US layoffs in first 10 days of May 2026: Nearly 38,000 jobs cut

📉🤖 More than **37,000 employees lost jobs in just the first 10 days of May 2026** as major companies across aviation, technology, finance, cybersecurity, telecom, and fintech accelerated layoffs tied to **AI adoption, automation, cost-cutting, and corporate restructuring**. The wave of workforce reductions is becoming one of the clearest signs yet that the American labor market is entering a major transition shaped by artificial intelligence and operational efficiency.

The largest collapse came from [Spirit Airlines](https://www.spirit.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com), which shut down operations entirely, eliminating roughly 14,000 jobs nationwide after prolonged financial struggles and mounting competitive pressures. Other major cuts included an estimated 10,000 jobs at [Kyndryl](https://www.kyndryl.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com), 4,760 at [PayPal](https://www.paypal.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com), and 1,100 at [Cloudflare](https://www.cloudflare.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com) as companies reorganized around AI-driven workflows and automation strategies. Firms including [Coinbase](https://www.coinbase.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [Freshworks](https://www.freshworks.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [Verizon](https://www.verizon.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com), and [Ticketmaster](https://www.ticketmaster.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com) also announced significant workforce reductions.

Many companies described the layoffs as necessary for survival, modernization, profitability, or long-term competitiveness in an economy increasingly shaped by AI technologies. Several firms specifically stated they were transitioning toward becoming more “AI-first” organizations, reducing traditional operational roles while prioritizing investments in automation, cloud systems, machine learning, cybersecurity, and data-driven platforms.

The growing layoffs have intensified national conversations about the future of work, raising concerns about whether artificial intelligence will create enough new opportunities to offset the rapid elimination of traditional white-collar and operational jobs. Economists and labor experts say the trend reflects a broader transformation that could permanently reshape industries, redefine professional roles, and accelerate demands for workforce retraining, policy reform, and new economic safety nets in the years ahead. 🌍💼