The Layoff Surge

October was brutal for American workers. Employers announced 153,074 job cuts last month - nearly triple the 55,597 cuts in October 2024, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

That's the worst October in over 20 years and the highest total for a single month in Q4 since 2008, when the financial crisis was raging.

"October's pace of job cutting was much higher than average for the month," said Andy Challenger, chief revenue officer at the outplacement firm.

The Year-to-Date Picture

Through the first 10 months of 2025, US firms announced 1,099,500 job cuts. That's up 44% from the 761,358 cuts for the entire year of 2024.

Year-to-date cuts are at their highest since 2020, when the pandemic devastated the labor market. Technology businesses led private-sector layoffs.

Recent high-profile cuts came from Amazon, Target, and UPS - all major employers shedding thousands of workers.

Why This Is Happening

Challenger identified several factors driving the layoff surge:

Companies are correcting after pandemic-era hiring booms. Many businesses overstaffed during COVID and are now rightsizing.

AI adoption is eliminating jobs. As companies deploy artificial intelligence, they need fewer human workers for certain tasks.

Softening consumer and corporate spending is forcing cost-cutting. When revenue growth slows, layoffs follow.

Rising costs are squeezing margins. Companies facing higher expenses for labor, materials, and operations are cutting headcount to protect profits.

"Those laid off now are finding it harder to quickly secure new roles, which could further loosen the labor market," Challenger warned.

The Hiring Freeze

It's not just about layoffs. Companies have also slammed the brakes on hiring.

Employers announced just 488,077 planned hires through October compared to 750,333 at the same point in 2024. That's the lowest year-to-date total since 2011.

Announced seasonal hiring plans through October also hit their lowest level in Challenger's data dating back to 2012. That's particularly concerning heading into the holiday season when retailers typically ramp up staffing.

The Data Drought

The Challenger report comes amid a frustrating information vacuum. The government shutdown - now the longest in US history - has suspended Labor Department data releases.

The last official jobs report reflects conditions from August. September data was never published. October's jobs report, due out Friday, likely won't be released either.

Through August, the labor market showed low hiring and low firing, with unemployment at 4.3%. The unemployed struggled to find positions while the employed clung to their roles.

ADP data published Wednesday showed modest private sector job growth in October, with mixed results by sector. But that's a limited view without the full Labor Department picture.

The Bottom Line

October's layoff surge signals a labor market under serious stress.

When job cuts triple year-over-year and hit the highest level since 2003, that's not normal correction - it's a significant deterioration. The 1.1 million announced cuts through October already exceed all of 2024 by 44%.

The collapse in hiring plans is equally concerning. Companies announcing 35% fewer hires than last year suggests they're battening down the hatches, not preparing for growth.

The combination is toxic for workers. Mass layoffs plus hiring freezes means displaced workers face brutal competition for shrinking job opportunities. Challenger's warning that laid-off workers are "finding it harder to quickly secure new roles" captures the problem.

Tech leading the cuts makes sense given the industry's AI pivot and correction from pandemic overh hiring. But layoffs spreading across sectors - retail (Target), logistics (UPS), tech (Amazon) - shows weakness isn't isolated.

The timing is particularly bad. Layoffs accelerating in October heading into Q4 suggests companies are cutting before year-end to show improved financials. That could mean more cuts coming as businesses close their books on 2025.

Seasonal hiring at multi-year lows is a warning sign for the holidays. If retailers aren't staffing up for their busiest season, they're either expecting weak sales or planning to run lean regardless of demand.

The government shutdown blocking official data makes everything worse. Without Labor Department reports, we're flying blind on unemployment, job openings, and labor force participation. The Challenger data provides visibility but doesn't capture the full picture.

ADP showing modest private sector growth in October seems disconnected from Challenger's layoff surge. That divergence could mean layoff announcements haven't fully translated to actual job losses yet, or ADP is missing deterioration Challenger is catching.

Either way, the trend is unmistakable. Companies are cutting aggressively and refusing to hire. That's the recipe for rising unemployment and weakening consumer spending as workers lose jobs and income.

The Fed cutting rates last week reflects concern about labor market weakness. These Challenger numbers validate those concerns and then some. If layoffs continue at October's pace, pressure will mount for more aggressive rate cuts.

For workers, the message is stark: The job market that felt tight for years is rapidly loosening. Competition for positions is intensifying while opportunities shrink. Anyone thinking about changing jobs should think twice. Anyone facing layoffs should prepare for a longer search than they'd expect.

October being the worst in 21 years isn't just a number - it's American workers and families facing real financial stress heading into the holidays and new year.