Corporate America’s big job cuts in 2026 - What do we know so far?

U.S. corporate layoffs—especially in tech and white-collar roles—have continued into the first four months of the year, driven in part by cost-cutting, restructuring around AI, and pandemic-era overhiring. While layoffs can weigh on consumer spending and corporate earnings and thus pressure the US SP 500, some offsetting signs exist: planned hiring rose sharply (up 149% in March year‑over‑year), suggesting pockets of labor demand. Markets may interpret the mix as a near-term risk to growth and sentiment but not a uniform deterioration, leaving the S&P 500 vulnerable to sector-specific weakness (notably tech) while broader indices could be supported if hiring and spending stabilize.