Layoffs haven’t been this low since the 1960s. It’s great if you have a job — but not if you don’t.

In this labor market, there are fewer layoffs, but companies are also hiring fewer people It’s hard to line up a job in the current “low-hire, low-fire” labor market. It isn’t easy for anyone looking for work now to find a job. Yet people who already have jobs probably don’t have to worry much about losing them.

The number of people applying for unemployment benefits each week has fallen to historic lows, reinforcing that companies are very reluctant to lay off workers with the economy growing steadily. Copyright ©2026 MarketWatch, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8 I’m a 68-year-old widow and give money to my two adult children.

Am I putting my retirement at risk? This chart shows the No. 1 reason why the cost of raising kids jumped 60% in eight years French bonds are suffering through their worst decade since 1803 — and investors are bracing for more pain Intraday Data provided by FACTSET and subject to terms of use. Historical and current end-of-day data provided by FACTSET.

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