ISTANBUL

US-based employers announced 48,307 job cuts in February, representing a 55% decrease from the 108,435 cuts recorded in January, according to a report released on Thursday.

The monthly figure also marked a 72% decline compared to the 172,017 layoffs announced during the same month last year, global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas stated.

Through the first two months of 2026, total job cuts reached 156,742, which was the lowest January-to-February total since 2022.

Hiring plans for the first two months of the year fell 56% to 18,061 compared with the 40,782 plans announced during the same period in 2025.

Andy Challenger, a workplace expert and chief revenue officer at the firm, said the February dip provided a reprieve from elevated layoff plans seen at the start of the year.

Challenger noted that US involvement in a growing war in Iran could prompt more layoff plans by the end of the first quarter as companies tightened belts amid uncertainty.

The technology sector led the cuts with 11,039 announcements in February, bringing its year-to-date total to 33,330, a 51% increase from last year.

Technology firms responded to pressures including artificial intelligence, global regulatory concerns, and a slowdown in digital advertising driven by tariffs.

Artificial intelligence was specifically cited for 4,680 job cuts last month, accounting for approximately 10% of the total monthly announcements.

Education followed as the second-highest cutting industry with 5,417 layoffs in February, while industrial manufacturing companies cut 4,109 positions.

Market and economic conditions remained the primary reason for layoffs in 2026, followed by contract losses and corporate restructuring.

Healthcare and health products manufacturers recorded 19,228 job cuts so far this year, marking the highest January-to-February total for that sector since 2021.