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U.S. October Layoff Announcements Hit 22-Year High, Led by Tech and Warehousing

With official jobs data on hold, private trackers tie the surge to AI-driven restructuring.

The Amazon headquarters in Seattle on October 28. Major companies like Amazon and Target have announced major layoffs in recent months, with several of them citing AI.
People wait in a line outside a newly reopened career center for in-person appointments in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., April 15, 2021. REUTERS/Amira Karaoud
Job seekers speak with potential employers at a City of Boston Neighborhood Career Fair on May Day in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., May 1, 2017. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/ File Photo

Overview

  • Employers announced 153,074 cuts in October, the highest October total since 2003, Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported.
  • Announced cuts have reached about 1.1 million so far in 2025, the most through October since 2020, with warehousing (47,878) and technology (33,281) leading last month.
  • Cost-cutting was the top stated reason for October reductions, while AI was cited in 31,039 cuts, reflecting rapid adoption and efficiency drives.
  • Hiring signals remain soft, with planned hires down 35% year to date and seasonal plans at the lowest level since tracking began in 2012.
  • Contrasting indicators persist: ADP estimated a private-sector gain of 42,000 jobs in October, and economists caution that announced cuts may not fully translate into immediate U.S. job losses.