US employers announce 52,881 job cuts in August

(Sharecast News) - US employers announced 52,881 job cuts in August, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, up from 33,429 in July but still 38.5% lower than a year earlier, marking the lowest August total since 2022. Consumer products led with 10,057 cuts, driven by reductions at Procter & Gamble and Estée Lauder, while food producers followed with 7,982 cuts, with Tyson accounting for nearly a third amid a historic cattle shortage. Technology recorded 6,103 cuts, financial firms announced 4,286, and communication companies shed 4,113.

Restructuring was the top reason for layoffs, totalling 16,173, while AI‑related cuts fell to 3,462.

Year‑to‑date, employers have announced 529,914 job cuts, down 41% on the first eight months of 2025 and the lowest January‑to‑August tally since 2022, with technology remaining the largest contributor with 155,126 cuts so far this year, followed by transportation with 42,279, health care and products with 35,637, consumer products with 28,574, and services with 26,778.





Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com