Ask The Recruiter

Monthly Job Cuts Report

atr AskTheRecruiter.com Year in Review Job Cuts Report · 2018 · 🌐 Worldwide Data as of Jul 28, 2026 · 10:57 AM EDT · AskTheRecruiter.com
223,653
Worldwide verified job cuts ▼ 10% vs 2017
The main number, every figure traces to a filing or named report.
500
🤖 blamed on AI by the employer 0% of the total
AI or automation named as a cause, in the company’s own words.

Every figure below is a live link: click any number, company or industry to open the exact rows and sources behind it, filtered to this period.

Across 1,600 separate verified layoff events in 34 countries.

AI, in the employer’s own words 2 attributions this period, each with its source

This is the receipt behind the number above. Every cut we count as AI carries the company’s own statement, quoted verbatim, and a link to where they said it. Nothing here is inferred.

  • Suncor Energy 400 jobs · 2018-02-01 · Canada AI named as the cause
    “Union outcry as automation eats up 400 oilsands jobs”
    See the source →
  • Department of Home Affairs 100 jobs · 2018-04-05 · Australia AI named as the cause
    “Plans to automate simple visa applications threaten Tasmanian jobs”
    See the source →

Open every AI-attributed cut in the tracker, filtered →

Month by month, verified cuts in 2018

Jan 46,937
Feb 10,038 🤖4%
Mar 17,694
Apr 14,730 🤖1%
May 13,772
Jun 22,584
Jul 14,448
Aug 12,811
Sep 14,519
Oct 13,544
Nov 18,127
Dec 24,449

Biggest employers cut (full year)

IBM · 2 events30,099
Novartis · 2 events22,395
Fonction publique d'État14,500
Wells Fargo13,250
BT13,000
Bayer · 2 events12,350
Deutsche Bank · 3 events11,220
Verizon Communications Inc10,400

Top industries

Methodology: Verified cuts have a primary source behind each figure, an SEC filing, a state WARN notice, or a named news report with a quote. AI attribution requires the employer’s own words. Machine-extracted numbers are double-checked and every correction is disclosed openly.

Cite as: “AskTheRecruiter.com Year in Review Job Cuts Report, 2018 (accessed Jul 28, 2026 · 10:57 AM EDT).” · Live tracker · Sources · Press kit