US Layoffs — February 2023
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers filed 343 WARN Act notices in February 2023, impacting roughly 28,777 workers — representing a pullback from January and up 248% versus February 2022. Filings came from 37 states and territories, with an average of 84 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | 146 | 12,305 |
| Texas | 26 | 2,186 |
| New Jersey | 10 | 1,875 |
| Georgia | 10 | 1,603 |
| Alabama | 5 | 911 |
| Washington | 8 | 891 |
| Tennessee | 6 | 835 |
| Illinois | 6 | 825 |
| Massachusetts | 9 | 721 |
| Florida | 10 | 712 |
| Maryland | 7 | 593 |
| South Carolina | 6 | 591 |
| Oregon | 2 | 580 |
| Arizona | 9 | 530 |
| Iowa | 11 | 401 |
| North Carolina | 8 | 388 |
| Idaho | 2 | 346 |
| New Mexico | 2 | 308 |
| Montana | 2 | 301 |
| Wisconsin | 4 | 284 |
| Louisiana | 3 | 271 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | 264 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 209 |
| Ohio | 3 | 197 |
| Mississippi | 1 | 150 |
| Minnesota | 4 | 145 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 76 |
| Connecticut | 1 | 64 |
| Missouri | 1 | 63 |
| Indiana | 1 | 60 |
| North Dakota | 1 | 53 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 19 |
| Utah | 1 | 14 |
| Nevada | 4 | 6 |
| Colorado | 23 | 0 |
| Maine | 1 | 0 |
| Hawaii | 1 | 0 |
California led the nation with 12,305 workers affected across 146 notices , followed by Texas (2,186 workers) and New Jersey (1,875 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 89 | 8,351 |
| Information & Technology | 64 | 4,697 |
| Retail | 38 | 3,772 |
| Healthcare | 45 | 2,599 |
| Transportation | 23 | 2,283 |
| Professional Services | 16 | 1,897 |
| Finance & Insurance | 28 | 1,617 |
| Accommodation & Food | 6 | 941 |
| Utilities | 3 | 615 |
| Wholesale Trade | 3 | 507 |
The Manufacturing sector led the way in workforce reductions with 8,351 workers across 89 notices. In a parallel development, Information & Technology reported 4,697 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Layoff | 147 | 10,526 |
| Closure | 61 | 7,302 |
| Temporary Closure | 1 | 85 |
| Temporary Layoff | 1 | 51 |
Closures accounted for 26% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Redmond, Washington | 617 | Layoff |
| Sorrento Therapeutics | San Diego, California | 538 | Closure |
| Bechtel Power | Augusta, Georgia | 536 | |
| Markstein Beverage | Sacramento, California | 503 | Closure |
| Misfits Market | Delanco, New Jersey | 446 | |
| Akorn Operating | Decatur, Illinois | 402 | Closure |
| Walmart Store #2552 | Portland, Oregon | 379 | Closure |
| Bed Bath & Beyond | Union, New Jersey | 377 | |
| Sutter Street Manufacturing | City of Industry, California | 364 | Closure |
| Walmart | Fort Worth, Texas | 363 |
The single largest action involved Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, reporting 617 affected workers. Sorrento Therapeutics followed with 538 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The data underscores 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 February 2023. 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 LaborCurrent, 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.