AI-Driven Layoffs Surge: US Job Cuts Reach 97,006 in May 2026 as Automation Becomes Leading Cause for Workforce Reductions

US employers announced 97,006 job cuts in May 2026, the highest May total since 2020. Artificial intelligence was cited as the primary reason for 40% of these reductions, with AI-linked layoffs in 2026 already surpassing the combined total of the previous two years. Technology firms led the workforce cuts, as companies continue to restructure operations for automation.