"But instead of feeling empowered, many workers fear their jobs are at risk of being automated-and the flood of layoffs in 2025 confirmed their suspicions. A staggering 1.2 million job cuts were announced last year, up 58% from the roughly 760,000 layoffs in 2024, according to a recent report from employment consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas. In fact, 2025 had the highest level of workforce reductions since 2020, and was neck-and-neck with the 2008 financial crisis, when 1.22 million roles were slashed."
"The biggest victims of last year's headcount reduction bloodbath were federal workers. Extreme cost-cutting efforts from Elon Musk's DOGE crippled entire agencies, including USAID, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health and Human Services. In total, about 308,000 government jobs were cut last year. However, the tech industry took the heaviest blow in the private sector. Last year, tech announced that about 154,000 roles would be slashed, a 15% increase from nearly 134,000 job cuts in 2024."
A staggering 1.2 million job cuts were announced in 2025, a 58% increase from roughly 760,000 layoffs in 2024. 2025 recorded the highest workforce reductions since 2020 and matched the 2008 financial crisis's 1.22 million cuts. Federal workers were the biggest victims, with extreme cost-cutting tied to Elon Musk's DOGE crippling agencies such as USAID, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health and Human Services, totaling about 308,000 government jobs eliminated. The tech industry led private-sector cuts with about 154,000 roles cut, a 15% rise, driven by rapid AI implementation and post-pandemic over-hiring corrections.
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