US-based employers announced 45,849 job cuts in June 2026, the lowest since December 2025, down 53% from May and 4% lower than in the same month last year. The tech sector announced the most cuts (15,503), followed by services (4,296), food producers and manufacturers (3,955) and health care companies (2,761). "The pace of layoffs cooled considerably in June, similar to plans last June, and is typical for summer months. That said, the cuts we are seeing remain concentrated in technology, and AI continues to reshape how companies think about headcount", according to Andy Challenger from Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Through June, employers announced 443,604 job cuts, down 40% from 744,308 cuts announced in the first six months of 2025, led by tech (139,156). Meanwhile, employers announced plans to hire 10,933 workers in June, pushing the year-to-date total to 91,405 workers, 10% more than in the first half of 2025. source: Challenger, Gray and Christmas, Inc.

Challenger Job Cuts in the United States decreased to 45849 Persons in June from 97006 Persons in May of 2026. Challenger Job Cuts in the United States averaged 67150.34 Persons from 1994 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 671129.00 Persons in April of 2020 and a record low of 14875.00 Persons in November of 2021. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Challenger Job Cuts - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States Challenger Job Cuts - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

Challenger Job Cuts in the United States decreased to 45849 Persons in June from 97006 Persons in May of 2026. Challenger Job Cuts in the United States is expected to be 78000.00 Persons by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Challenger Job Cuts is projected to trend around 92000.00 Persons in 2027 and 103000.00 Persons in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-04 09:30 AM
Challenger Job Cuts
May 97.006K 83.387K 90.0K
2026-07-01 09:30 AM
Challenger Job Cuts
Jun 45.849K 97.006K 85K
2026-08-06 09:30 AM
Challenger Job Cuts
Jul 45.849K 59.0K


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
ADP Employment Change 98.00 122.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.30 0.30 percent Jun 2026
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.50 3.40 percent Jun 2026
Average Weekly Hours 34.30 34.30 Hours Jun 2026
Challenger Job Cuts 45849.00 97006.00 Persons Jun 2026
Continuing Jobless Claims 1814.00 1812.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Employed Persons 162264.00 162771.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Employment Cost Index 0.90 0.70 percent Mar 2026
Employment Cost - Benefits 1.20 0.80 percent Mar 2026
Employment Cost - Wages 0.80 0.70 percent Mar 2026
Employment Rate 59.00 59.20 percent Jun 2026
Full Time Employment 133659.00 134173.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Government Payrolls 8.00 32.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Challenger Hiring Plans 10933.00 19536.00 Persons Jun 2026
Initial Jobless Claims 215.00 216.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Job Layoffs and Discharges 1708.00 1667.00 Thousand May 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 7594.00 7585.00 Thousand May 2026
JOLTs Job Quits 3065.00 3043.00 Thousand May 2026
Job Quits Rate 1.90 1.90 Percent May 2026
Job Openings 7508.00 8160.00 Thousand May 2026
Jobless Claims 4-week Average 222.00 224.50 Thousand Jun 2026
Participation Rate 61.50 61.80 percent Jun 2026
Labour Costs 123.78 123.22 points Mar 2026
Long Term Unemployment Rate 1.14 1.17 percent Jun 2026
Manufacturing Payrolls 3.00 -2.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Minimum Wages 7.25 7.25 USD/Hour Dec 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 57.00 129.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 49.00 97.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Nonfarm Productivity 0.30 1.60 percent Mar 2026
Part Time Employment 28626.00 28679.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Population 342.28 340.97 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 119.40 119.35 points Mar 2026
Retirement Age Men 67.00 66.83 Years Dec 2026
Retirement Age Women 67.00 66.83 Years Dec 2026
U-6 Unemployment Rate 7.90 8.10 percent Jun 2026
Unemployed Persons 7094.00 7307.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.20 4.30 percent Jun 2026
Unit Labour Costs 1.80 2.10 percent Mar 2026
Wage Growth 3.82 3.53 percent May 2026
Wages 32.38 32.31 USD/Hour Jun 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 30.27 30.19 USD/Hour Jun 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 9.20 9.40 percent Jun 2026


United States Challenger Job Cuts
Challenger Job-Cut Report provides information on the number of announced corporate layoffs by industry and region.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
45849.00 97006.00 671129.00 14875.00 1994 - 2026 Persons Monthly
NSA

News Stream
US Job Cuts Fall to 6-Month Low
US-based employers announced 45,849 job cuts in June 2026, the lowest since December 2025, down 53% from May and 4% lower than in the same month last year. The tech sector announced the most cuts (15,503), followed by services (4,296), food producers and manufacturers (3,955) and health care companies (2,761). "The pace of layoffs cooled considerably in June, similar to plans last June, and is typical for summer months. That said, the cuts we are seeing remain concentrated in technology, and AI continues to reshape how companies think about headcount", according to Andy Challenger from Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Through June, employers announced 443,604 job cuts, down 40% from 744,308 cuts announced in the first six months of 2025, led by tech (139,156). Meanwhile, employers announced plans to hire 10,933 workers in June, pushing the year-to-date total to 91,405 workers, 10% more than in the first half of 2025.
2026-07-01
US Job Cuts Rise in May
US-based employers announced 97,006 job cuts in May 2026, the most since January, compared to 83,387 in April. It is the highest May total since 2020 and also marks the third straight month that cuts have risen. AI was the main reason for the cuts, leading for a third straight month. Technology announced 38,242 job cuts in May, the highest monthly total for the sector since August 2024. Transportation (6,909), services (6,288) and fintech (5,731) followed. “On top of the headline AI story, we’re seeing a sharp rise in cuts tied to acquisitions and mergers and a jump in bankruptcy-related losses, which tells me companies are restructuring aggressively as they reposition for an AI-driven economy,” said Andy Challenger from Challenger, Gray & Christmas. So far this year, employers have announced 397,755 cuts, down 43% from last year, when reductions to the federal workforce drove totals to historic highs. Stripping out that distortion, 2026 is running roughly even with 2024.
2026-06-04
US Job Cuts Rise to 3-Month High
US-based employers announced 83,387 job cuts in April 2026, the most in three months, compared to 60,620 in March, but down 21% from the same month last year. April’s total is the third highest for an April month since 2009, with tech (33,361) announcing the most jobs, followed by warehousing (5,743) and services (4,110). Artificial Intelligence led all reasons for job cuts for the second month in a row, with 26% of total cuts. So far this year, employers have announced 300,749 job cuts, down 50% from the same period last year. Tech was the leading contributor (85,411) and AI has been cited for 49,135 cuts this year, and it is the third-leading cause of layoff plans. “Technology companies continue to announce large-scale cuts and are leading all industries in layoff announcements. They are also often citing AI spend and innovation. Regardless of whether individual jobs are being replaced by AI, the money for those roles is,” said Andy Challenger from Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
2026-05-07