January Layoffs Hit 14-Year High as Hiring Slump Deepens, Challenger Finds
U.S. employers announced 108,435 layoffs in January 2026, the highest January total since 2009, while just 5,306 new hires were announced—the lowest January since Challenger, Gray & Christmas began tracking the data. High-profile cuts at Amazon, UPS and Dow Inc. contributed to a surge in layoff activity, with transportation leading and tech following Amazon’s 16,000-reductions. Hiring plans fell about 13% from January 2025 and were down 49% from December, signaling a cautious outlook for 2026 despite headlines of a no-hire, no-fire labor market. Official data show mixed signals, including a spike in jobless claims likely weather-related, and WARN notices from over 100 companies indicate ongoing layoff planning.
- Layoffs in January were the highest to start a year since 2009, Challenger says CNBC
- Challenger Report: January Job Cuts Surge; Lowest January Hiring on Record Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
- Some big-name companies are laying off workers. Here's what it means ABC News
- California job losses slow in January as cuts surge nationwide Los Angeles Times
- US Companies Announced Most Job Cuts for Any January Since 2009 Bloomberg
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