Cleveland-Cliffs Cuts 500 in Hamilton; Sherwin-Williams Eliminates 40
Two Materials-sector workforce reductions Oct. 21–22, 2026: Cleveland-Cliffs to lay off 500 in Hamilton, Sherwin-Williams cuts 40 at its global HQ.
Cleveland-Cliffs and Sherwin-Williams Report Materials Layoffs (Oct. 21–22, 2026)
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. and The Sherwin-Williams Company reported workforce reductions in the Materials sector during Oct. 21–22, 2026. The actions together affect 540 employees across an Ontario steel operation and Sherwin-Williams’s global headquarters.
Reported layoffs
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Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. — 500 employees, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. announced plans to lay off 500 workers and to shut down part of its Hamilton, Ontario operation, according to reporting by the Toronto Star, thecanadianpressnews.ca and BNN Bloomberg. The company’s decision prompted federal authorities to threaten legal action under the Investment Canada Act over alleged breaches of commitments to protect Canadian jobs, the reports said. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Carney criticized the move and, per the coverage, federal and provincial leaders unveiled nearly $9 billion in aid for Ontario’s steel and auto sectors — including a $5 billion fund to support mill upgrades and domestic production — amid the dispute. The news outlets also reported that Cleveland-Cliffs’s chief executive disputed the government’s claims.
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The Sherwin-Williams Company — 40 employees, global headquarters
The Sherwin-Williams Company eliminated about 40 positions at its global headquarters, with the reduction dated Oct. 20, 2026, according to AD HOC NEWS. The report noted the roles were in select areas of the company and that a company spokesperson said the layoffs were not related to employee performance. AD HOC NEWS also reported the company had required office staff to return to in-person work five days a week since January 2026.
Summary
Two separate workforce reductions in the Materials sector were reported between Oct. 21 and Oct. 22, 2026, affecting a combined 540 employees. The Cleveland-Cliffs action in Hamilton drew governmental scrutiny and accompanying public aid measures reported by Canadian outlets, while Sherwin-Williams reported a smaller headquarters reduction reported by AD HOC NEWS.
No additional layoffs in the Materials sector for these dates were included in the supplied records.