Healthcare layoffs were up 421% in January from the month prior, signaling the start of a potentially rocky year for the industry.
There were 4,182 healthcare/product industry cuts during the month, a major increase from December's 802 cuts.
"Restructuring" was the most commonly cited reason for job cuts accross all industries, while artificial intelligence was cited for 381 cuts, according to a report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Additionally, January saw the lowest planned hiring level for the month since 2009 as the job market remains tumultuous all around.
The orthopedic and spine industry is not immune from the cuts, with at least three industry players announcing layoffs since the first of the year.
At the beginning of January, Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedics laid off 5% of its workforce. At the end of the month, spine tech company NuVasive laid off 157 employees at its San Diego headquarters.
At the beginning of February, Latham, N.Y.-based OrthopedicsNY announced plans to lay off 34 employees in the first half of the year.