January layoffs jump to the highest level since 2009, says Challenger

• US job cuts in January hit a 17-year peak.
• US employers announced 108,435 job cuts in the first month of the year.
• Companies such as Amazon and Citi have said they're trimming staff this year.

Layoffs in the US hit a 17-year peak in January.

According to new data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, US employers announced 108,435 job cuts in the first month of the year, an increase of 118% from the year before. Companies such as Amazon and Citi have said they're trimming staff this year.

"Generally, we see a high number of job cuts in the first quarter, but this is a high total for January. It means most of these plans were set at the end of 2025, signaling employers are less-than-optimistic about the outlook for 2026," Andy Challenger, workplace expert and chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said in a statement accompanying the report.

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