2025 has become the worst year for layoffs since 2009, with companies across industries slashing jobs at alarming rates. Employers announced more than 150,000 cuts in October alone, the largest monthly wave in over two decades. Corporate giants like UPS, Amazon, and Verizon have announced major layoffs in recent weeks, with UPS cutting tens of thousands of jobs, Amazon shedding thousands, and Verizon eliminating more than 13,000 positions. Economists point to stubborn inflation, slowing consumer demand, and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence as key drivers. The result is a labor market that feels increasingly unstable for millions of workers.
