Overview
- Announced job cuts reached about 1.099 million through October, the highest year‑to‑date total since 2020, with Challenger identifying the 'DOGE' federal downsizing as 2025’s leading driver.
- Employers cited cost‑cutting for 50,437 October reductions and artificial intelligence for 31,039, bringing AI‑linked cuts to 48,414 so far this year.
- Warehousing led October with 47,878 planned cuts and technology followed with 33,281, reflecting automation, overcapacity, and restructuring pressures.
- Planned hiring fell to 488,077 through October, down 35% from a year earlier and the weakest year‑to‑date level since 2011, pointing to a softer pipeline for job seekers.
- Private indicators are sending mixed signals, as ADP reported a gain of 42,000 private‑sector jobs in October even as Challenger’s layoff tally spiked.