Layoffs are piling up in October 2026. Grocery giant Kroger plans to eliminate about 3,000 corporate jobs over three years, and Netflix is cutting about 1,000, or 6% of its staff. HubSpot, Amazon, Flock Safety and Airtable have also announced cuts.
The announcements come as hiring has slowed sharply. Employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.2%.
October 2026 layoffs list
| Company | Jobs cut | Share of workforce | Announced | Reason given |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kroger | ~3,000 corporate, over 3 years | ~37% of corporate staff | Oct. 12 | Cut overhead, use more technology and AI |
| Netflix | Nearly 1,000 | ~6% | Oct. 14 | "Organizational changes" |
| HubSpot | ~660 | ~7% | Oct. 6 | Reorganizing around "AI-driven customer outcomes" |
| Amazon | Fewer than 1,000 | Not disclosed | Oct. 7 | Mainly Stores division; U.S., India, U.K. |
| Flock Safety | ~270 | ~18% | Oct. 9 | Described as a voluntary buyout program |
| Airtable | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Oct. 12 | Restructuring after $1.3bn sale to Bending Spoons |
Compiled from Reuters, the Associated Press, Fast Company, Supermarket News and Business Insider reports. This list will change as more companies announce cuts.
Why is Kroger cutting 3,000 jobs?
Kroger chief executive Greg Foran announced the plan on a companywide call and in an internal memo on Monday, October 12, first reported by Reuters.
"Our company has more layers, more handoffs and more overhead than we need, so we are addressing this issue," Foran wrote, according to Supermarket News.
Key details:
- The cuts are corporate roles, about 37% of Kroger's roughly 8,200 corporate employees.
- They will happen over three years.
- Kroger wants to use savings to cut prices and invest in store employees.
- In September, Kroger said it was expanding its use of AI across its business.
- Kroger eliminated nearly 1,000 corporate jobs last year after its merger with Albertsons collapsed.
The grocer is under pressure. About a month ago it cut its 2026 same-store sales outlook to less than 1%, citing a drop in produce sales after a cyclospora outbreak, lower pharmacy drug prices and high gas prices squeezing shoppers. It holds an investor update on Tuesday, October 20.
Why is Netflix laying off staff?
Netflix's co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos told staff on October 14 that they were making "organizational changes" and needed to be selective about where people and money go. The cuts mainly hit product, technology, legal and HR teams.
Netflix reports third-quarter earnings on Tuesday, October 20. Our Netflix earnings preview has what to expect.
Tech layoffs: HubSpot, Amazon, Flock, Airtable
- HubSpot cut about 660 jobs. Chief executive Yamini Rangan said the cuts were "not driven by AI-related efficiencies," but the company is reorganizing around AI-driven customer outcomes, Fast Company reported.
- Amazon cut fewer than 1,000 roles, mainly in its Stores division, across the U.S., India and the U.K.
- Flock Safety, the license-plate camera company, is shedding about 270 people. It calls the program a voluntary buyout rather than a layoff.
- Airtable cut a large portion of its staff after being bought by Bending Spoons for $1.3 billion.
Is the job market getting worse?
Signs point to a slowdown. September's jobs report showed just 29,000 new jobs, against forecasts of about 90,000, and unemployment rose to 4.2%.
At the same time, the Federal Reserve is raising interest rates to fight 3.7% inflation, which raises borrowing costs for companies. See our Fed meeting guide.
What to do if you've been laid off
- Get severance terms in writing, including when health coverage ends.
- File for unemployment in your state right away.
- Check COBRA or marketplace health insurance options.
- Know your WARN Act rights. Large employers generally must give 60 days' notice of mass layoffs or plant closures.
Published Monday, October 19, 2026.
