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U.S. layoffs in 2026 are down nearly 40% from last year, labor data shows
Employers announced 573,195 cuts through September, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said, while planned hiring rose 3% to 210,612 workers.
- U.S. employers announced 43,281 job cuts in September, down 20% from a year earlier and the lowest September total since 2022, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.
- Employers face high energy costs, an uncertain war in Iran, and interest rate hikes that make hiring more expensive, prompting what Andy Challenger, the firm's chief revenue officer, called a 'very cautious approach.'
- Technology led all industries with 10,799 announced cuts, up 77% from August, while Spirit Halloween and Michaels announced 62,000 combined seasonal positions, down sharply from 100,800 last year.
- Hiring announcements for September fell 23% to 90,787, the lowest in fifteen years, though initial jobless claims declined to 197,000, suggesting companies avoid layoffs despite muted hiring.
- Year-to-Date job cuts total 573,195, down 39% from 2025, even as artificial intelligence remains the leading driver of staff reductions, accounting for roughly 21% of all dismissals this year.
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US Companies Announce Fewest Job Cuts for a September Since 2022
·New York, United States
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September Job Cuts Fall With Hiring Plans Up, Says Challenger
Third quarter layoff plans totaled 129,591, down 43% from the 226,242 layoff plans in Q2 2026, and down 36% from the 202,118 layoff plans announced in the same quarter of last year. That's the latest jobs look courtesy of Chicago-based Challenger Gray & Christmas.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left0Leaning Right1Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Center
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources are Center
80% Center
C 80%
R 20%
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