US employers announced 43,281 job cuts in September, a 18% decline from August and the lowest total for that month since 2022, based on data from Challenger Gray. Layoffs for the year to date have fallen 39% compared to the same period in 2025.

Technology sector job cuts rose 77% month over month to 10,799 in September, up from 6,103 in August, with AI as the most cited reason for cuts in 2026. Hiring announcements were the weakest for any September since 2011, with 90,787 positions announced.