U.S. employers announced 71,321 job cuts in November 2025 (+24% YoY, -53% MoM), marking the highest November total since 2022 but a sharp pullback from October’s spike.

• Year to date, employers have announced 1.17M job cuts (+54% YoY), the highest January–November total since 2020 and only the sixth time since 1993 that cuts have exceeded 1.1M by this point in the year.

• Telecommunications led November activity with 15,139 cuts, the highest for the sector since April 2020; YTD telecom cuts reached 38,035 (+268% YoY), driven largely by major provider actions.

• Technology firms announced 12,377 cuts in November, bringing the YTD total to 153,536 (+17% YoY) and keeping the sector at the top of private-sector layoffs.

• Food companies reported 6,708 cuts in November and 34,165 YTD (+26% YoY), while the Services sector saw 5,509 cuts (+64% YoY YTD), reflecting rising pressure across operational support industries.

• Retailers announced 3,290 cuts in November and 91,954 YTD (+139% YoY), tied to softening demand, tariff uncertainty, and shifting consumer behavior.

• Non-profits announced 28,696 cuts YTD (+409% YoY) amid funding reductions, higher costs, and lower donations; Media cuts rose to 17,163 YTD (+18% YoY), though News-specific layoffs fell -50% YoY.

• Restructuring was the top reason for November layoffs (20,217), followed by closings (17,140), economic conditions (15,755), and AI-related adjustments (6,280); DOGE-related impacts remained the largest YTD driver, cited in 293,753 planned layoffs.

• Planned hiring totaled 497,151 YTD (-35% YoY), the lowest since 2010, with 372,520 seasonal hires—the smallest seasonal tally since tracking began in 2012—highlighting weak labor-demand momentum heading into year end.