US Layoff Plans Dropped at Year End With More Hiring to Come

US companies announced fewer layoffs last month while planning more hiring, potentially easing fears of a sharper slowdown in the labor market.

Companies announced 35,553 job cuts in December, the lowest since July 2024 and down substantially from elevated readings in the prior two months, according to data from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. Additionally, employers laid out plans to add nearly 10,500 jobs, the highest for any December since 2022. The data was released ahead of schedule after it became accessible on the Challenger website.