Layoffs eased in February as new data showed that U.S. employers announced fewer job cuts last month after they were elevated to start the year, new data shows.

U.S. employers announced 48,307 job cuts in February, according to a report by global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. That figure is down 55% from the 108,435 job cuts announced in January, while it’s also down 72% from the 172,017 cuts announced in the same month last year.

Layoff announcements combined to total 156,742 in January and February, the lowest total for the first two months of the year since 34,309 were announced in 2022. The figure is also the fifth-highest January-February total recorded since 2009.

“February’s dip is a nice reprieve from the elevated job cut plans to start the year. With U.S. involvement in a growing war in Iran, the end of Q1 may bring more layoff plans as companies tighten belts amid uncertainty and higher costs,” said Andy Challenger, workplace expert and chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

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Layoff announcements slowed in February after starting higher to start the year. (Allison Joyce/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The tech industry announced the most layoffs in February, as firms announced 11,039 cuts for the month, bringing the total for the year to 33,330 – up 51% from the 22,042 cuts announced in the sector during the first two months of last year.

“Tech is responding to a number of pressures right now. AI is the big story, but there are also global regulatory concerns, a slowdown in digital advertising driven by tariffs and economic uncertainty, and higher costs to both employ workers and access funding, forcing companies to make difficult decisions,” Challenger said.

The transportation sector has announced 31,702 job cuts in 2026, the second-most among any sector and an increase of 872% from the 3,261 announced in the same period last year. The report noted that the war in Iran is likely to impact transportation companies due to oil costs and supply chain disruptions.

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The war in Iran could cause further disruptions in the transportation sector due to the impact on oil prices and supply chains, the report noted. (Hussein Faleh/AFP via Getty Images)

Healthcare companies and health product manufacturers, a category which includes hospitals, have announced 19,228 job cuts so far this year for the highest January-February total since 2021, when 20,245 cuts were recorded in the sector over that period.

Education had the second-most layoff announcements in February with 5,417. That brings the running total for 2026 to 6,209 – up 96% from the 3,160 cuts that were announced through February 2025.

Challenger noted that school districts “tend to approve budgets and headcount in February,” adding that with “declining enrollment, particularly in major cities, federal funding cuts and rising costs, schools are cutting more workers than last year.”

Job cuts in January and February were the lowest to start the year since 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Industrial manufacturing firms cut 4,109 jobs in February, bringing the 2026 total to 5,685, which is up 143% from the 2,341 cuts announced in the sector in the first two months of last year.

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The leading reasons cited by companies announcing job cuts in February were store or department closings with 10,736, market and economic conditions with 10,114, restructuring with 9,146 and cost-cutting a further 5,636.

In the first two months of the year, market and economic conditions have been cited as causing 38,506 cuts, followed by contract loss with 31,416, restructuring with 29,190, and closings with 23,474.

Artificial intelligence (AI) was cited for 4,680 job cuts in February, representing about 10% of total cuts for the month. In the first two months of 2026, AI was cited in 12,304 layoff announcements, or 8% of total job cut plans.

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Hiring plans rose 140% in February to 12,755 after 5,306 were reported in January. That figure is down 63% from the 34,580 hiring plans in February 2025.

Employers have announced plans to hire 18,061 workers in 2026 so far, down 56% from 40,669 new hires announced in the first two months of 2025.

Australia has had 31 prime ministers in its history, and each one made their mark one way or another.

In this article, we list down 10 interesting trivia on some of these men (and the lone woman) who were privileged to be called prime minister.

1. The Only Australian Prime Minister During Queen Victoria’s Reign

Sir Edmund Barton has the distinction of becoming the very first prime minister of Australia, holding office for a total of two years and 266 days.

He is also the only Australian prime minister that held office during the lifetime of Queen Victoria. Sir Edmund Barton became prime minister on January 1, 1901, and Queen Victoria died just 21 days later on January 22.

2. The Only Australian Prime Minister During Edward VIII’s Reign

Similarly to Sir Edmund Barton, Joseph Lyons is the only Australian prime minister to have served during the short reign of King Edward VIII.

