U.S. Job Cuts Surge 38% in April as AI Drives Layoffs and Hiring Plans Plummet 69%
Summary
U.S. job cuts surge 38% in April 2026 to 83,387 as AI drives nearly 21,500 layoffs for the second straight month, while employer hiring plans collapse 69% to just over 10,000 announced positions amid deepening economic uncertainty.
Key Points
- U.S. employers announce 83,387 job cuts in April 2026, marking a 38% increase from March, though year-to-date cuts remain down 50% compared to the same period in 2025.
- Artificial Intelligence leads all reasons for job cuts for the second consecutive month, accounting for 21,490 layoffs in April alone, with the Technology sector driving the most cuts across all industries.
- Hiring plans drop sharply in April, falling 69% from March to just 10,049 announced positions, with experts predicting hiring will remain muted amid ongoing economic uncertainty and market disruptions.