Over 1.1 Million Cuts in 2025: Latest Weekly Layoff Tracker Recap

By ClickUSANews Staff | Published: November 24, 2025

The US job market continued its turbulent ride last week, with fresh layoff announcements piling up across tech, retail, healthcare, and public sectors. From November 17-23, 2025, companies like Bristol Myers Squibb, Monarch Tractor, and the Philadelphia Housing Authority revealed plans to slash hundreds of positions, adding to the year’s staggering total of over 1.1 million announced job cuts—the highest since 2020. As tariffs bite, AI reshapes workforces, and federal efficiency drives (hello, DOGE Impact) accelerate downsizing, workers are facing a “Great Freeze” of stagnant hiring and mounting anxiety. This ClickUSANews.com roundup delivers the complete details on last week’s US layoffs, including timelines, affected companies, and expert insights. Bookmark us for ongoing 2025 layoff trackers and career recovery tips.

Timeline: Key Layoff Announcements and Actions (November 17-23, 2025)

Last week’s cuts weren’t isolated; they built on October’s record 153,000+ announcements, up 175% year-over-year. Here’s the blow-by-blow:

• November 17 (Monday): Bristol Myers Squibb kicked off the week with a targeted hit in New Jersey, announcing 110 layoffs at its Lawrence Township site. This pharma giant’s second round of 2025 cuts targets operational efficiencies amid rising R&D costs. Meanwhile, Dentsu confirmed its international restructuring, with staff reductions set for December—impacting US creative and media teams.
• November 18 (Tuesday): Australia’s CSIRO announced 350 global job slashes for cost savings, with ripple effects on US research partnerships in tech and biotech. No major domestic bombshells, but whispers of federal DOGE-driven trims echoed from October’s chaos.
• November 19 (Wednesday): The Philadelphia Housing Authority unveiled plans for nearly 300 layoffs in 2026, citing budget shortfalls from federal funding freezes—a stark reminder of public sector strain. In healthcare, CentraCare’s earlier 535-job cut (Minnesota-based) began notifications, affecting 44 locations due to reimbursement woes.
• November 20 (Thursday): Electric vehicle startup Monarch Tractor issued stark warnings: Layoffs imminent, potential shutdown looming as funding dries up in a post-subsidy EV market. TechCrunch’s weekly tally pegged US tech cuts at 17,280 for the prior week, with ongoing filings revealing Amazon’s October purge included 1,800+ engineers—waves hitting now.
• November 21 (Friday): USA Today highlighted Target’s 1,800 corporate job eliminations (announced late October but executing this week) to combat stagnant sales. BioSpace reported biotech ripples, including Alector’s second 2025 round (25 jobs) and Vedanta’s undisclosed cuts post-clinical trial flop. Overall, 2025’s biopharma layoffs surged 280% YOY in Q3 alone.
• November 22-23 (Weekend): Quieter on announcements, but X buzzed with recession fears—Business Insider warned of “ugly trends” in layoffs, unemployment, and real estate. Federal cuts loomed larger, with 300,000+ civil service reductions tied to Trump’s DOGE initiative, including erroneous firings sparking lawsuits.

These moves contributed to tech’s 118,000+ YTD cuts and government’s 307,000+. For real-time updates, follow our layoff tracker.

Major Companies and Sectors Hit: Who’s Cutting and Why?

Last week’s US layoffs spanned industries, but tech, healthcare, and public services bore the brunt. Cost-cutting topped reasons (per Challenger Gray), followed by AI automation and market pressures like tariffs. Here’s a breakdown:

Tech and Startups: AI and Restructuring Ramp Up

• Amazon: Filings confirmed 1,800+ engineers axed in its record 14,000-job October wave, despite vows to “innovate faster.” Hits Seattle and Sunnyvale hardest.
• Monarch Tractor: Undisclosed layoffs prep as shutdown risks mount; EV funding crunch cited.
• Broader Tech: 17,280 cuts last week alone, per Crunchbase; Intel’s 500 Oregon jobs (20% local workforce) and Meta’s 5% “low performer” trim linger.

Healthcare and Pharma: Reimbursements and Trials Tank

• Bristol Myers Squibb: 110 jobs at NJ site; second 2025 round amid R&D pivots.
• CentraCare: 535 across Minnesota, blaming external pressures.
• Biotech Wave: Alector (25 jobs), Vedanta (undisclosed); Q3 pharma cuts hit 23,300.

Retail and Public Sector: Sales Slumps and Budget Crunches

• Target: 1,800 corporate roles gone to offset flat sales; second major cut this year.
• Philadelphia Housing Authority: ~300 in 2026 from funding gaps.
• Federal Government: DOGE-fueled 300,000+ YTD, with 4,100 RIFs blocked temporarily; Black women hit hardest.

Broader Impact: Recession Signals and Worker Woes

These aren’t just numbers—last week’s cuts exacerbate 2025’s “worst since 2009” trend, with 1.1M+ YTD announcements. Experts like Northeastern’s Robert Triest link tariffs to “supply shocks,” spurring preemptive downsizing. AI “washing” masks corporate bloat cuts at Amazon/UPS/Target (60,000+ combined). Unemployment ticks up subtly, but “job hugging” rises—48% of workers cling to roles amid uncertainty.

Mental health tolls mount: Harvard’s Amy Edmondson notes “intimidation and fear” among survivors, with reports of panic attacks. Sectors like manufacturing lost 58,000 to tariffs. Yet, hiring offsets some (e.g., Meta grows 17% post-trim). UPenn’s Ioana Marinescu urges focus on net gains.

What’s Next? Navigating the 2025 Layoff Storm

As November closes, Challenger forecasts 1M+ total cuts, with seasonal hiring at 2012 lows. Recession whispers grow—watch real estate/restaurants. For job seekers: Upskill in AI-resilient fields; leverage networks. Employers: Empathy gaps erode trust—Forbes surveys show leaders lagging.

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