U.S.-based employers announced 43,281 job cuts in September 2026, the lowest September total since 2022, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The announced total was 20% below September 2025’s 54,064. These figures track announced plans, not a direct count of workers who actually left jobs that month.
How many job cuts were announced in September 2026?
Challenger, Gray & Christmas counted 43,281 announced job cuts by U.S.-based employers in September 2026. Its same-month comparisons show fewer announcements than in both recent comparison years:
| September | Announced job cuts |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 43,281 |
| 2025 | 54,064 |
| 2022 | 29,989 |
The 2026 figure was 20% lower than September 2025, but it was still higher than September 2022. “Fewest for a September since 2022” means no September in the intervening period had a lower total; it does not mean the 2026 count was the lowest of those three Septembers.
Are layoffs slowing down?
The September total and the broader year-to-date pattern point to fewer announced cuts than the comparable period in 2025, but this is not proof that every part of the labor market is improving. Challenger said 21 of the 30 industries it tracks had announced fewer cuts year to date through the comparable point than in 2025. The summary does not establish that the other nine industries all had increases.
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Andy Challenger said, “We’ve seen layoff activity subside over this year, and September continues to illustrate this point,” according to the company’s September report.
Technology cuts rose even as the overall September total fell
Technology employers announced 10,799 cuts in September, up from 6,103 in August, according to Challenger. That month-to-month increase in one sector can occur alongside a lower all-industry total; it should not be taken as a description of the entire labor market.
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The report headline also said hiring plans were up 3% over 2025, while characterizing early seasonal hiring as weak. The reported increase therefore does not mean seasonal hiring was strong.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the announced-cut figure does—and does not—measure
Challenger’s figures count announced job cuts or plans. They are not a direct count of employees who separated from their jobs in September, nor are they unemployment claims. Some announcements may concern future actions, so the monthly figure should not be read as the number of people who became unemployed that month.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteCBS News separately reported 573,195 announced cuts through September 2026, nearly 40% fewer than in the comparable 2025 period. That is a year-to-date total, not September’s monthly figure; it is also a secondary report of the Challenger series. See CBS News’ account.
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