Lyons became prime minister on January 6, 1932. Edward VIII formally abdicated from the throne on December 10, 1936. Lyons ended her term in 1939, during the reign of Edward VIII’s brother, George VI.

3. The Longest-Serving Prime Minister

Holding office for a total of 18 years, five months, and 10 days, Sir Robert Menzies is Australia’s longest-serving prime minister.

He became the 12th prime minister of Australia in 1939 and his first term last for two years and 125 days. His second term began in 1949 and lasted for 16 years and 38 days.

4. The Shortest-Serving Prime Minister

If the longest-serving prime minister stayed in office for nearly two decades in total, the shortest-serving prime minister was in office for seven days. That was none other than Frank Forde.

Forde was an interim leader more than anything, assuming office due to the death of John Curtin, who died in office. Forde was eventually replaced by Ben Chifley.

5. The First Female Prime Minister

Julia Gillard became prime minister in 2010, making history as the first ever female to be named Australia’s prime minister.

She was engaged in a long political rivalry with her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, and she resigned as prime minister after losing the leadership of the Labour Party to him.

6. The Prime Minister Who Disappeared While Swimming

Only three prime ministers in Australia’s history have died while in office, and one of them is Harold Holt.

Believe it or not, he disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach in Victoria. Although his body was never recovered, he was presumed dead.

7. The Prime Ministers Who Were Not Born in Australia

Not all prime ministers of Australia were born in the country. The following prime ministers were born outside of Australia:

• Andrew Fisher – Kilmarnock, Scotland
• Billy Hughes – London, England
• Chris Watson – Valparaíso, Chile
• Sir George Reid – Renfrewshire, Scotland
• Sir John Gorton – Wellington, New Zealand (however, he had no birth certificate)
• Sir Joseph Cook – Staffordshire, England
• Julia Gillard – Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
• Tony Abbott – London, England

8. The Prime Minister Who Won Victorian Father of the Year in 1971

Bob Hawke, the 23rd prime minister of Australia, received the Victorian Father of the Year in 1971. Hawke had four children, but only three survived into adulthood.

The award, however, was contested by his ex-wife, Hazel Masterson, who claimed that he was both a womaniser and a heavy drinker.

9. The Prime Minister Whose Chinese Name is Lu Kewen

Kevin Rudd has a Chinese name, and it’s none other than Lu Kewen.

Rudd graduated with Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) with First-Class Honours from the Australian National University. He majored in Chinese language and Chinese history, and is proficient in Mandarin.

10. The Prime Minister Who Was Told Growing Up That His Father Was Dead

The current prime minister believed when he was younger that his father Carlo, who was Italian, was killed in a car crash. That wasn’t exactly true.

Albanese only got to meet his father in 2009. Five years later, his father died.

Chief executive of Principality Building Society Iain Mansfield takes up the role

Chief executive of Principality Building Society, Iain Mansfield, has been appointed chair of business body CBI Wales. He succeeds Alison Orrells in what is a two-year term. Mr Mansfield, who took up his role at the helm of the UK’s sixth biggest mutual last October, takes up the chair role having previously served as vice-chair.

As a partner of FinTech Wales, he has been a strong advocate of backing supporting start-ups and scale-ups.

He said: “It is a genuine privilege to take up the position of chair of CBI Wales, at such an important time for our economy.

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“Businesses up and down the country are facing a challenging economic and policy backdrop. At the same time, we must address issues closer to home, particularly the urgent need to unlock productivity to secure sustainable, long-term growth.

” As chair, I am committed to strengthening CBI Wales’ position as the leading voice for business across Wales and supporting each and every sector that powers our economy.

” I look forward to amplifying the collective views of business at the highest levels of decision-making as we work together towards the more prosperous Wales we all want to see.”

Russell Greenslade, CBI Wales director, said: “I am delighted to welcome Iain as CBI Wales chair. Iain brings a deep understanding of the high costs and economic challenges faced by businesses.

“With the launch of the CBI Wales Senedd election manifesto,’ Iain will be an important voice in business’ relationship with the current and next government to ensure it delivers the jobs and sustainable growth – from north to south to east and west Wales – needed to turbo charge the economy.

