U.S. layoffs in August fell to their lowest level in 4 years, labor data shows

September 3, 2026 / 11:30 AM EDT / CBS News

U.S. layoffs in August fell to their lowest level in 4 years, labor data shows

TL;DR

  • U.S. layoffs in August fell to 52,881, the lowest level in four years.
  • Through August, companies cut nearly 530,000 workers, a 41% decrease from the same period in 2025.
  • Hiring remains slow, with companies reluctant to fill positions quickly.
  • The unemployment rate dipped to 4.1% in July, but job growth reversed.
  • Consumer products industry led August layoffs, followed by food and technology.
  • Tech firms announced the most layoffs year-to-date, with restructuring and market conditions as leading reasons.