Last Week Layoffs in the USA (December 22–29, 2025)
As of December 29, 2025, the final week of the year brought a notably subdued period for layoff announcements in the United States. Companies largely adhered to the long-standing post-2008 tradition of avoiding major negative news during the holiday season, resulting in very few fresh disclosures between December 22 and 29.
The primary U.S.-related mention in this narrow timeframe came from Mr. Cooper Group (a mortgage and financial services company), which notified employees of plans to lay off 102 workers starting in January 2026 (announcement dated around December 24, per Intellizence tracking). This small-scale action reflects ongoing consolidation in the finance sector but does not represent a large wave.
Tech-focused trackers provided no evidence of significant new U.S. cuts in the last week:
- TechCrunch’s comprehensive 2025 tech layoffs list (updated December 22) reported around 300 employees affected across various companies and startups for the entire month of December — with no spikes or major announcements called out for the period after December 22.
- Broader sources like Crunchbase and WARN records showed no blockbuster U.S. filings or high-profile tech, telecom, retail, or government-related announcements emerging in these final days.
This quiet end aligns with broader December trends, where activity remained modest compared to earlier peaks in October and November. For context, the full year through November saw U.S.-based employers announce 1,170,821 job cuts (per Challenger, Gray & Christmas) — up 54% year-over-year and the highest 11-month total since 2020. No December monthly Challenger report was available as of late December (typically released early in the following month), but the holiday slowdown suggests totals for the full month will likely stay low.
Why the Holiday Quiet in Late December?
Several factors contributed to the lull:
- Seasonal PR Caution — Companies historically defer major announcements to avoid holiday headlines and give employees family time.
- Year-End Wrap-Ups — Many restructurings from fall (e.g., phased impacts from Verizon’s 13,000+ cuts, Amazon’s 14,000 corporate roles, or ongoing AI-driven efficiencies) continued without new public disclosures.
- Economic Context — While AI remains a key driver (~55,000 cuts explicitly cited year-to-date), federal DOGE-related reductions (~294,000 announced earlier) have not generated new waves in the last two months of 2025.
Government data (e.g., weekly jobless claims) also showed stability rather than spikes, with initial claims falling unexpectedly in late December reports — consistent with low layoff levels.
Broader December and Year-End Context
December overall featured scattered, smaller-scale activity rather than mass announcements:
- Tech sector: ~300 total cuts across firms (per TechCrunch), including final phases of restructurings in cloud, fintech, and startups.
- Finance: The Mr. Cooper action stands out as the main late-month U.S. item.
- No major new WARN notices or Big Tech headlines surfaced in the December 22–29 window.
The year’s cumulative impact remains significant:
- Tech — Over 126,000 U.S.-based cuts (Crunchbase/Layoffs.fyi estimates).
- Telecom — Led by Verizon’s historic reductions.
- Government — DOGE efficiency initiatives as the top category.
- Other — Retail (~92,000), services, and economic pressures.
Implications for American Workers Heading into 2026
The holiday pause provides temporary relief, but experts anticipate potential January upticks as companies execute deferred plans, finalize budgets, and address ongoing AI transformations. For those already affected:
- Job searches remain competitive, with skill shifts toward AI, data, and emerging tech proving crucial.
- Resources like unemployment support, career coaching, upskilling programs, and networking continue to be vital.
