself in a challenging situation as it notifies regulators of layoffs linked to T-Mobile’s acquisition plans for much of its operations. Media reports from Missouri suggest that all 4,100 employees could be affected, though a WARN filing submitted by the company does not specify the exact number of job losses.
WARN filings are mandatory notices companies must provide to state regulators at least 60 days prior to significant layoffs or facility closures. Layoffs at UScellular are slated to commence on June 2 and are expected to impact several call centers. As of February, the company employed around 4,100 people, but no details have been released on how many will be laid off. Based in Chicago, UScellular is the largest regional wireless carrier in the U.S., serving approximately 4.1 million postpaid and 400,000 prepaid customers across 21 states.
With no WARN notices filed this year by telecom companies in Illinois, UScellular representatives indicated that T-Mobile has not yet made final staffing decisions but aims to offer jobs to a majority of affected UScellular employees. The timing of these layoffs stands out, occurring before the official close of the $4.4 billion deal with T-Mobile, which hopes to finalize the transaction by mid-2025, pending regulatory reviews. UScellular has faced increasing difficulties in recent years, with larger carriers like T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T expanding their market presence. Interest in UScellular’s remaining assets has emerged following the T-Mobile acquisition announcement, although many potential deals are contingent on the sale’s successful completion.
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) has expressed concerns regarding the merger’s potential impact on local labor markets, while the FCC continues to review the transaction and has sought additional information. Historically, T-Mobile had previously assured that it would not cut jobs during its 2020 merger with Sprint but later clarified that its commitment only pertained to headcount levels two years after the merger, not immediately afterward. Job cuts have become increasingly prevalent in the U.S. wireless industry, as evidenced by AT&T and Verizon’s combined workforce shrinking by 6% just last year.