US tech layoffs hit 38,242 in May, highest since August 2024

US tech layoffs hit 38,242 in May, highest since August 2024

Year-to-date job cuts in the sector climbed 66% from a year earlier to 123,653, the highest among all sectors, based on Challenger Gray data.

Fact Check
The Challenger Gray & Christmas primary report explicitly confirms Technology: 38,242 May cuts (highest since August 2024), 123,653 YTD, +66% vs prior year, and leading all sectors. WSJ independently corroborates the same numbers. Note: event_time of 2025-05 in the input appears to be a normalization artifact; the actual data refers to May 2026.
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Summary

US-based technology employers announced 38,242 job cuts in May, marking the sector's highest monthly layoff total since August 2024. Challenger Gray data also showed year-to-date tech layoffs rose 66% from a year earlier to 123,653, the highest tally among all sectors. The cumulative figure was also three times higher, underscoring how sharply workforce reductions have accelerated across the industry this year.

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