Layoff plans for December hit lowest monthly level since 2024 in 'positive sign,' Challenger says

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Employers announced 35,553 layoffs successful December successful the lowest monthly full since July 2024, contempt sweeping occupation cuts successful the 4th quarter, according to a Thursday study from the planetary outplacement steadfast Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

“The twelvemonth closed with the fewest announced layoff plans each year,” Andy Challenger, workplace adept and main gross serviceman for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said successful the report. “While December is typically slow, this coupled with higher hiring plans, is simply a affirmative motion aft a twelvemonth of precocious occupation cutting plans.”

Hiring plans for December, astatine 10,496, besides reached the highest full for the period since 2022.

Read more: Worried astir occupation security? Take these 5 steps present to support your finances.

Still, the representation was much dire erstwhile looking astatine 2025 successful total: Planned hires were down 34% from 2024, hitting 507,647, successful the lowest year-to-date full since 2010, Challenger said.

Employers announced 1.2 cardinal occupation cuts crossed each of 2025, a 58% hike from 2024’s 761,358 and the highest level since 2020. Layoff announcements conscionable successful the last 4th of 2025 — 259,948 planned cuts — were the worst for the 4th fourth since 2008, Challenger said.

The year’s cuts were led by authorities reductions aft DOGE-led layoffs chopped national workers loose, though layoffs successful the tech assemblage and concern services assemblage were besides higher past twelvemonth compared to 2024.

Moving forward, immoderate further layoff announcements volition enactment workers successful a pugnacious spot: The fig of occupation openings fell successful November according to the latest authorities data, portion the hiring complaint was a paltry 3.2%. There were 1.1 unemployed radical for each disposable job, the highest level since aboriginal 2021.