Graph and download economic data for Layoffs and Discharges: Total Nonfarm (JTSLDL) from Dec 2000 to May 2025 about discharges, layoffs, nonfarm, and USA.

Job Layoffs and Discharges in the United States increased to 1786 Thousand in April from 1590 Thousand in March of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United States Job Layoffs And Discharges.

Challenger Job Cuts in the United States decreased to 47999 Persons in June from 93816 Persons in May of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Challenger Job Cuts - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Graph and download economic data for Layoffs and Discharges: Total Private (JTS1000LDL) from Dec 2000 to Apr 2025 about discharges, layoffs, private, and USA.

The tech industry had a rough start to 2024. Technology companies worldwide saw a significant reduction in their workforce in the first quarter of 2024, with over 57 thousand employees being laid off. By the second quarter, layoffs impacted more than 43 thousand tech employees. In the final quarter of the year around 12 thousand employees were laid off. Layoffs impacting all global tech giants Layoffs in the global market escalated dramatically in the first quarter of 2023, when the sector saw a staggering record high of 167.6 thousand employees losing their jobs. Major tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, and IBM all contributed to this figure during this quarter. Amazon, in particular, conducted the most rounds of layoffs with the highest number of employees laid off among global tech giants. Industries most affected include the consumer, hardware, food, and healthcare sectors. Notable companies that have laid off a significant number of staff include Flink, Booking.com, Uber, PayPal, LinkedIn, and Peloton, among others. Overhiring led the trend, but will AI keep it going? Layoffs in the technology sector started following an overhiring spree during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, companies expanded their workforce to meet increased demand for digital services during lockdowns. However, as lockdowns ended, economic uncertainties persisted and companies reevaluated their strategies, layoffs became inevitable, resulting in a record number of 263 thousand laid off employees in the global tech sector by trhe end of 2022. Moreover, it is still unclear how advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) will impact layoff trends in the tech sector. AI-driven automation can replace manual tasks leading to workforce redundancies. Whether through chatbots handling customer inquiries or predictive algorithms optimizing supply chains, the pursuit of efficiency and cost savings may result in more tech industry layoffs in the future.

In February 2025, the number of job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs in the United States stood at about 3.3 million and is used when analyzing non-seasonal trends. The monthly unemployment rate can be found here.

In July 2024, it was announced that Redbox would lay off 1,000 employees, the second-highest number of terminations in the media industry so far. The largest layoff announcement so far was that of Spotify, when the streaming giant declared in December 2023 that it would let 1,500 employees go, making this the biggest media industry layoff case since 2020. SiriusXM’s layoff of 475 people in March 2023 ranked fourth on that list. Spotify’s layoffs in the grand scheme of things While Spotify’s employment changes were notable in the media world, put in perspective, the numbers seem modest. For example, compared to the layoffs in the tech industry, where Amazon announced in 2022 and 2023 the termination of 18,000 employees, Spotify’s 1,500 may seem a less drastic move. However, as it is, Spotify’s number of employees already decreased by 15 percent between 2021 and 2022, so the addition of over a dozen hundred dismissals indicates larger reorganization in the company. It is a significant move on the side of the streaming giant which for years boasted growing revenues as well as an expanding workforce. Layoffs in the media - the bigger picture Other media companies did not escape the trend of layoffs that started plaguing the United States in 2022. However, over the decades the sector has experienced a few dark periods in terms of employment losses. When the economy suffers, a popular cost-cutting solution is workforce restructuring, as payroll is always one of the biggest overheads for businesses to grapple with. The spikes in media industry job losses are commonly tied to recessions (e.g. in 2001 and 2008). In 2020, the culprit was the coronavirus pandemic. The most recent layoffs, though not as radical as the previous ones, are a result of numerous mergers and acquisitions, combined with economic factors, and a general shift to digital platforms.

As of January 2024, the tech startup with the most layoffs was Amazon, with over 27 thousand layoffs, across five separate rounds of layoffs. It was followed by Meta and Google with around 21 thousand and 12 thousand job cuts announced respectively.

Layoffs in in the technology industry

Overall, layoffs across all industries began in 2020 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with tech layoffs increasing in 2022. In the first quarter of 2023 alone, more than 167 thousand employees had been fired worldwide, a record number of job cuts in a single quarter and more than all of the layoffs announced in 2022 combined, marking a harsh start to of 2023 for the tech sector. From retail to finance and education, all sectors are suffering from this widespread downsizing. However, retail tech startups were hit the most, with almost 29 thousand layoffs announced as of September 2023. Most job losses happened in the United States, where tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Google are based.

Reasons behind increasing tech layoffs

Layoffs in the technology sector started with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when entire cities were in lockdown and mobility was restricted. Although restrictions loosened up in 2021, events such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the downturn in Chinese production, and rising inflation had a significant impact on the tech industry and continue to represent major concerns for tech companies. As a consequence, companies across the world have yet to overcome all economic challenges, examples of which are rising material and labor costs, as well as decreasing profit margins. To address such difficulties, tech companies have appointed business plans. For instance, in the United States, tech firms planned to focus more on consumer retention, automating software, and cutting operating expenses.

Graph and download economic data for Layoffs and Discharges: Government (JTS9000LDL) from Dec 2000 to May 2025 about discharges, layoffs, government, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Level - Job Losers on Layoff (LNS13023653) from Jan 1967 to Jun 2025 about job losers, layoffs, 16 years +, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Layoffs and Discharges: Construction (JTU2300LDL) from Dec 2000 to May 2025 about discharges, layoffs, construction, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Labor Turnover, Layoff Rate, Manufacturing for United States (M0852AUSM497NNBR) from Jan 1919 to Dec 1930 about layoffs, labor, manufacturing, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Job Losers on Layoff as a Percent of Total Unemployed (LNS13023654) from Jan 1967 to Jun 2025 about job losers, layoffs, 16 years +, percent, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Layoffs and Discharges: Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (JTU7100LDL) from Dec 2000 to May 2025 about discharges, layoffs, arts, entertainment, recreation, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees, Truck Transportation (CEU4348400001) from Jan 1990 to Jun 2025 about warehousing, trucks, transportation, establishment survey, employment, and USA.