The new year is starting with a wave of companies laying off employees, with more than 100 employers across the U.S. filing notices of planned job cuts for January.
Per Newsweek, the list spans industries that touch nearly every part of daily life—from retail and shipping to banking, entertainment, and manufacturing.
According to filings obtained by the outlet, companies including Amazon and FedEx are among the major employers planning layoffs this month.
Retail and consumer-facing brands are also prominent, with notices tied to companies in apparel, restaurants, and big-box retail. In the fashion and footwear sector, NIKE Retail Services, Inc. has filed WARN notices regarding upcoming job cuts.
The WARN Act requires employers to provide at least 60 days’ notice before mass layoffs or large facility closures. These notices are triggered when a company lays off 50 or more employees within 30 days under specific conditions, or when 500 employees are laid off regardless of workforce size.
Financial institutions and telecom companies are also represented. Wells Fargo and Verizon are among employers that have submitted notices, underscoring that even traditionally stable sectors continue to adjust headcount. In the entertainment and media sector, Warner Music Group has also been linked to January layoffs.
Manufacturing and food service aren’t immune either. Filings include companies tied to auto production, packaged foods, and quick-service dining, with General Motors and McDonald’s appearing in WARN data connected to planned workforce reductions at specific locations.
The scope of these filings adds to a year already marked by significant job losses. More than 1.1 million layoffs were recorded in 2025, according to a December report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, showing that companies laying off employees has remained a defining trend rather than a temporary reset.
Labor economists have identified multiple factors behind the cuts, including ongoing policy uncertainty and structural changes driven by automation and AI. Meanwhile, unemployment filings remain closely watched, with nearly 200,000 Americans filing new claims in late December.