AI accounted for 26% of April 2026 US layoffs, becoming top cited reason

According to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, artificial intelligence was the leading reason companies cited for layoffs in April 2026 for the second consecutive month, accounting for 21,490 job cuts (26% of the 88,387 total). Tech sector specifically announced 33,361 cuts in April 2026, bringing the year-to-date total to 85,411 (up 33% from the same period in 2025). Overall US job cuts rose 38% in April from March. Meanwhile, 275,000 AI-specific jobs remain open due to a skills gap, highlighting the mismatch between displaced workers and available AI roles.