The US announced a reduction of a job increase 245% in February at the federal government release

The release of US workers increased in February to levels that were not recorded since the last two recessions in the midst of a mass reduction in Trump administration jobs in federal agencies, canceled contracts and fear of an increasing trade war.

Challenger Global Company Report, Gray & Christmas Posted on Thursday Planned job reduction It increased 245% in February at 172,017 last month. This is the highest level since July 2020, when the economy has encouraged restrictions relating to the pandemia of the Kovida and the largest total number for February from the great recession in 2009.

The biggest share of dismissals was in the Government, and Challenger followed 62,242 announced reduction in 17 different federal agencies. In the first two months of 2025, the government released approximately 62,530 workers – an increase of 41,311% compared to a year ago.

“The administration seems to want to reduce even more workers, but an order to release about 200,000 trial employees has blocked a a federal judge,“Said Andrew Challenger, older Vice President of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.” It remains to be seen how many more workers will lose the roles of the Federal Government. “

The private sector adds only 77k jobs in February, significantly below expectation, says ADP

“When mass release occurs, it often leaves the remaining staff feeling uncomfortable and uncertain. The likelihood that many more workers have voluntarily left the big one,” Challenger added.

Merchants also announced 38,956 job reductions to increase the sector to 45,375 in the year. This is an increase of 572% compared to 6,751 Retail work The cuts announced in the first two months of 2024.

Technology companies are still a leading job reduction sector, although they are a year ago. The Tech Company announced in February 14,554 job reductions for a total of 22,042 in 2025 – which is a number that dropped by 22% compared to 28,218 decreases in the same period a year ago.

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Until now, 2025 employers have announced 221,812 job reduction-which is the highest total amount of 2009, when 428,099 job reductions were planned. This figure is 33% higher than 166,945 decreasing jobs announced in the same period 2024.

“Private companies have announced plans for ejecting thousands of jobs last month, especially in retail and technology,” Challenger said. “With the influence of the Action of the Government Efficiency Department (Doge), as well as canceled state contracts, fear of trade wars and bankruptcy, the reduction of work increased in February.”

In terms of why the companies reduce jobs, the impact of Dogea was the leading reason, and 63,583 dismissals, both in the federal workforce and among the state performers, is credited.

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Market i economic conditions 36,257 decreases were attributed, while the bankruptcy was the reason for 35,411 cuts and jobs, and the storage, unit or zipper of the plant consisted of 28,095.

Reuters contributed to this report.