US layoffs 2026: A growing wave of layoffs is beginning to take shape across the United States, and for many workers, the warning signs are already there, long before the job cuts actually happen.
US Layoffs 2026: Early Warning Signs Emerging Across Job Market
Under federal law, companies with 100 or more full-time employees must give at least 60 days’ notice before large layoffs through filings known as WARN notices. Economists say these notices offer one of the earliest signals of trouble in the job market because they are often available within days, unlike other government data that can take weeks or even months to reflect changes, as per a USA Today report.
US Mass Layoffs Hit Highest Levels Since 2020
Recent data shows the scale of the issue. An analysis of WARN notices across 44 states found that more than 413,000 workers were impacted by large-scale layoffs last year, the highest level since 2020. That marks a 20% jump from the previous year, when more than 345,000 workers were affected. The number of notices also rose from nearly 4,000 to over 5,000.
These filings don’t capture everything. They only apply to larger employers, and overall job cuts in 2025 exceeded 1.2 million, the highest annual total since 2010, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, reported USA Today.
Inside Layoffs: What Workers Are Experiencing
For workers inside companies, the impact often builds quietly. At Amazon, which carried out major layoffs, some employees said the pressure increased months before the cuts. Tight deadlines, long hours, and constant discussion about possible layoffs created an atmosphere where many expected what was coming. In one Seattle office, dozens of employees were affected, while more than 2,000 layoffs were reported across Washington state.
2026 Job Market Outlook: Mixed Signals So Far
Looking at 2026 so far, the signals are mixed. Employers announced more than 108,000 job cuts in January, a sharp increase from a year earlier and the highest January total since 2009. That number dropped to about 48,000 in February, offering a brief pause. At the same time, federal data showed employers added 126,000 jobs in January but then lost 92,000 jobs in February.
Which States Are Seeing the Most Layoffs
Geographically, layoffs have been heavily concentrated in certain states. California leads by a wide margin, with more than 86,000 workers affected in 2025 alone, followed by Washington, Texas, Florida, and New York, as per the USA Today report.
Tech Sector Layoffs: What’s Driving the Job Cuts
The technology sector continues to drive many of these cuts. Companies like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft have filed hundreds of WARN notices as they restructure operations. While artificial intelligence was not listed in official filings as a cause, separate tracking showed over 7,000 job cuts in January linked to AI. Still, some experts say current layoffs look more like a correction after earlier hiring surges rather than a direct result of new technology.
How WARN Notices Help Workers Prepare
For workers, WARN notices are meant to provide some breathing room. The advance notice can help people start job searches, adjust their finances, and avoid sudden hardship. But the system is not perfect. Some notices don’t meet the 60-day requirement, and enforcement varies widely between states, with no single federal agency overseeing compliance.