U.S. Employers Announced Fewer Hiring Plans in September

Hiring plans reached 90,787 for the month, marking a 23% decline compared to September 2025.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Jobs — General

U.S. Employers Announced Fewer Hiring Plans in September

Live Poll

Is the U.S. labor market currently showing signs of a sustained decline?

U.S. employers announced 90,787 hiring plans in September 2026, a 23% drop from the 117,313 plans reported in September 2025. This downturn reflects a broader cooling in seasonal hiring, which saw 62,000 seasonal positions announced for 2026 compared to 100,800 in the same period last year.

Why it matters

The decline in hiring plans highlights shifting labor demand as companies adjust their operational needs against historical benchmarks. Meanwhile, job cuts continue to occur across various sectors, including roles impacted by the integration of artificial intelligence.

Retail led with 65,150 announced hires, while aerospace and defense added 5,300. Artificial intelligence accounted for 3,961 of the 43,281 total job cuts announced in September.

The players

Challenger, Gray & Christmas

This firm is a global outplacement and executive coaching consultancy that monitors and reports on workforce trends and hiring announcements.

The details

Challenger, Gray & Christmas tracks these hiring plans and layoffs as key indicators of labor market health. Despite the decline in hiring, full-time employment stood at 133.55 million as of July 2026, with 7.3 million total job openings reported for that month.

September 2026: Employers announced 90,787 hiring plans.
September 2025: Employers announced 117,313 hiring plans.
July 2026: Weekly jobless claims fell to 187,000.
2011: The last period with lower September hiring plans.
1969: The year weekly jobless claims reached a record low.

Market Landscape

The labor market is currently navigating a cooling phase, mirroring cyclical adjustments seen in previous decades. This shift positions companies to be more conservative with seasonal staff compared to the high-growth periods of the recent past.

Job seekers may find fewer seasonal employment opportunities available compared to previous years due to the reduction in hiring plans. This shift potentially increases competition for open roles in the retail sector as companies refine their workforce strategies.

The takeaway

Workers looking for seasonal employment should begin their search earlier this year to navigate the reduced number of available roles. Understanding these labor trends can help individuals better plan for potential fluctuations in job market demand.