How many people are being laid off in the US? This page answers with official data: the monthly count of layoffs and discharges from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the layoff rate, and a year-to-date total that updates automatically after every release. Company-by-company announcements are covered in our trackers below.
See also the Tech Layoff Tracker 2026: every tech layoff announced this year, from SEC filings and company statements.
The BLS counted 1.64 million layoffs and discharges in August 2026 (preliminary), 1.0% of total employment. Adding up the monthly estimates from January through August 2026 gives 13.8 million, compared with 14.1 million in the same months of 2025. The next update is due on November 3, 2026.
Generated automatically from official BLS data; updated when new figures are published.
US layoffs by month
Employer-initiated separations, in thousands. Seasonally adjusted. Latest data point: Aug 2026 (preliminary). This chart updates automatically when the BLS publishes new figures. Source: BLS, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
View the data table
| Period | Thousand people |
|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | 1,641 (p) |
| Jul 2026 | 1,702 |
| Jun 2026 | 1,785 |
| May 2026 | 1,761 |
| Apr 2026 | 1,667 |
| Mar 2026 | 1,884 |
| Feb 2026 | 1,714 |
| Jan 2026 | 1,660 |
| Dec 2025 | 1,666 |
| Nov 2025 | 1,660 |
| Oct 2025 | 1,891 |
| Sep 2025 | 1,816 |
| Aug 2025 | 1,832 |
| Jul 2025 | 1,772 |
| Jun 2025 | 1,843 |
| May 2025 | 1,671 |
| Apr 2025 | 1,818 |
| Mar 2025 | 1,595 |
| Feb 2025 | 1,867 |
| Jan 2025 | 1,738 |
| Dec 2024 | 1,689 |
| Nov 2024 | 1,831 |
| Oct 2024 | 1,650 |
| Sep 2024 | 1,780 |
The layoff rate
Because the workforce grows over time, the rate is the fairest way to compare layoffs across years.
Layoffs and discharges as a percent of total employment. Seasonally adjusted. Latest data point: Aug 2026 (preliminary). This chart updates automatically when the BLS publishes new figures. Source: BLS, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
View the data table
| Period | Percent |
|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | 1.0 (p) |
| Jul 2026 | 1.1 |
| Jun 2026 | 1.1 |
| May 2026 | 1.1 |
| Apr 2026 | 1.0 |
| Mar 2026 | 1.2 |
| Feb 2026 | 1.1 |
| Jan 2026 | 1.0 |
| Dec 2025 | 1.1 |
| Nov 2025 | 1.0 |
| Oct 2025 | 1.2 |
| Sep 2025 | 1.1 |
| Aug 2025 | 1.2 |
| Jul 2025 | 1.1 |
| Jun 2025 | 1.2 |
| May 2025 | 1.1 |
| Apr 2025 | 1.1 |
| Mar 2025 | 1.0 |
| Feb 2025 | 1.2 |
| Jan 2025 | 1.1 |
| Dec 2024 | 1.1 |
| Nov 2024 | 1.2 |
| Oct 2024 | 1.0 |
| Sep 2024 | 1.1 |
What counts as a layoff in these numbers?
The BLS defines layoffs and discharges as involuntary separations initiated by the employer. That includes layoffs with no intent to rehire, positions eliminated through mergers, downsizing or plant closings, firings for cause, and the end of seasonal jobs. It is therefore broader than the mass layoffs that make headlines, and it covers the whole economy, not just large companies.
Company layoffs we track
- Amazon layoff tracker
- Amazon layoffs 2026: numbers, causes and consequences
- AWS layoffs
- Microsoft layoffs
- Meta layoffs 2026
- Coinbase layoffs
- HubSpot layoffs 2026
- IKEA layoffs 2026
- Tech layoffs 2026 by industry
WARN notices by state
Our WARN notices tracker collects new notices from California, Washington, New York and Texas twice a day. Employers covered by the federal WARN Act must give 60 calendar days’ notice before qualifying plant closings and mass layoffs, and many states publish these notices: Washington, New York, California and New Jersey. Read our guide to mass layoff rules for the thresholds.
If you have been laid off
- How to negotiate severance
- Health insurance and COBRA after a layoff
- Can you be laid off while on medical leave?
- Can a new employer find out you were laid off?
More US labor market data
- US jobs report: payrolls, unemployment and wages
- JOLTS: job openings, hires, quits and layoffs
- US jobs statistics by industry
Layoffs FAQ
How many people were laid off in the US in 2026?
The summary at the top of this page adds up the monthly BLS estimates of layoffs and discharges from January to the latest month available and compares them with the same months of the previous year. It updates automatically after each JOLTS release.
What counts as a layoff in government data?
In JOLTS, layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. They include layoffs with no intent to rehire, job eliminations, cuts from mergers, downsizing or plant closings, firings for cause, and the end of seasonal jobs, so the total is broader than mass layoffs alone.
What is the layoff rate?
The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the month as a percent of total employment.
Where can I see layoffs announced by a specific company?
Large layoffs at a single site usually require a WARN notice filed with the state, and many states publish them. Our company trackers and the state WARN links below are the best places to check.
Are layoffs rising or falling?
Compare the latest month with the trend in the chart and the year-to-date total in the summary. One month can move a lot, so look at several months and at the layoff rate rather than a single headline.
Sources
- BLS, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
- BLS, JOLTS data definitions
- U.S. Department of Labor, WARN Act