How many people are laid off in the US each month?
Refreshed monthly
There were about 1.64 million layoffs and discharges in August 2026. 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.
1.64M
people were laid off or discharged in August 2026
13.8M
layoffs and discharges in 2026 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 2026 (January through August), layoffs and discharges total 13.8 million, which is 2.3% lower than the same period in 2025.
Layoffs were 2.3% lower by August 2026 than by August 2025.
Cumulative monthly layoffs and discharges, seasonally adjusted
What is the layoff and discharge rate?
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 August 2026, 1.0% of employed people were laid off or discharged. This was lower than the average over the previous 12 months (1.1%).
The monthly layoff and discharge rate was 1% in August 2026.
Monthly (seasonally adjusted) and 12-month rolling average layoff and discharge rates, December 2000–August 2026
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 2025.
What industries have the highest and lowest layoff rates?
The layoff and discharge rate varies across industries, which experience different economic pressures and are dependent on different types of workers or technologies. In August 2026, the rate was highest in the professional services industry (1.7%) and was lowest in government (0.3%).
The layoff and discharge rate was highest in the professional services industry in August 2026.
August 2026 (seasonally adjusted) and August 2023–July 2026 average layoff and discharge rates, by industry
The August 2026 layoff and discharge rates in construction; government; information; manufacturing; mining and logging; professional and business services; and transportation, warehousing, and utilities industries were all lower than the 3-year average (August 2023–July 2026 average) in each. Rates exceeded the 3-year average in the other services; private education and health services; and wholesale trade industries.
What states have the highest and lowest layoff rates?
Layoffs and discharges also differ across states for many reasons, including the economic vitality and the industry profile of the region. In 2025, the average annual layoff rate ranged from 0.8% in Washington, DC to 2.6% in Idaho.
Layoffs and discharges data for states were released monthly through February 2026. At that time, BLS released December 2025 data and stated that state-level data would shift to annual release, to be published in July of each year.
Layoffs and discharges data for states were released monthly through February 2026. At that time, BLS released December 2025 data and stated that state-level data would shift to annual release, to be published in July of each year.
The 2025 average annual layoff and discharge rate was highest in Idaho.
Average annual layoff and discharge rate, 2025
Average annual layoff and discharge rate, by state (2025)
| 1. | Idaho | 2.6% |
| 2. | Indiana | 1.5% |
| 3. | Montana | 1.5% |
| 4. | Rhode Island | 1.5% |
| 5. | Alaska | 1.4% |
| 6. | Colorado | 1.4% |
| 7. | Nevada | 1.4% |
| 8. | New Jersey | 1.4% |
| 9. | New Hampshire | 1.3% |
| 10. | New York | 1.3% |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
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.
