America saw a massive job cut wave in October 2025. Over 153,000 jobs were lost, the highest in twenty years. Technology and warehousing sectors led the decline. Companies are cutting costs and adopting AI.

It's a tough time for the job market. Amid wider economic uncertainty, some analysts have said that businesses are at a “no-hire, no fire” standstill.

U.S. companies said last month they plan to cut 153,074 jobs, a near-tripling from September, according to Challenger, Gray and Christmas, which pointed to cost-cutting and rising adoption of artificial intelligence.

Year-to-date, government job cuts accounted for the most layoffs, 307,638, surging more than eightfold from 37,746 in the first 10 months of 2024. Technology cut the second-highest number of jobs — 141,159, up 17% Y/Y. Warehousing job cuts soared 378% to 90,418 YTD, likely reflecting the increased use of automation in the supply chain.

Though not related to the government shutdown, job cuts at one of the 'Big Four' airlines come at a moment of strain for the travel industry.

The AI-Related Job Impacts Clarity Act specifies that companies should report job cuts or displacement and new hires that are attributed to AI, as well as workers being trained due to AI and roles left unfilled thanks to automated procedures.

Canada's biggest banks are returning to a focus on managing expenses, with some resuming job cuts put on hold in response to the coronavirus pandemic and others deferring investments not deemed urgent.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government said it would cut the size of the federal public-sector workforce by about 5%, or 16,000 jobs.