Donald Trump has wrecked the job market, and it’s getting harder for Americans to find and keep a full-time job. The share of people who’ve been out of work for six-plus months has been rising, as one in four unemployed people, or 1.8 million Americans, have been job searching for over half a year.

The Challenger, Gray & Christmas layoff report released this month revealed that U.S.-based employers announced 108,435 job cuts in January, the highest January total since 2009, and employers announced just 5,306 planned hires last month, making it the lowest January total on record. In 2025, the economy added just 181,000 jobs, the worst year for job growth since 2003, excluding recessions. 

Trump promised a “manufacturing renaissance,” but the manufacturing sector lost jobs every month in 2025.

It’s no wonder Trump’s approval is underwater on the economy. A recent poll found that a staggering 59% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, the highest of either term.