03.09.202609:41:10UTC+00US Job Cuts Rise in August

U.S.-based employers announced 52,881 job cuts in August 2026, up from 33,429 in July. Despite the monthly increase, August cuts were 38.5% lower than in the same month a year earlier and marked the lowest August total since 2022.

The Consumer Products sector recorded the largest number of cuts, with 10,057 announced, driven primarily by layoffs at Procter & Gamble and Estée Lauder. Food producers followed with 7,982 cuts, with Tyson responsible for nearly one-third of that total amid a historic cattle shortage. Technology (6,103 cuts), Financial (4,286), and Communication (4,113) were the next most affected sectors.

Restructuring was the leading reason for job cuts in August, accounting for 16,173 announcements. Cuts attributed to artificial intelligence fell to the fourth-most cited reason, with 3,462 jobs eliminated.

From January through August, employers announced 529,914 job cuts, down 41% from the first eight months of 2025 and representing the lowest January–August total since 2022. Over this period, Technology led all industries with 155,126 job cuts, followed by Transportation with 42,279, Health Care/Products with 35,637, Consumer Products with 28,574, and Services with 26,778.