US Layoffs — September 2026
The US labor market showed signs of rising strain as employers submitted 298 WARN Act notices in September 2026, putting at risk an estimated 36,566 workers — up substantially from August and down 10% versus September 2025. Filings came from 34 states and territories, with an average of 123 workers per notice.
Weekly Reports
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 37 | 13,258 |
| California | 124 | 7,055 |
| Louisiana | 1 | 3,850 |
| Texas | 11 | 2,448 |
| Virginia | 7 | 1,122 |
| New Jersey | 21 | 1,069 |
| Illinois | 7 | 938 |
| North Carolina | 6 | 834 |
| Colorado | 5 | 524 |
| Arizona | 6 | 522 |
| Ohio | 7 | 516 |
| New York | 8 | 432 |
| Florida | 4 | 423 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | 388 |
| District of Columbia | 3 | 318 |
| Indiana | 2 | 283 |
| Maryland | 6 | 259 |
| New Mexico | 1 | 242 |
| Missouri | 4 | 209 |
| Wisconsin | 4 | 208 |
| South Carolina | 1 | 205 |
| Vermont | 1 | 179 |
| Minnesota | 10 | 179 |
| Utah | 1 | 175 |
| Georgia | 2 | 172 |
| Oregon | 2 | 167 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 147 |
| Iowa | 5 | 130 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 127 |
| Maine | 1 | 54 |
| Alabama | 1 | 52 |
| Idaho | 1 | 49 |
| Kentucky | 2 | 17 |
| Connecticut | 1 | 15 |
Washington led the nation with 13,258 workers affected across 37 notices , followed by California (7,055 workers) and Louisiana (3,850 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | 11 | 7,496 |
| Healthcare | 38 | 6,669 |
| Manufacturing | 44 | 3,666 |
| Admin & Support Services | 37 | 2,516 |
| Transportation | 12 | 1,669 |
| Information & Technology | 11 | 1,332 |
| Retail | 1 | 1,220 |
| Accommodation & Food | 15 | 1,103 |
| Education | 14 | 487 |
| Government | 5 | 461 |
The Agriculture sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 7,496 workers across 11 notices. Separately, Healthcare reported 6,669 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Layoff | 157 | 19,785 |
| Closure | 60 | 5,061 |
| Temporary Closure | 9 | 1,504 |
Closures accounted for 18% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevance Health | New Orleans, Louisiana | 3,850 | |
| Gebbers Farms, Etal | Brewster, Washington | 3,445 | Layoff |
| Covenant Aviation Security | California | 1,279 | Layoff |
| Legendary Fruit | Yakima, Washington | 1,220 | Layoff |
| FirstFruits | Prescott, Washington | 1,200 | Layoff |
| Conifer's Health Solutions | Dallas, Texas | 1,037 | |
| Blue Cascade Orchards | Yakima, Washington | 792 | Layoff |
| Columbia Reach Chiawana Orchards | Yakima, Washington | 570 | Layoff |
| Pacific Ag Services | Washington | 530 | Layoff |
| Gilbert Orchards | Yakima, Washington | 518 | Layoff |
Topping the list was Elevance Health in New Orleans, Louisiana, reporting 3,850 affected workers. Gebbers Farms, Etal followed with 3,445 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 Agriculture sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This report covers all WARN Act filings with notice dates in September 2026. 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.