U.S.-based employers reported 52,881 job cuts in August, up 58% from July but down 38% from the same month last year, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. This is the lowest August total since 2022. For the year to date, employers have announced 529,914 job cuts, 41% lower than the 892,362 cuts announced in the first eight months of 2025. Excluding the government sector, job cut announcements dropped 15% from the same period a year ago. Meanwhile, employers announced plans to hire 12,325 workers in August, down 23% from July but up more than eightfold from 1,494 in August of last year. For the first eight months of 2026, hiring plans total 119,825 workers, up 37% year-over-year, marking the strongest January-to-August total since 2023. The industries cutting the most jobs in August were consumer products (10,057), food (7,982), and technology (6,103), with notable layoffs at Procter & Gamble and Estee Lauder. Restructuring led all reasons for job cuts with 16,173, or 31%, marking the first month since February that artificial intelligence did not top the list.
Estee Lauder Companies IncEstee Lauder is named among notable layoffs in August, indicating cost-cutting measures.
Procter & Gamble CompanyProcter & Gamble is named among notable layoffs in August, indicating cost-cutting measures.
