How many people are laid off in the United States each month?
About 1.8 million in December 2024. This includes all terminations of employment by an employer — called layoffs and discharges — such as permanent layoffs, temporary layoffs, and terminations because of mergers, downsizing, closings, or employee performance.
Data updated February 26, 2025
1.8M
people were laid off or discharged in December 2024
20.2M
layoffs and discharges in 2024 so far
Layoffs are a constant in the US labor market — from 2001 to 2019, there were more than 20 million a year. Increases in layoffs often reflect recessions or other economic disruption. For example, March and April 2020 saw record-setting layoffs and discharges because of COVID-19. So far in 2024 (January through December), layoffs and discharges total 20.2 million, which is 1.9% higher than the same period in 2023.
Layoffs were 1.9% higher by December 2024 than by December 2023.
Cumulative monthly layoffs and discharges, seasonally adjusted
Another way to consider this data is to look at the layoff and discharge rate. This puts layoffs in the context of the total number of people working and shows the percentage of employed people laid off during the given time period. This rate allows for better comparisons across time, industries, and places by adjusting for differences in the size of the working population.
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In December 2024, 1.1% of employed people were laid off or discharged. This was the same as the average over the previous 12 months (1.1%).
The monthly layoff and discharge rate was 1.1% in December 2024.
Monthly (seasonally adjusted) and 12-month rolling average layoff and discharge rates, Dec. 2000–Dec. 2024
A 12-month rolling average smooths out short-term fluctuations and clarifies long-term trends. Aside from a recession-related uptick in 2008 and 2009, the 12-month rolling average layoff rate trended downward from 1.6% in 2001 to 1.2% immediately prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reached a record high of 2.4% in 2020 from pandemic-related layoffs before falling to a record low 0.9% in 2021 and 2022. The rate was 1.1% for January–December 2024.
The layoff and discharge rate varies across industries, which experience different economic pressures and are dependent on different types of workers or technologies. In December 2024, the rate was highest in the transportation/utilities industry (2.6%) and was lowest in government (0.4%).
The layoff and discharge rate was highest in the Transportation/utilities industry in December 2024.
Dec. 2024 (seasonally adjusted) and Dec. 2021–Nov. 2024 average layoff and discharge rates, by industry
The December 2024 layoff and discharge rates in information; professional and business services; wholesale trade; construction; other services; and manufacturing industries were all lower than the three-year average (December 2021–November 2024) in each. Rates exceeded the 3-year average in the private education and health services; government; retail trade; financial activities; mining and logging; and leisure and hospitality industries.
Layoffs and discharges also differ across states for many reasons, including the economic vitality and the industry profile of the region. In December 2024, rates ranged from 0.8% in Pennsylvania to 3.7% in Rhode Island.
The December 2024 layoff and discharge rate was highest in Rhode Island.
Seasonally adjusted layoff and discharge rate, December 2024
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
