US Companies Announce Most January Job Cuts Since 2009
Bloomberg Markets and Finance
|
February 05, 2026 at 03:15 PM UTC
Bearish
90% Confidence
Watch on YouTube
Key Points
- 108,435 job cuts announced in January, a 205% increase from December and the highest January total since 2009.
- 5,306 employers announced hiring plans, the lowest January total since 2009.
- Top sectors for job cuts include Transportation (UPS), Tech (Amazon), and Health Care.
AI Summary
The Challenger report for January revealed a dismal labor market outlook, with 108,435 job cuts announced, marking the highest January total since 2009. Concurrently, hiring plans were at their lowest January level since 2009, indicating a significant slowdown in employment growth. This data suggests a weakening economy, with major cuts in transportation, tech, and healthcare sectors.
Model Analysis Breakdown
| Model | Sentiment | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | Bearish | 90% |
| Consensus | Bearish | 90% |