U.S. job-data firm Challenger said employers have announced 397,755 layoffs year-to-date, down 43% from 696,309 in the first five months of 2025 when a federal government layoff wave pushed totals to a record; excluding that spike, Challenger said 2026 layoffs are roughly flat with 2024.

2026-06-04

U.S. job-data firm Challenger said employers have announced 397,755 layoffs year-to-date, down 43% from 696,309 in the first five months of 2025 when a federal government layoff wave pushed totals to a record; excluding that spike, Challenger said 2026 layoffs are roughly flat with 2024.