U.S. layoffs have climbed to more than 1.1 million in 2025, marking the highest level since the early pandemic period. November recorded 71,321 announced job cuts, a sharp monthly decline from October but still enough to push the yearly total far above 2024 levels. Companies across multiple sectors are reducing headcount to adjust cost structures, preserve margins, and align with slower demand.
New data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas shows that employers have now announced 1,170,821 cuts through November, an increase of 54% from the same period last year. The trend reflects broad restructuring across technology, telecom, services, and manufacturing, with leaders prioritizing efficiency and cash discipline as market conditions shift.
Monthly Cuts Slow, but Annual Totals Continue to Climb
The November figure of 71,321 layoffs represents a 53% drop from October’s 153,074. Despite the month-over-month improvement, the volume of cuts remains elevated compared to historical patterns. November layoffs rose 24% from the same month in 2024, marking the eighth month this year in which cuts surpassed last year’s levels.
Experts note that job reductions above 70,000 in November are uncommon outside recession years. Before 2001, monthly November cuts regularly stayed under that threshold. The dot-com downturn pushed totals sharply higher, and the pattern re-emerged during the 2008 recession and again during the pandemic period. This year’s total reflects a new phase of corporate recalibration rather than a single-sector downturn.
For leadership teams, the data signals continued caution. Many organizations are tightening teams before the new fiscal year and adjusting investments to meet productivity expectations.
Telecom and Tech Lead Sector-Wide Reductions
Telecommunications reported the highest number of cuts in November, with 15,139 layoffs — mostly from reductions at Verizon. This is the largest monthly cut in the sector since April 2020. Telecom companies have been consolidating operations, modernizing infrastructure, and reducing legacy roles to improve long-term efficiency. So far in 2025, the sector has announced 38,035 cuts, up 268% from last year.
The technology industry continues to drive the highest year-to-date total, with 153,536 job cuts through November. Tech firms have spent much of 2025 restructuring teams, shifting toward AI-driven automation, and reducing overlapping roles created during earlier periods of rapid hiring. November alone saw 12,377 tech layoffs, extending the sector’s multiyear trend of operational tightening.
Food companies, particularly those in beef processing, announced 6,708 cuts last month, bringing the yearly total to 34,165 — a 26% increase from 2024. Services companies announced 5,509 cuts in November and now stand at 69,089 for the year, up 64%.
These adjustments reflect broader efforts by leadership teams to streamline operations and respond to cost pressures across supply chains, labor, and logistics.
Business Leaders Navigate Shifting Market Conditions
2025 now marks only the sixth year since 1993 in which announced cuts through November have exceeded 1.1 million. Apart from the pandemic in 2020, only recession-year periods such as 2001 and 2009 have produced higher totals.
For entrepreneurs and business owners, the rise in US Layoffs underscores a decisive shift in how companies are managing workforce planning. Many leadership teams are prioritizing automation, revisiting headcount-to-revenue ratios, and rebalancing teams around core profit drivers. While the job market remains dynamic, the pace of cuts suggests that companies are preparing for a more competitive environment ahead.
Business operators may also see opportunities within the disruption. As organizations restructure, demand grows for tools, services, and technologies that improve productivity, reduce operational friction, and support leaner teams. Firms that provide AI technologies, workflow automation, cloud infrastructure, and outsourced services may find expanding markets as enterprises seek cost-efficient solutions.
Looking Ahead: Strategic Adjustments for Employers and Entrepreneurs
With year-to-date US Layoffs at five-year highs, leaders are watching key indicators such as consumer spending, wage pressures, supply chain stability, and enterprise demand cycles. Many employers are already planning for 2026 with an emphasis on efficient growth, digital transformation, and flexible workforce strategies.
For entrepreneurs, the current climate highlights the importance of agility. Companies that help enterprises evolve — whether through technology, staffing solutions, or operational support — will likely benefit as large organizations continue to reshape their teams.
The rise in US Layoffs marks a significant point in the business cycle, signaling an environment where operational discipline and strategic adaptation are becoming essential for companies of all sizes.
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