Layoffs have been a common sight in retail for the past few years, starting with the host of retailers that laid off employees during the first stages of the pandemic and continuing last year as layoffs hit a wide swath of retail disruptors, as well as stalwarts like Walmart.

2023 kicked off with a grim start: Retail layoffs spiked 3,225% year over year, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas data. Well over halfway into the year, layoffs remain elevated. Retailers announced nearly 56,000 job cuts through the end of August, a shocking 524% increase compared to last year.

“Job openings are falling, and American workers are more reluctant to leave their positions right now. The job market is resetting after the pandemic and post-pandemic hiring frenzy,” Andrew Challenger, senior vice president of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said in a statement in August. “The increase in job cuts is not surprising as technological disruption and companies taking a cost-savings approach on the economy claim positions.”

Indeed, in Retail Dive’s coverage alone, nearly 50 businesses have laid off employees in 2023 — and not just those in dire financial straits. Among the long list are dozens of big-name retailers, including Kohl’s, Gap, Amazon, Walmart, REI, Under Armour, Neiman Marcus and CVS. There are also a slew of digitally native companies, including Allbirds, Ruggable, Everlane and Stitch Fix.

In Retail Dive’s coverage, close to 50 retailers laid off employees in 2023

Layoffs at major retailers in 2023, along with reasons given.

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