US: Challenger Reports Job Cuts Drop to 17-Month Low

December Sees Significant Drop in U.S. Job Cuts

In December, American companies reported 35,553 layoffs, marking a 50% decrease compared to the 71,321 job cuts announced in November. This figure also represents an 8% decline from the 38,792 layoffs recorded in December of the previous year, according to data released Thursday by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a global firm specializing in outplacement and executive coaching.

The number of job cuts in December was the lowest monthly total since July 2024, when 25,885 layoffs were reported. Additionally, this is the smallest number of December layoffs since 2023, which saw 34,817 job cuts. Notably, this marks the fourth month in 2025 where layoffs were fewer than in the same month the year before.