US-based employers announced 48,307 job cuts in February 2026, down from 108,435 in January and sharply below the 172,017 cuts recorded a year earlier. The technology sector led with 11,039 cuts. “Tech is responding to a number of pressures right now. AI is the big story, but there are also global regulatory concerns, a slowdown in digital advertising driven by tariffs and economic uncertainty, and higher costs to both employ workers and access funding,” said Andy Challenger of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Education followed with 5,417 announced job cuts, while industrial manufacturing reported 4,109. “With US involvement in a growing war in Iran, the end of Q1 may bring more layoff plans as companies tighten belts amid uncertainty and higher costs,” Challenger added.
Through February, employers announced a total of 156,742 job cuts, the lowest January–February figure since 2022. The tech sector has led layoffs so far this year with 33,330 cuts, followed by transportation with 31,702 and health care/products with 19,228.
