Job Market Stalls: 2025 Layoffs Hit Pandemic Highs, With Slow Recovery Forecast for 2026
The U.S. labor market faced its toughest year since the pandemic in 2025, with layoffs soaring to 1.2 million. Economists warn of an 'uncomfortably slow' rebound in 2026, leaving job seekers navigating a landscape of fierce competition and hiring freezes.