U.S. Layoffs Jump 205% to 108,435 in January, Hitting Highest January Level Since 2009

U.S. job cuts exploded in January, sending planned layoffs to their highest January total in 17 years and signaling mounting corporate caution about the labor market.

Employers across the country announced 108,435 planned layoffs last month — a 205% jump from December 2025 and the most for any January since 2009, according to a report from Challenger, Gr…