US Layoffs Fall 55 Percent in February as Hiring Plans Pick Up: Challenger

The latest data offer a ‘nice reprieve’ after a rough start to 2026, says Challenger, Gray and Christmas chief revenue officer Andy Challenger.
US Layoffs Fall 55 Percent in February as Hiring Plans Pick Up: Challenger
A boy walks past a hiring sign displayed during Black Friday at a mall in Hanover, Md., on Nov. 29, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times
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Layoff announcements by U.S. companies plummeted in February, while hiring intentions rebounded, new employment data released on March 5 show.

Planned job cuts totaled 48,307 last month, down 55 percent from January’s reading of 108,435, according to global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas. This is also down 72 percent from the same time a year ago, when businesses announced more than 172,000 cuts.

Andrew Moran
Andrew Moran
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Andrew Moran has been writing about business, economics, and finance for more than a decade. He is the author of "The War on Cash."