US job cuts ease in September, Q3 layoffs hit post-2020 high
By Iain Gilbert
Date: Thursday 02 Oct 2025
(Sharecast News) - US employers announced 54,064 job cuts in September, marking the lowest monthly total in three months and down 25.8% year-on-year, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas' latest jobs report.
The services sector led the monthly reductions with 6,290 cuts, followed by energy at 5,807 and technology at 5,639. Despite the slowdown in September, planned layoffs in the third quarter totalled 202,118 - the highest Q3 reading since 2020.
Year-to-date, US companies have announced 946,426 job cuts, the highest total since 2020 and the fifth largest in the past 36 years. The government sector accounted for the bulk of reductions, with 299,755 cuts, including 289,363 federal roles affected by DOGE.
"Right now, we're dealing with a stagnating labour market, cost increases, and a transformative new technology. With rate cuts on the way, we may see some stabilising in the job market in Q4, but other factors could keep employers planning layoffs or holding off hiring," said Andy Challenger, of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
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