States with the Highest Layoff Rate
States ranked by 3-month average layoff-and-discharge rate (minimum 20K average layoffs).
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, Idaho leads on the 3-month average layoff rate % at 5.5% (about 48K average layoffs) , against a cohort median of 1.1% (+4.4 pp vs median). Only states with at least 20K average layoffs in the window appear here ; window ends Dec 2025. Even above that floor, state JOLTS estimates are volatile, so treat the #1 spot as directional rather than definitive.
What This Ranking Tells Us
The layoff and discharge rate measures employer-initiated separations on the employment base. State estimates move sharply month to month (a one-month spike can look like a crisis). This ranking averages the latest 3 months and keeps only states with at least 20K average layoffs, then anchors #1 against the cohort median.
Rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), state-level series. State totals are typically not seasonally adjusted and carry larger sampling variability than the national release. Differences smaller than roughly ±0.3 percentage points at the state level should be treated as statistically indistinguishable. See our methodology page and the BLS JOLTS state data issues notice.
Bar length shows each state's layoff rate % as a share of the largest value on this list, hover or focus a bar for the exact share and rank.
| # | State | Layoff Rate % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho ID | |
| 2 | Indiana IN | |
| 3 | New York NY | |
| 4 | Nevada NV | |
| 5 | New Jersey NJ | |
| 6 | South Carolina SC | |
| 7 | California CA | |
| 8 | Michigan MI | |
| 9 | Tennessee TN | |
| 10 | Colorado CO | |
| 11 | Illinois IL | |
| 12 | Louisiana LA | |
| 13 | North Carolina NC | |
| 14 | Virginia VA | |
| 15 | Wisconsin WI | |
| 16 | Alabama AL | |
| 17 | Georgia GA | |
| 18 | Ohio OH | |
| 19 | Texas TX | |
| 20 | Arizona AZ | |
| 21 | Maryland MD | |
| 22 | Massachusetts MA | |
| 23 | Minnesota MN | |
| 24 | Missouri MO | |
| 25 | Pennsylvania PA | |
| 26 | Washington WA | |
| 27 | Florida FL |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). Values are 3-month averages; floor ≥20K average layoffs.
Top of the List, State Detail
Quick links to the detail pages for the leading states in this ranking, each page carries the full JOLTS time series and year-over-year context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a layoff in JOLTS data?
JOLTS defines layoffs and discharges as involuntary separations initiated by the employer. This includes layoffs (temporary or permanent reduction in force), discharges (termination for cause or performance), and any other involuntary separation. It excludes retirements, deaths, disability separations, and transfers within the same company.
Are high layoff rates always a bad sign?
Not necessarily in isolation. Some industries (construction, agriculture) have naturally high layoff rates due to seasonal patterns. A rising layoff rate in typically stable industries is more concerning. Context matters, compare the layoff rate trend over time rather than a single month's snapshot.
How do layoff rates compare to the Great Recession?
During the 2008-2009 recession, the national layoff rate peaked above 2.0%. Current levels are significantly below that threshold for most states. The COVID pandemic caused a brief spike in 2020 that exceeded Great Recession levels, but layoff rates normalized quickly by 2021.
Explore More Rankings
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), state-level series · Dec 2025 3-month averages; states below 20K average layoffs are excluded. Not seasonally adjusted. A high rate is not a job-quality ranking.
Every figure on PlainLabor is rendered from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS); no number is typed in by an editor. Ranking positions use the displayed JOLTS measure and reference period; they are not recommendations or forecasts. See our editorial standards and corrections policy, methodology, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-17. JOLTS figures are employer-survey openings and turnover rates for a published reference month - not job-quality rankings, hiring recommendations, or real-time vacancy postings.