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Layoff news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
U.S. layoffs in August fell to 52,881, the lowest in four years. Hiring remains sluggish despite fewer job cuts.
Background
Layoffs across the U.S. dropped to their lowest level in four years in August, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The 52,881 announced job cuts were down 38% from the same month last year, and year-to-date cuts are down 41% from 2025. Despite the low layoff numbers, many companies remain hesitant to hire, and the consumer products industry led August cuts with over 10,000 job losses.
How it unfolded
- Sep 1, 2026DP World notified South Carolina authorities of plans to permanently lay off 205 employees in Spartanburg County, effective Oct. 31.
- Sep 2, 2026HCA Healthcare cut over 200 IT jobs in Nashville; Uber announced a 10% workforce reduction, affecting 363 Chicago employees.
- Sep 3, 2026Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported August layoffs at 52,881, the lowest for that month since 2022.
- Sep 3, 2026PayPal reported new layoffs in the Bay Area as part of a broader global reduction.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Andy Challenger of Challenger, Gray & Christmas noted that while layoffs are low, hiring activity has not picked up as hoped.
- Companies
- Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the company is simplifying structures to reduce complexity, despite growth.
- Workers
- Laid-off worker Austin Campbell expressed gratitude for his education but acknowledged the challenging road ahead.
Still unverified
DP World has not commented on the Spartanburg layoffs; details on reasons remain unconfirmed.