US Job-Cut Plans Surge in July Due to AI and Tariffs, According to Challenger Data

En julio, las empresas estadounidenses anunciaron 62,075 recortes de empleo, la segunda cifra más alta para un mes de julio en la última década. Las razones incluyen inteligencia artificial, aranceles y incertidumbre económica. El sector tecnológico lideró los recortes de plantilla, con empresas como Intel y Microsoft anunciando planes de reducción de personal. Los recortes previstos no se traducen necesariamente en despidos inmediatos.

July 2025 saw a significant increase in job cuts in the U.S., with 62,075 positions announced, the second-highest figure for a July in the last decade [1]. This surge is attributed to multiple factors, including the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), tariffs, and broader economic uncertainty.

The report by Challenger, Gray & Christmas revealed that job cuts in July 2025 were up by 29% from June and 140% compared to July 2024. This marks the highest year-to-date total since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the economy [1]. The technology sector led the way in job cuts, with 89,251 cuts so far in 2025, a 36% increase from the same period last year [1]. Companies such as Intel and Microsoft have announced significant layoffs, with Intel cutting 21,000 jobs and Microsoft reducing its workforce by 15,000 across two rounds of layoffs [1].

AI was cited as a major contributor to job cuts, with over 10,000 positions eliminated in July alone [1]. Additionally, tariffs implemented by the Trump administration have impacted nearly 6,000 jobs this year, with the retail sector particularly hard-hit, announcing 80,487 job cuts through July, a 249% increase from the same period last year [1].

The government sector also experienced substantial job cuts, with 3,666 positions announced in July, down from 3,801 in June. Year-to-date, the government sector has seen 292,294 job cuts, the most of any sector [1]. The non-profit sector has been significantly impacted by reductions in federal funding, with 17,826 job cuts in the first seven months of 2025, a five-fold increase from the year-ago period [1].

Despite the increase in job cuts, U.S.-based employers plan to add 86,132 jobs through July 2025, up from 73,596 in the same period last year. The entertainment and leisure sector accounted for nearly a third of the hiring plans, with 28,190 new positions announced [1].

The surge in job cuts is a reflection of the broader economic challenges and policy changes currently impacting the U.S. labor market. As the economy continues to navigate these issues, the impact on employment will remain a critical factor to watch.

References:
[1] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4475346-july-us-job-cuts-jump-29-from-june-challenger-job-cut-report
[2] https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/07/31/2025-job-cuts-have-already-surpassed-all-of-2024-doge-ai-and-tariffs-are-biggest-causes/