Layoff Wave 2026: 600,000 Jobs Already Cut, Automation & AI Fueling Crisis

• The American job market faces a severe crisis in early 2026, with 600,000 jobs already lost, significantly higher than the previous year.
• Major companies like Amazon and UPS are leading the layoffs, with Amazon cutting 16,000 corporate jobs and UPS eliminating 30,000 positions, primarily ground staff.
• The primary drivers for these job cuts are increased automation and AI adoption, impacting not just tech but also banking, retail, and manufacturing sectors.
• Companies are restructuring operations, reducing management levels, and relying on AI tools, leading to jobs once considered secure being replaced by software.
• The job market has cooled significantly, making it difficult for laid-off workers to find new employment, though skills in cybersecurity, data analysis, and machine learning are in demand.

Why It Matters: Automation and AI are driving a massive layoff wave in 2026, with 600,000 jobs already cut across sectors.