Job Cuts Surge in 2025: 946,426 Layoffs and Rising
Job cuts have surged in 2025, with companies announcing a total of 946,426 layoffs so far this year. This is the highest yearly total since 2020. Market and economic conditions are the second-most cited reason, responsible for 208,227 cuts. Retailers have been particularly hard hit, with job cuts up 203% from last year.
The third quarter of 2025 saw the highest total of job cuts since 2020. The East region has experienced a significant increase, rising 193% from 2024 to 2025. DOGE Actions remain the leading reason for job cut announcements, cited in 293,753 planned layoffs.
The chemical, automotive, and steel industries are the primary culprits in Germany. The chemical industry is facing historic low capacity utilization and planned plant closures, especially in the East. The automotive industry and suppliers have cut around 51,507 jobs due to sales declines and structural changes. The steel industry is facing intense pressure and potential layoffs amid failed mergers and restructuring.
Technology companies have announced 107,878 job cuts through September, an 8% decline from the same period last year. However, job cuts in September were down 26% from the same month last year.
The Government sector has announced 299,755 planned job cuts this year, mostly due to DOGE. U.S.-based employers announced 54,064 job cuts in September, a 37% drop from August. Despite the decline in September, the overall trend shows a significant increase in job cuts, highlighting the need for policy responses to mitigate the impact on workers.
