Powell’s Books Reduces Staff Amid Rising Costs and Post-Pandemic Challenges

Portland’s beloved independent bookstore, Powell’s Books, has confirmed another round of staff layoffs as it continues to navigate financial pressures in a challenging retail environment.

According to Oregon Live, the company has let go of 13 employees in its latest workforce reduction, bringing the total number of layoffs to more than two dozen over the past four months. The affected positions spanned several departments, though Powell’s did not specify which areas were impacted.

In a statement released earlier this week, Powell’s explained that the decision was driven by economic realities rather than performance: “As with many businesses right now, we’re seeing expenses rise faster than sales,” the company said. “This has been an ongoing challenge since the pandemic, and while we’ve taken many steps to grow revenue and control costs, this most recent action was an unfortunate but necessary step to help ensure the long-term stability of Powell’s Books.”

The statement emphasized that Powell’s is committed to remaining a cornerstone of Portland’s literary and cultural community and that there are currently no additional staffing changes planned.

The bookstore—long hailed as a literary landmark and tourist destination—has faced the same post-pandemic headwinds troubling many independent retailers, including higher operating costs, shifting consumer behaviors, and tightening profit margins.

Even as Powell’s continues to adapt with expanded online sales and community programming, the latest layoffs underscore the difficult balancing act between preserving jobs and sustaining one of the nation’s most iconic bookstores.