US Layoffs Fall Sharply In November — So Why Are Companies Still Avoiding Hiring? - Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ)

Group 1 - Layoffs announced by U.S. employers slowed sharply in November, with planned cuts falling 53% from October to 71,321, although this figure is still 24% higher than a year earlier, marking the largest November total since 2022 [1][2] - Job cuts in November have risen above 70,000 only twice since 2008, indicating a concerning trend in the labor market despite the recent decline in layoffs [3] - Through the first 11 months of 2025, companies announced 1.171 million layoffs, a 54% increase from the same period last year, while hiring plans were at their weakest since 2010, with only 497,151 intended additions, down 35% from 2024 [4] Group 2 - Restructuring was the primary reason for job cuts in November, followed by business closures and demand-related reductions, with tariffs and economic uncertainty also impacting smaller firms [6] - Telecom companies, particularly Verizon, led the layoffs in November, with technology firms and meat processors also significantly contributing to job cuts, totaling 153,536 job cuts in the tech sector so far this year, up 17% from the previous year [7] - Despite the high volume of layoffs, unemployment claims have not surged, indicating that employers are more inclined to hold positions vacant rather than aggressively firing employees, reflecting a "no-fire, no-hire" labor market [8]