Jan 2026: 108,435 Layoffs as Job Cuts Reach 2009 High (^DJIA)

Employers reported 108,435 job cuts in January 2026, the largest January tally since 2009, per a report released Feb 5. January hiring plans fell to 5,306, the lowest since 2009, down from 10,496 in December. The U.S. initial claims for unemployment also rose in the most recent week, signaling market vulnerability. “This is typically a high number for January, but the scale is record-high,” said Andy Challenger of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, which publishes monthly reports on layoffs and hiring. Economists at Pantheon Macro noted initial claims returned to trend after unusually low numbers in Q4 and January layoffs, but warned the unemployment rate is expected to gradually rise through the first half of 2026.