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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Stephanie Cruz

97,006 Jobs Cut in a Month as Amazon, Meta, and Groupon Join 2026 Layoff Wave

Many firms cut staff while boosting revenue, investing in AI systems instead. (Photo is AI-generated) (Credit: Google Gemini Image)

American employers announced 97,006 job cuts in May 2026, the steepest monthly figure since January and the worst May tally since 2020, according to data from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

The figure rose 16 per cent from April and marked the third straight month in which layoff announcements increased, with artificial intelligence named the leading reason for a third consecutive month.

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