02.04.202611:34:25UTC+00US Companies Cut 60.6K Jobs in March

US-based employers announced 60,620 job cuts in March 2026, up from 48,307 in February but sharply lower than the 275,240 reported a year earlier. The technology sector accounted for by far the largest share of March layoffs (18,720), followed by pharmaceuticals (5,356), education (5,258), and financial services (5,114).

Artificial intelligence (AI) was the leading stated reason for job cuts, with 15,341 positions eliminated during the month, representing 25% of all announced reductions.

In the first quarter, employers announced 217,362 job cuts, the lowest Q1 total since 2022 and a 16% decline from the fourth quarter of 2025.

“Removing the wave of federal layoffs announced in February and March of last year, job cut announcements in 2026 are closely tracking the pattern seen in 2025. Last year, the largest reductions were in Government, Retail, and Technology. This year, they are concentrated in Technology, Transportation, and Healthcare,” said Andy Challenger, chief revenue officer at Challenger, Gray & Christmas.