U.S. employers announced 108,435 job cuts in January 2026 (+205% MoM; +118% YoY), marking the highest January layoff total since 2009 and the largest monthly total since October 2025.

• Transportation led layoffs with 31,243 cuts, almost entirely driven by UPS’s 30,000 job reduction following the end of its Amazon contract.

• Technology firms announced 22,291 cuts, with Amazon accounting for 16,000 as part of management restructuring efforts.

• Healthcare and health product companies posted 17,107 cuts, the highest monthly total for the sector since April 2020, reflecting rising cost pressures and lower reimbursements.

• Chemical manufacturers announced 4,701 cuts, the largest monthly figure since February 2016, largely tied to automation and AI-driven restructuring at Dow Inc.

• The main drivers of layoffs were contract losses (30,784), market and economic conditions (28,392), restructuring (20,044), and closures (12,738), highlighting multiple sources of workforce reduction.

• AI-related layoffs totaled 7,624 (7% of January cuts), while tariff-related cuts reached 294, indicating a smaller but present policy impact.

• Hiring plans fell to 5,306 in January (-49% MoM; -13% YoY), the lowest January total on record since tracking began in 2009.