Charted: Why U.S. Employers Are Cutting Jobs in 2025

Key Takeaways

• Employers have announced 1.1 million job cuts through October, up 65% year over year, the highest total since 2020.
• The actions of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and broader economic factors together account for more than half of all layoffs — over 520,000 jobs.
• Despite widespread public concern about artificial intelligence, AI-related cuts make up less than 5% of total layoffs.
• Restructuring and cost-cutting were cited by companies as reasons for over 185,000 job losses combined.