"It now takes more than 23 weeks on average for an unemployed person in the US to find a new job. For 1 in 4 unemployed people, or 1.8 million Americans, they are still job hunting six months later. Long-term unemployment is now at its highest level in three years. That's not great news for those affected by the layoffs sweeping through companies like Target, Amazon, Nike and Pinterest in the first months of the year."
"A " low-hire, low-fire " environment defined much of 2025 and is now carrying over into 2026. While this has kept the unemployment rate historically low, at just over 4% in December, news of corporate layoffs were-and still are-never far from the headlines. The outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that companies slashed more than 108,000 jobs last month, the most since October and the worst January for job cuts since 2009."
Unemployed Americans now take more than 23 weeks on average to find new work, with 1 in 4—about 1.8 million—still searching after six months. Long-term unemployment reached its highest level in three years, with 386,000 more people unemployed for over 27 weeks in January 2026 than in January 2025. A "low-hire, low-fire" labor market persisted through 2025 into 2026, keeping the unemployment rate near 4% while generating ongoing layoffs. Companies cut more than 108,000 jobs in the most recent month, and employers added only 181,000 jobs during 2025 versus 1.46 million in 2024. ADP reported private payrolls rose by just 22,000 in January, and fewer workers are quitting as many opt to stay put.
Read at Fast Company
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