Dacharlie/iStock via Getty Images U.S.-based employers announced 48,307 job cuts in February, down 55% from January's level and down 72% from the cuts announced in February 2025, outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said on Thursday. During the first two months of 2026, employers disclosed 156,742 job cuts, the lowest January-to-February total since 2022. It's the ...
Dacharlie/iStock via Getty Images U.S.-based employers announced 48,307 job cuts in February, down 55% from January's level and down 72% from the cuts announced in February 2025, outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said on Thursday. During the first two months of 2026, employers disclosed 156,742 job cuts, the lowest January-to-February total since 2022. It's the fifth-highest January-February total since 2009. "February’s dip is a nice reprieve from the elevated job cut plans to start the year," said Andy Challenger, chief revenue officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas. "With U.S. involvement in a growing war in Iran, the end of Q1 may bring more layoff plans as companies tighten belts amid uncertainty and higher costs." Hiring plans, though, rose last month to 12,755, up 140% from January's level. Still, that's down 63% from the same month a year ago, and the first two months of the year brought reduced hiring plans compared with the same period in 2025; employers announced plans to hire 18,061, down 56% from the January-February 2025 period. The technology sector continued to figure prominently in the cuts. For February, the sector announced 11,039 job cuts, bringing its year-to-date total to 33,330, up 51% Y/Y. "Tech is responding to a number of pressures right now," Challenger said. "AI is the big story, but there are also global regulatory concerns, a slowdown in digital advertising driven by tariffs and economic uncertainty, and higher costs to both employ workers and access funding, forcing companies to make difficult decisions." Education reported 5,417 job cuts in February and 6,209 YTD, a 96% jump from those announced in February 2025. Industrial and manufacturing cut 4,109 jobs in February, or 5,685 YTD, a 143% increase from a year ago. On a year-to-date basis, the most cuts came from healthcare and health products manufacturers, including hospitals, which announced 19,228 job cuts, the highest January-February total si...