US Employers Announce 52,881 August Job Cuts, Lowest for the Month Since 2022
Updated
Updated · London South East · Sep 3
US Employers Announce 52,881 August Job Cuts, Lowest for the Month Since 2022
3 articles · Updated · London South East · Sep 3
Summary
52,881 job cuts were announced by US employers in August, up from 33,429 in July but 38.5% below a year earlier, making it the lightest August layoff total since 2022.
16,173 cuts were tied to restructuring, the leading reason in August, while AI-related layoffs fell to 3,462.
10,057 cuts in consumer products led all sectors, driven by Procter & Gamble and Estée Lauder, while food producers announced 7,982 and Tyson accounted for nearly a third amid a cattle shortage.
529,914 layoffs have been announced so far in 2026, down 41% from the first eight months of 2025; technology still leads the year-to-date total with 155,126 cuts.