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. source: Challenger, Gray and Christmas, Inc.

Challenger Job Cuts in the United States increased to 97006 Persons in May from 83387 Persons in April of 2026. Challenger Job Cuts in the United States averaged 67205.10 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 June of 2026.

Challenger Job Cuts in the United States increased to 97006 Persons in May from 83387 Persons in April of 2026. Challenger Job Cuts in the United States is expected to be 85000.00 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
2026-05-07 09:30 AM
Challenger Job Cuts
Apr 83.387K 60.62K 56.0K
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 97.006K 85K


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
ADP Employment Change 122.00 105.00 Thousand May 2026
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.30 0.20 percent May 2026
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.40 3.60 percent May 2026
Average Weekly Hours 34.30 34.30 Hours May 2026
Challenger Job Cuts 97006.00 83387.00 Persons May 2026
Continuing Jobless Claims 1810.00 1786.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Employed Persons 162771.00 162622.00 Thousand May 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 59.20 59.10 percent May 2026
Full Time Employment 134173.00 134252.00 Thousand May 2026
Government Payrolls 52.00 2.00 Thousand May 2026
Challenger Hiring Plans 19536.00 10049.00 Persons May 2026
Initial Jobless Claims 226.00 230.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Job Layoffs and Discharges 1692.00 1884.00 Thousand Apr 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 7618.00 6887.00 Thousand Apr 2026
JOLTs Job Quits 2977.00 3160.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Job Quits Rate 1.90 2.00 Percent Apr 2026
Job Openings 8176.00 6677.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Jobless Claims 4-week Average 223.25 219.25 Thousand Jun 2026
Participation Rate 61.80 61.80 percent May 2026
Labour Costs 123.78 123.22 points Mar 2026
Long Term Unemployment Rate 1.17 1.08 percent May 2026
Manufacturing Payrolls 7.00 0.00 Thousand May 2026
Minimum Wages 7.25 7.25 USD/Hour Dec 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 172.00 179.00 Thousand May 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 120.00 177.00 Thousand May 2026
Nonfarm Productivity 0.30 1.60 percent Mar 2026
Part Time Employment 28679.00 28413.00 Thousand May 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 8.10 8.20 percent May 2026
Unemployed Persons 7307.00 7373.00 Thousand May 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.30 4.30 percent May 2026
Unit Labour Costs 1.80 2.10 percent Mar 2026
Wage Growth 3.53 3.28 percent Apr 2026
Wages 32.31 32.23 USD/Hour May 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 30.19 30.10 USD/Hour May 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 9.40 9.50 percent May 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
97006.00 83387.00 671129.00 14875.00 1994 - 2026 Persons Monthly
NSA

News Stream
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
US Companies Cut 60.6K Jobs in March
US-based employers announced 60,620 job cuts in March 2026, above 48,307 in February but well below 275,240 a year earlier. The technology sector recorded by far the highest number of job cuts in March (18,720), followed by pharmaceuticals (5,356), education (5,258), and financial (5,114). Artificial Intelligence (AI) led all reasons for job cuts, with 15,341 announced during the month, 25% of total cuts. Considering Q1, employers announced 217,362 job cuts, the lowest Q1 total since 2022, and down 16% from Q4 2025. “Removing the wave of federal layoffs announced in February and March of last year, job cut announcements in 2026 are closely following the pattern of 2025. Last year it was Government, Retail, and Technology. This year, it’s Technology, Transportation, and Healthcare,” said Andy Challenger, chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
2026-04-02