US Layoffs — January 2025

The US labor market showed signs of rising strain as employers submitted 362 WARN Act notices in January 2025, putting at risk an estimated 30,385 workers — up substantially from December and down 31% versus January 2024. Filings came from 37 states and territories, with an average of 84 workers per notice.

Top States by Workers Affected

California led the nation with 7,223 workers affected across 115 notices , followed by Illinois (3,036 workers) and Ohio (2,472 workers) .

Industry Breakdown

The Manufacturing sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 7,769 workers across 82 notices. Separately, Retail reported 5,452 workers.

Layoff Type Analysis

Closures accounted for 47% of all affected workers nationally, indicating significant structural workforce adjustments.

Largest Layoffs

Topping the list was Goodyear in Danville, Virginia, reporting 815 affected workers. Kohl's followed with 690 workers.

Trend & Outlook

After a dip last month, layoff activity has ticked back up.

These figures highlight a mixed picture for the nation's labor market, with activity diverging between monthly and annual comparisons. The Manufacturing sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.

This report covers all WARN Act filings with notice dates in January 2025. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires employers with 100+ employees to provide 60-day advance notice of mass layoffs and plant closings. Data is sourced from official state filings and updated daily by WARN Firehose, which also tracks SEC 8-K filings, bankruptcy proceedings, H-1B visa petitions, and unemployment claims across all six datasets. API access and data exports available.