Map Reveals States With Most Layoffs So Far This Year

While only a few weeks into 2025, thousands of layoffs have already been reported across the country, signaling a challenging start of the year for the U.S. job market.

Newsweek mapped the number of individuals from each state who have been let go this year using data from WARNTracker.com, which monitors and provides live data into layoffs in the U.S. based on public records.

Why It Matters

As well as imposing financial hardship on the individuals themselves, large-scale job losses has several second-order consequences for the economy at large, as consumer spending falls and general business confidence is reduced.

Despite another monthly drop in the unemployment rate, Friday's announcement from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed job growth slowing in the U.S., potentially adding to the difficulties for those who find themselves without work.

What To Know

With 5,483 reported so far, California leads in terms of layoffs in 2025, and while data for most states has not yet been reported, this is likely to remain unchanged given its high population.

In the second spot is Washington with 3,642 layoffs. Ongoing financial difficulties faced by Boeing, one of the Evergreen State's largest employers, have prompted the aerospace giant to pursue a mass-layoff program aimed at reducing its workforce by 10 percent. As part of this effort, hundreds of employees in Washington—home to Boeing's Everett manufacturing facility—were laid off in December, with more expected in 2025.

Washington is followed by Ohio (2,000), Illinois (1,723) and South Carolina (1,641).

While WARN tracks figures of layoffs that have taken place, the number of job cuts recently announced already points to a tough year for the U.S. job market. According to a recent report from Chicago-based outplacement and career transitioning firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, American employers announced 49,795 cuts in January, down 40 percent from last January but up 28 percent from December.

What People Are Saying

Andrew Challenger, senior vice president of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, wrote in the recent report: "January was relatively quiet in terms of job cut announcements. However, we've already seen major announcements in the early days of February, so it seems this quiet is unlikely to last.

"Technology firms are being disrupted by AI integration, and many bellwether Ttech companies are discussing efficiency and productivity initiatives, which means additional cuts may be coming," Challenger added.

What Happens Next

Layoffs are set to rise throughout 2025, with many companies, particularly those in the tech sector, anticipated to pursue aggressive consolidation strategies over the next 11 months.

Following a slew of reductions last year, reports indicate that large firms such as Meta, Microsoft and Amazon have already begun to reduce their workforce this year.

Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.