Employers Announce 108,435 Layoffs in January, Challenger Says
Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported 108,435 U.S. job cuts in January and warned employers were 'less-than-optimistic' about 2026.
Overview
Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that U.S. employers announced 108,435 job cuts in January, the highest January total since 2009, in a report released on Feb. 5.
The firm said hiring plans for January hit their lowest level since 2009 and attributed the cuts primarily to lost contracts, market and economic conditions, and restructuring.
JPMorgan said comparing January's cuts to 2009 'could be misleading' and noted the January 2026 figures were more similar to recent January values, contesting the report's implied severity.
Challenger's data showed the bulk of announced cuts came from the transportation and technology sectors, led by Amazon's 16,000-job reduction and UPS's plan to cut up to 30,000 roles.
The Labor Department said it postponed the Bureau of Labor Statistics' January jobs report to Feb. 11 because of a brief government shutdown.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the layoffs as a corporate-driven shock, emphasizing headline job totals and Amazon's outsized role while downplaying AI’s current impact using data and expert quotes. Editorial choices — loaded verbs, selection of corporate/tech experts, and omission of worker or policy voices — steer readers toward a market-focused, not labor-centered, narrative.
Sources (4)
FAQ
The transportation sector saw 31,243 job cuts, technology 22,291, health care 17,107, chemical 4,701, and media 510.
Amazon announced 16,000 job cuts, and UPS announced plans to cut up to 30,000 jobs.
The 108,435 layoffs were the highest for January since 2009, more than double the previous year's January total and triple December 2025's.
The top reasons were lost commercial contracts, stock market and economic conditions, and restructuring.
Hiring plans hit the lowest level for January since 2009, with just over 5,300 announced.
History
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