The number of planned layoffs at U.S. companies leapt to their highest level in more than two years amid large cutbacks in the military and Bank of America, a private report shows.

Employers announced plans to shed 115,730 workers from their payrolls in September, according to the latest numbers from consultants Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

September’s job cut amount was 126 percent higher than the level announced for August and they were 212 percent higher than one year ago in September 2010, the report said. The September surge brought the number of job cuts announced in the third quarter to 233,258 — the highest quarterly toll since the third quarter of 2009.

Job reductions planned by the military accounted for a significant portion of the September job cuts, signaling what may be ahead as the federal government seeks across-the-board cuts in spending, Challenger said.

Bank of America’s 30,000 planned cuts arise from the weak U.S. housing market and the bank’s plan to turn the bank into a smaller, more efficient company, Challenger said.

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Via MSNBC