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Employers Announced 43,281 Job Cuts in September, the Fewest for the Month Since 2022
Challenger's tally is down 18% from August and 20% from a year earlier, but AI has now become the single most cited reason for cuts in 2026, and seasonal hiring is running well behind last year.
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By Dana Whitfield
Oct 3, 2026 · 2 min read
U.S. employers announced 43,281 job cuts in September, Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported Thursday morning, down 18% from August's 52,881 and 20% from the 54,064 announced in September 2025. It is the lowest September total since 2022.
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Dana Whitfield
Leadership Editor
Dana reports on boards, succession and executive pay. She has interviewed more than 200 sitting chief executives.