Layoffs have reached the highest level since 2009 (and AI may not even be to blame)

Planned layoffs have now reached their highest rate since 2009’s Great Recession. 

The data comes from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas’s new layoffs report, which revealed that U.S.-based employers announced 108,435 job cuts in January, marking the highest rate to start a year since 2009. Also notable, in the same month, just 5,306 planned hires were announced—the lowest total on record for January.

According to the data, that means layoffs are up a staggering 118% from the same period a year ago...