Layoffs are surging across America. More than 1 million US jobs have vanished in 2025, and October delivered a brutal spike — the worst single-month cut in over two decades.
A new report from the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, reveals a grim picture of the American labor market. In October alone, employers announced 153,074 job cuts, a figure that dwarfs last year’s numbers (55,597) and marks the highest October for layoffs since 2003.
This brings the total number of jobs eliminated in 2025 to a staggering 1,099,500, surpassing the one-million mark faster than in any year since the pandemic.
“This is the highest total for October in over 20 years, and the highest total for a single month in the fourth quarter since 2008,” said Andy Challenger, workplace expert and chief revenue officer at Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
AI and automation serving as major contributing factors
Technology and warehousing were the hardest hit sectors. Tech firms eliminated 33,281 jobs in October, six times the number from September (5,639). Meanwhile, warehousing companies announced a staggering 47,878 cuts, representing a 4,700% month-over-month increase.
Challenger linked the tech and logistics reductions to AI integration and automation, echoing similar patterns seen in previous waves of disruptive technology. “Like in 2003, a disruptive technology is changing the landscape,” said Challenger.
AI was the second-most-cited reason for layoffs in October, behind only cost-cutting (50,437). Companies attributed 31,039 job cuts last month to AI-related restructuring and 48,414 so far this year, the Challenger report showed.
Other sectors feeling the squeeze include retail (2,431) and consumer products (3,409), both facing weak demand and changing buying habits. Services and non-profits are also trimming staff amid funding constraints and rising costs.
Government cuts deepen the blow
The public sector led all industries in total layoffs this year, with 307,000 job losses, much of which was tied to federal budget cuts and downstream funding impacts, according to the report. That figure makes government employment the largest single source of job cuts in 2025, surpassing even the private tech sector.
Holiday hiring slows to a crawl
Even as layoffs rise, hiring plans are plunging.
Employers announced just 488,077 planned hires through October, down 35% from last year and the lowest since 2011. Seasonal hiring also looks bleak, with only 372,520 positions announced so far, the lowest since Challenger began tracking such data in 2012.
With layoffs at their highest since the pandemic year of 2020 and AI adoption accelerating across industries, the US labor market faces an uncertain winter.
The high October layoff total also signals a shift in corporate behavior, moving away from a decade-long trend of avoiding mass job cuts before the holidays. According to Challenger, the practice of making announcements this late in the year had largely fallen out of favor.
This combination of high cuts and low hiring creates a challenging environment.
“Those laid off now are finding it harder to quickly secure new roles, which could further loosen the labor market,” noted Challenger.
While there is a slim chance for a late-year hiring push, expectations are low.
“It’s possible with rate cuts and a strong showing in November, companies may make a late-season push for employees, but at this point, we do not expect a strong seasonal hiring environment in 2025,” Challenger concluded.
Also read: A 2025 report by The Washington Post found that both employers and job seekers report disorientation and mistrust in the job-searching process, despite AI tools being marketed as making the process more efficient.