US Job Cuts Fall in September, Reaching Lowest September Total Since 2022

According to the Challenger, Gray & Christmas (CG&C) Job Cut Announcement Report released on Thursday, US-based employers announced 43,281 job cuts in September, an 18% decrease from August’s 52,881 cuts. Year-over-year, announced cuts were down 20% from 54,064 in September 2025.

So far this year, companies have announced 573,195 job cuts, down 39% from the 946,426 cuts announced through the first nine months of 2025. Excluding government, job cut announcements are down 15%. September marked the seventh month this year in which cuts were lower than the corresponding month a year earlier.

The January–September total was the lowest since 2022, when employers announced 209,495 cuts. Q3 layoff plans totaled 129,591, down 43% from 226,242 in Q2 and 36% from 202,118 in 2025Q3.

CG&C noted that job cuts in September were concentrated in technology, food production, nonprofit organizations, services, transportation, health care and products, and news and media. Technology companies announced 10,799 cuts, up 77% from August, and accounted for 29% of all announced cuts so far this year.

Hiring Plans

Employers announced plans to add 90,787 jobs in September, up from 12,325 in August but down 23% from 117,313 in September 2025. It was the lowest September hiring total since 2011, when 76,551 hiring plans were recorded.

So far this year, employers plan to add 210,612 jobs, up 3% from the 204,939 announced through the first nine months of 2025.