Layoff plans in October fell to the lowest level since 2023 as companies turned their attention to retaining existing employees and adding seasonal help ahead of the holidays.
US employers announced 43,994 job cuts in October, up slightly from September but down 71% from a year earlier, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Job cuts have been muted this year as the labor market stays in "low hire, low fire" mode. Announced cuts in the first 10 months of the year are at their lowest level since 2022.
"This is a low-fire environment," Andy Challenger, chief revenue officer at Challenger, said in a statement. "Employers are holding on to the workers they have heading into the holidays, and the hiring they are announcing is largely short-term, seasonal work. Companies want the flexibility to meet holiday demand without adding permanent headcount."
Food companies announced nearly 10,000 layoffs in October, followed by the technology sector's 5,600 cuts. Tech companies have announced more than 170,000 job cuts this year, usurping their total for all of 2025.

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