Challenger: U.S. October job cuts of 43,994 lowest for month since 2023; seasonal hiring plans up 26%
Key points
- U.S. employers announced 43,994 job cuts in October, up 2% from September and down 71% from October 2025
- Year-to-date cuts total 617,189, down 44%
- Seasonal hiring plans rose 26% through October, led by Amazon
Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that U.S. employers announced 43,994 job cuts in October, up 2% from 43,281 in September and down 71% from 153,074 in October 2025. Year-to-date cuts total 617,189, down 44% year over year. Seasonal hiring plans rose 26% through October, led by a record announcement from Amazon. The report says market and economic conditions have overtaken AI as the top reason for cuts this year.
Original report: Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. ↗Edited with AI assistance. Facts are based on official sources and original reports.