Overview
- U.S. employers announced 153,074 job cuts in October 2025, the highest for any October since 2003 and up 183% from September, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
- Technology companies reported 33,281 cuts in October and 141,159 year to date, and Challenger said displaced workers are finding it harder to quickly land new roles.
- Amazon eliminated about 14,000 corporate positions across departments, describing the move as removing layers and shifting resources to key investments including AI.
- Chegg is cutting 388 roles, roughly 45% of its workforce, citing competition from generative AI products and estimating $15 million to $19 million in related costs in a securities filing.
- Companies increasingly point to automation, with Salesforce saying it cut 4,000 support jobs and that AI can handle about half its work, while researchers warn some firms may be using AI as a scapegoat for broader restructuring.