Challenger data showing worst January for job cuts since 2009 looks to have unsettled stocks

The report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas that U.S.-based employers announced 108,435 job cuts in January looked to have added downward pressure to stock market futures.

That was the worst, for a January, since 2009, though well below 2009’s 241,749 cuts. “It means most of these plans were set at the end of 2025, signaling employers are less-than-optimistic about the outlook for 2026,” said Andy Challenger, workplace expert and chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, in a statement.