Latest updates on American job layoffs for the week of December 22-28, 2025, with complete statistics, industry breakdowns, and context as the labor market remains resilient despite annual challenges
As 2025 wraps up, the final week of December (December 22-28) proved relatively calm on the layoff front, typical for the holiday season when major announcements slow and companies focus on year-end closures. No large-scale mass layoff announcements dominated headlines during this period, aligning with low unemployment claims and a “no hire, no fire” labor market dynamic.
However, the broader December context includes ongoing effects from earlier announcements, with tech seeing around 300 layoffs for the month and scattered cuts in other sectors. Weekly initial jobless claims for the week ending December 20 (latest available) dropped to 214,000, signaling persistently low layoffs overall.
This comes against a challenging 2025 backdrop: Employers announced over 1.17 million job cuts through November—the highest since the 2020 pandemic—driven by restructuring, AI adoption, and economic pressures.
Key Layoff Statistics: Last Week and December Overview
The holiday week saw minimal new major announcements, but here’s a snapshot:
- Weekly Initial Jobless Claims (week ending Dec 20): 214,000 (down 10,000; below forecast of 224,000)
- Continued Claims: Rose to 1.923 million (proxy for ongoing unemployment)
- Tech Layoffs in December 2025: Approximately 300 (per trackers like TechCrunch/Layoffs.fyi)
- Notable Mentions Last Week: Small-scale or ongoing (e.g., phased cuts from prior announcements like Amazon’s 84 jobs in Seattle/Bellevue scheduled into 2026)
No Challenger report for December yet (typically released early January for previous month).
2025 Year-to-Date Layoff Stats (Through November)
| Metric | Figure | YoY Change | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Announced Cuts (Jan-Nov) | 1,170,821 | +54% | Highest since 2020 |
| Government Sector | 308,091 | Significant rise | DOGE impact primary |
| Technology | 153,536 | +17% | AI cited for 54,694 |
| Warehousing | 92,512 | High growth | Economic conditions |
| Retail | 91,954 | +139% | Closures/restructuring |
| Services | 69,089 | +64% | Varied reasons |
Top Reasons for Cuts (YTD):
- Restructuring/Closures: Leading factors
- AI Adoption: 54,694 cuts directly cited
- Economic/Market Conditions: Widespread impact
Major Companies with Recent or Ongoing Layoffs Impacting December
While no blockbuster announcements hit last week, these carried over:
- Amazon: Ongoing corporate reductions (~14,000 YTD); small batches like 84 in WA
- Verizon: Major campaign (>13,000) notified earlier, implementations ongoing
- Tech Sector Highlights (December): Zebra Technologies winding down unit; scattered startup cuts
- Other: Stellantis (up to 2,450 plant workers indefinite); Paramount (~2,000 from merger)
Tech trackers report ~209,000 total tech layoffs in 2025 (global/U.S. focus).
Why Layoffs Remained Low Last Week
- Holiday Timing — Companies avoid announcements near Christmas/New Year
- Low Claims Data — Indicates stable actual separations
- Year-End Focus — Tax/loss harvesting, rebalancing complete earlier
- Resilient Market — Despite announcements, actual unemployment low; hiring sluggish but steady
Analysts note a “rolling recession” in white-collar sectors, but government data shows no broad surge in filings.
Outlook: What to Watch in Early 2026
- Full December Challenger report (early Jan)
- Potential post-holiday announcements
- Impact of policy shifts on federal/contractor jobs
- AI-driven efficiencies continuing in tech
The US labor market ends 2025 on a stable note, with low weekly layoffs masking earlier announced cuts’ human impact.
How do you see the job market evolving in 2026? Share your experiences below!
Published on www.vfuturemedia.com | December 29, 2025
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