Job cuts soared in August, providing the newest proof of a slowdown within the labor market as some economists warn of a potential recession, in accordance with knowledge launched on Thursday by outplacement agency Challenger, Grey and Christmas (CGC).
U.S. firms introduced almost 86,000 jobs cuts in August, which amounted to a 39% enhance from the earlier month, CGC mentioned. The determine indicated the biggest variety of job cuts within the month of August since 2020, which coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
August marks the sixth time this yr that complete job cuts surpassed these of the corresponding month one yr prior, CGC mentioned.
“After the affect of DOGE on the Federal Authorities, employers are citing financial and market components as the driving force of layoffs,” mentioned Andrew Challenger, senior vice chairman and labor professional for CGC.
The prescription drugs and finance industries suffered the biggest variety of job cuts final month, the info confirmed.
The job cuts figures come a day earlier than the discharge of a brand new authorities jobs report, which is predicted to point out 75,000 jobs added in August. If the report meets expectations, it might mark a slight uptick from 73,000 jobs added within the earlier month.
Total, authorities jobs knowledge indicated a pointy slowdown in hiring over the summer season. The U.S. added a mean of about 35,000 jobs over three months ending in July, which marked a serious cooldown from the roughly 196,000 jobs added on common over the earlier three-month interval, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics knowledge confirmed.
The hiring cooldown hit a large swath of industries, together with manufacturing and the federal authorities. The general unemployment charge of 4.2% continued to hover close to a traditionally low degree however unemployment rose amongst Black staff, an incidence that may generally foretell job losses amongst different teams.
In the meantime, financial development slowed over the primary half of this yr. A authorities report on gross home product indicated common annualized development of 1.2% over the primary half of 2025, effectively beneath 2.5% development final yr.
Whereas acknowledging the tepid numbers, some analysts previously told ABC News that warnings a couple of recession are untimely.
Development staff construct a house at a brand new housing improvement on July 01, 2025 in Richmond, California.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Photographs
The financial system has up to now largely averted the kind of widespread job losses that always accompany a recession. Shopper spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of financial exercise, ticked greater over three months ending in June, and company earnings have remained sturdy.
Hours after the discharge of the weak jobs report final month, President Donald Trump fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, a Joe Biden appointee who was confirmed by a bipartisan Senate vote in 2024.
In a social media publish, Trump volleyed sharp criticism at McEntarfer, claiming without evidence that the roles knowledge had been “manipulated.” The roles report featured revisions of earlier months’ knowledge, which is a routine apply.
“We’d like correct Jobs Numbers. I’ve directed my Workforce to fireplace this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY. She will likely be changed with somebody way more competent and certified,” Trump mentioned on Friday.
McEntarfer had served within the federal authorities for 20 years previous to her firing.
“It has been the dignity of my life to function Commissioner of BLS alongside the numerous devoted civil servants tasked with measuring an enormous and dynamic financial system,” McEntarfer mentioned in a social media publish after her dismissal. “It’s critical and vital work and I thank them for his or her service to this nation.”
William Seashore, a former commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, who was appointed by Trump, condemned McEntarfer’s dismissal.
“The completely groundless firing of Dr. Erika McEntarfer, my successor as Commissioner of Labor Statistics at BLS, units a harmful precedent and undermines the statistical mission of the Bureau,” Seashore posted on X.
McEntarfer didn’t reply to an earlier ABC Information request for remark.
As a substitute for McEntarfer, Trump nominated E.J. Antoni, chief economist on the conservative-leaning Heritage Basis.
