How many people are laid off in the each month?

Refreshed monthly
There were about 1.67 million layoffs and discharges in July 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.

1.67M

people were laid off or discharged in July 2026

12.1M

layoffs and discharges in 2026 so far
Layoffs are a constant in the US labor market. So far in 2026 (January through July), layoffs and discharges total 12.1 million, which is 1.4% lower than the same period in 2025.

Layoffs were 1.4% lower by July 2026 than by July 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 July 2026, 1% 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 July 2026.

Monthly (seasonally adjusted) and 12-month rolling average layoff and discharge rates, December 2000–July 2026

A 12-month rolling average smooths out short-term fluctuations and clarifies long-term trends. 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 July 2026, the rate was highest in the construction and professional services industry (1.9%) and was lowest in financial activities and government (0.4%).

The layoff and discharge rate was highest in the construction and professional services industry in July 2026.

July 2026 (seasonally adjusted) and July 2023–June 2026 average layoff and discharge rates, by industry

The July 2026 layoff and discharge rates in construction; financial activities; manufacturing; retail trade; and transportation, warehousing, and utilities were all lower than the 3-year average (July 2023–June 2026 average) in each. Rates exceeded the 3-year average in the information; leisure and hospitality; mining and logging; and other services 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 December 2025, rates ranged from 0.7% in Arizona, Washington, DC, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington state to 1.7% in Indiana.

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)

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.