JPMorgan Chase & Co. announced plans to continue growing its workforce in 2023, even as many of its Wall Street peers enact job cuts amid economic uncertainty. The company sees hiring as a long-term investment that will position it for future growth.
JPMorgan Plans “Net Job Growth” This Year
Speaking at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland on January 17th, JPMorgan’s head of investment banking and vice chair Daniel Pinto stated that the firm plans to have “net job growth” in 2023 [1]. This indicates that while some roles may be eliminated, the total number of employees is expected to increase over the course of the year.
Pinto did not specify how many new hires the bank is targeting. However, he noted that the additions will focus on “strategic areas” including technology, quantitative research, and bankers focused on new economy sectors. He also reiterated the bank’s commitment to boosting diversity, stating “we want to continue to attract diverse talent.”
Other sources indicate that while hiring may slow in some areas like sales and trading, technology roles will see increased demand [2]. This aligns with JPMorgan’s long-term focus on technology and automation to drive efficiency gains.
Layoffs Hit Wall Street as Dealmaking Slows
JPMorgan’s hiring plans stand in contrast to recent layoffs enacted at many Wall Street firms in response to declining investment banking revenues. Economic uncertainty, high inflation, rising interest rates, and geopolitical tensions like the war in Ukraine led dealmaking to grind to a near halt in 2022 [3].
As the table below shows, several major banks have trimmed headcounts across sales, trading, equity research, and more as profits fell:
| Firm | Reported Job Cuts |
|---|---|
| Goldman Sachs | Over 3,000 |
| Morgan Stanley | 1,600 |
| Citigroup | Hundreds |
| Barclays | Hundreds |
| Credit Suisse | Thousands |
These layoffs represent cost-cutting measures aimed at boosting bottom lines amid the downturn. But JPMorgan views the weakness as temporary and plans to continue investing in strategic areas to drive long-term outperformance.
JPMorgan Sees Hiring as Long-Term Investment
Despite pockets of weakness, JPMorgan believes the overall economy remains healthy. The bank sees the breadth of its businesses as an advantage, allowing it to weather cyclical slowdowns [4].
The company also likely remembers lessons from the 2008 financial crisis, when competitor Bank of America enacted sweeping job cuts that later hampered growth during the recovery [5]. JPMorgan aims to avoid similar issues, viewing talent retention and development as a long-term priority.
Continued technology investment also supports remote work flexibility, allowing the bank to tap talent globally [6]. This can further aid hiring efforts and diversity goals.
As a result, while competitors reactively cut costs, JPMorgan remains confident in preparing for an eventual rebound in banking activity through selective but continued hiring. This proactive approach could allow JPMorgan to increase market share as conditions improve.
Outlook Remains Uncertain Heading Into 2023
However, the economic outlook does remain murky heading further into 2023. Persistently high inflation and the potential for recessions in both the US and Europe cloud visibility. If activity slows further or market losses mount, JPMorgan may need to revisit hiring plans.
For now though, JPMorgan’s net job growth strategy seems to signal confidence that the current slowdown will prove temporary. The bank looks to be playing the long-game – Viewing hiring as an investment that will pay dividends when markets eventually stabilize and dealmaking rebounds.
Whether this strategy pays off remains to be seen. But JPMorgan’s willingness to hire amid cutbacks elsewhere is a bold move in uncertain times. The bank sees the weakness as an opportunity to deepen talent investment and further cement its status as an industry leader.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