“Iain will also build on Alison Orrells’ work as chair. I thank Alison for her efforts to remove barriers to growth, through her passion, dedication and conversations with senior political leaders from the Prime Minister to the First Minister and Secretary of State for Wales as a member of the Welsh Economic Advisory Group.”

In its manifesto CBI Wales calls on the next Welsh Government to devise its own industrial strategy and well as seeking to double the number of innovation ready firms in Wales.

It also calls for the next administration to look at the case for delivering an M4 Relief Road. The previous project was rejected by then First Minister Mark Drakeford, despite it having been a manifesto pledge and recommended by an independent planning inspector, on cost and environmental grounds.

More than 40,000 bicycle helmets sold at Walmart are being recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission because they violate federal safety standards and pose a “serious risk of injury or death” from head injuries.

Todson Inc., a bicycle wholesaler in Massachusetts, is recalling 40,245 Concord-branded 360 Degree Rechargeable Light-Up bike helmets after federal safety officials said the helmets failed to comply with mandatory retention system and positional stability requirements. 

“The helmets can fail to protect the user in the event of a crash,” the company said.

The recall, which was announced on Feb. 26, involves large-size helmets with a black exterior, built-in LED lighting system, black straps and buckle, and a black plastic adjustment knob at the back.

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The Concord bicycle helmets, recalled by Todson, violate federal safety standards and may not stay securely in place during an accident, raising the risk of severe or fatal head injuries. (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

“Concord” is printed on the rear of the helmet.

The helmets were sold at Walmart stores nationwide and online at Walmart.com from January 2025 through September 2025 for about $30.

Buyers are being urged to immediately stop using the recalled helmets and contact Todson for a full refund.

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The recalled Concord bicycle helmets can be identified by a sticker on the inside of the product. (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

“Consumers should destroy the recalled helmets by cutting the straps off the helmets. Consumers can send photos of the helmet with the straps cut off to 360concordhelmet@todson.com to obtain a refund,” Todson said.

No injuries have been reported.

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Todson has issued a recall for its Concord bicycle helmets after tests found they can fail to properly protect riders during a crash. (Consumer Product Safety Commission)

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The company also warned consumers not to throw the helmet’s lithium-ion battery in the trash or standard recycling bins because of the risk of fire. 

Consumers should contact their local household hazardous waste facility for proper disposal guidance.

The level of confidence amongst Welsh firms is lower than for the UK as a whole.

Business confidence in Wales fell in February according to the latest business barometer from Lloyds.

Companies in Wales reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down three points at 35%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, down five points to 22%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 29% ( compared to 32% in January). Anything above a zero reading is positive and anything below negative.

Looking ahead to the next six months, Welsh businesses identified their top target areas for growth as investing in their team, for example through training (71%), evolving their offering, for instance by introducing new products or services (52%) and entering new markets (29%).

For the UK as a whole business confidence was unchanged since January at 44%.

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Firms’ confidence in their own trading prospects fell six points to 53%, but their optimism in the wider economy rose eight points to 36%.

London was the most confident UK nation or region in February (59%), followed by the north east (58%) and Northern Ireland (58%).

The construction sector saw strong gains in overall confidence. In February, confidence was up 14 points to 60%, with manufacturing also seeing a boost, up five points to 37%. Confidence for retail and service sector firms softened slightly, each down two and three points respectively.

Nathan Morgan, area director for Wales at Lloyds, said: “While business confidence dipped this month, we know Welsh businesses are continuing to press ahead with their growth strategies.

“Whether their plans are to upskill their teams, enter new markets or diversify product and service offerings, we’ll continue to be ready to provide our support.”

Hann-Ju Ho, senior economist, Lloyds Commercial Banking, said: “It’s encouraging to see optimism in the wider economy returning, although with a small reduction in firms’ confidence in their own trading prospects. The majority of the survey results were collected following the Bank of England’s close decision to hold interest rates at its February meeting, signalling potential easing ahead, which may have alleviated business concerns, including those around cost pressures. While the rise in pricing expectations to a six month high may indicate firms are looking to rebuild their margins in 2026.

“It’s also great to see confidence increase for manufacturers and construction firms as they are key for UK growth.”