Mass layoffs are hitting companies nationwide this year as the economy and technology has shifted how businesses structure themselves and operate. Layoffs have happened amid Americans’ struggles with inflation spiking costs of living and frustrations with the downward economy. Thousands of people will lose their jobs this year, including more than 30,000 in just six states.

Federal and state WARN filings show tens of thousands of workers are expected to lose their jobs across the United States. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires large employers to notify states in advance of major layoffs and plant closures, offering one of the earliest public snapshots of where job losses are likely to be concentrated. Tracking those filings reveals that a small group of states is bearing a disproportionate share of the projected cuts. The filings span multiple industries, from technology and healthcare to manufacturing, retail and transportation.

Unlike monthly employment reports that reflect jobs already lost, WARN notices provide a forward looking view of layoffs that are planned but, in many cases, have not yet taken effect. That makes them a critical indicator for workers, local economies and policymakers trying to anticipate where labor market pressures will intensify in the year ahead. In the states hit hardest so far, WARN data shows that a relatively small number of large employers account for a significant share of the expected job losses—setting the tone for what 2026 could bring in regional labor markets.

6. Texas

Texas is one major focal point for 2026 layoffs. WARNAct data indicates more than 5,300 Texas workers have been affected by WARN filings in 2026 so far.

Layoffs in Texas span manufacturing, retail and food production. One of the companies laying off the most employees is Tyson Foods, which laid off over 1,700 workers at its Amarillo, Texas, beef processing plant in January. First Brands Group is laying off nearly 600 employees across three separate facilities, and DSV contract logistics announced nearly 400 layoffs at a facility in Wilmer, Texas.

5. Pennsylvania

Over 6,000 people were part of WARN notices in Pennsylvania in 2026, according to WARN Tracker.

The state’s layoffs are spread across healthcare, manufacturing and retail, with filings tied to hospital systems, food producers, and distribution centers. Large multistate employers operating in Pennsylvania—particularly in healthcare and logistics—account for many of the state’s biggest WARN filings in 2026.

Liberty Home Choices, a nonprofit home aid agency in Philadelphia, will close on May 24, laying off over 600 people. Amazon is also laying off nearly 1,000 employees as part of an effort to close all of its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh locations in Pennsylvania

4. Illinois

Over 7,000 people are impacted by WARN notices in Illinois, according to WARN Tracker. It is also among the states facing significant layoffs in 2026.

A significant portion of those layoffs is due to Franciscan Health’s acquisition by Prime Healthcare, and the WARN notice indicated that 1,535 employees would be affected.

First Brands Group’s layoffs across the U.S. also hit Illinois, with up to 1,000 people being impacted by the WARN notice. Amazon has also announced significant layoffs in Illinois.

3. Washington

Washington layoff notices are impacting nearly 8,000 people, according to WARN tracker.

Tech layoffs are at the forefront of the job losses in the state. Oracle, Amazon, Meta and Snap account for up to 7,000 of the layoff notices.

2. New Jersey

New Jersey WARN notices impact nearly 9,000 people, according to WARN Tracker.

Much of New Jersey’s layoff activity is concentrated in the pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and telecommunications sectors. WARN filings list Verizon and Bristol Myers Squibb among companies announcing sizable layoffs in the state in 2026, along with hospital systems and healthcare providers reducing staff across multiple facilities.

In February, Verizon laid off over 1,300 employees in New Jersey, and Optum Health laid off over 500 employees at the beginning of the year as it stopped its behavioral health services.

1. California

California is projected to see the largest number of layoffs in 2026 by a wide margin. WARN Tracker data shows more than 20,000 workers in California have been affected by 2026 filings so far, the highest total of any state tracked this year.

Many of the largest California layoffs are tied to technology, healthcare, and retail. WARN filings in the state include cuts at major tech employers with large workforces in the Bay Area and Southern California, as well as healthcare systems and retail chains announcing facility closures or restructuring.

Oracle cut over 700 jobs in California, and Snapchat cut nearly 250 jobs.

Layoffs are hitting people nationwide, but there’s a significant gap between the six states that are accounting for the majority of layoffs and the rest of the states. Many states are expected to see between 2,000 and 4,000 people laid off this year, with one state, South Dakota, only registering 31 layoffs so far. (Source: Newsweek)

Story Date: April 21, 2026