US Layoffs — February 2023

The US labor market showed continued flux as employers filed 344 WARN Act notices in February 2023, impacting roughly 29,400 workers — representing a pullback from January and up 253% versus February 2022. Filings came from 37 states and territories, with an average of 85 workers per notice.

Top States by Workers Affected

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

The Manufacturing sector led the way in workforce reductions with 8,351 workers across 89 notices. In a parallel development, Information & Technology reported 5,320 workers.

Layoff Type Analysis

Closures accounted for 27% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.

Largest Layoffs

The single largest action involved Aerotek in Gurnee, Illinois, reporting 623 affected workers. Microsoft followed with 617 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.