The Port of Los Angeles has seen a significant decline in job opportunities due to President Trump’s tariffs, with nearly half of longshoremen who support operations at the port going without work over the last two weeks. According to Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, the port processed 25% less cargo than forecast for the month of May.
The decrease in cargo volume has had a ripple effect on the local economy, with broader implications for logistics and businesses that rely on imported goods. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which are the largest in the country, provide jobs for thousands of dockworkers, heavy equipment operators, and truck drivers.
With the decline in shipping, business owners across Los Angeles are bracing for higher prices as Trump imposes steep taxes on products from several countries. Union officials have warned that the loss of cargo will have an impact on work opportunities not just for longshoremen but also for other port workers, such as truck drivers and warehouse workers.
The slowdown in activity at the ports has also spread into surrounding communities, with small businesses and restaurants in the harbor area reporting a decline in customer patronage. The Port of Los Angeles is critical to the regional economy, and conditions are not expected to improve anytime soon.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-06-07/port-of-los-angeles-job-orders-down-by-half