251,053 workers were affected by WARN Act layoffs in 2023
According to WARN Act filings submitted to state workforce agencies, 2023 recorded 726 WARN notices affecting 251,053 workers, averaging 346 workers per notice.
Monthly Workers Affected - 2023
Top Employers by Workers - 2023
| # | Company | Workers | Notices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon | 27,000 | 2 |
| 2 | Microsoft | 14,221 | 8 |
| 3 | Bed Bath Beyond | 14,000 | 1 |
| 4 | Nokia | 14,000 | 1 |
| 5 | 12,000 | 1 | |
| 6 | Meta Platforms | 10,307 | 2 |
| 7 | Walgreens Boots Alliance | 10,000 | 1 |
| 8 | David's Bridal | 9,413 | 2 |
| 9 | Tuesday Morning | 8,000 | 1 |
| 10 | Salesforce | 7,000 | 1 |
| 11 | Dell Technologies | 6,650 | 1 |
| 12 | CVS Health | 5,043 | 2 |
| 13 | General Motors | 4,000 | 1 |
| 14 | IBM | 3,900 | 1 |
| 15 | Silicon Valley Bank | 3,500 | 1 |
| 16 | Goldman Sachs | 3,200 | 1 |
| 17 | WeWork | 3,000 | 1 |
| 18 | Walmart | 2,693 | 6 |
| 19 | Wells Fargo | 2,607 | 6 |
| 20 | 3M | 2,500 | 1 |
Industries
What the 2023 WARN Record Shows
In 2023, employers filed 726 WARN Act notices nationwide, reporting 251,053 affected workers across 20 distinct employers and 10 industry sectors tracked in this dataset. Because the federal WARN Act only captures mass layoffs of 50+ workers at firms with 100+ staff, the 2023 total represents the reportable ceiling, smaller reductions, contractor non-renewals, and voluntary separations stayed off the record. At an average of 346 workers per notice, 2023 filings tracked with mid-scale restructuring, department-level cuts, seasonal contractions, and consolidation within multi-site operators.
The monthly distribution above reveals whether 2023's activity clustered around a single disruption period or spread evenly across the calendar, WARN filings tend to peak with fiscal-year transitions, earnings-cycle inflection points, and macro events like policy shifts or sector-specific demand shocks. Year-over-year comparisons to 2022 and 2026 provide context for whether 2023 represented an expansion, contraction, or baseline-level WARN activity. The top employers table concentrates most of the worker-impact total in a small number of filings, a distribution pattern common across WARN data where a handful of large filings dominate the annual count while a long tail of mid-sized notices fills out the record. Sector distribution from the industry sidebar shows which industries carried the heaviest WARN exposure in 2023.
For analysts, the practical read of 2023 WARN data is context-dependent: a high notice count paired with large average events signals sector-wide consolidation, while a high notice count with smaller averages often reflects broad-based right-sizing across many employers. Overlay this record with BLS employment data, state unemployment trends, and industry-specific economic indicators to interpret whether 2023 marked an inflection point or continuation of prior trends. Workers affected by 2023 WARN notices retained full federal entitlements: 60-day advance notice, unemployment-insurance eligibility on the effective separation date, COBRA health-coverage continuation, and rapid-response services from the state workforce agency that received each filing. Employers failing to provide required notice faced back-pay and benefits liability under 29 U.S.C. § 2104.
Layoff Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many workers were laid off in 2023? ▼
In 2023, WARN Act filings reported 251,053 workers affected across 726 notices. This covers mass layoffs and plant closings meeting the federal threshold of 50+ workers.
Which companies had the biggest layoffs in 2023? ▼
The largest WARN Act filers in 2023 are ranked above by total workers affected. These include both plant closings and mass layoffs reported to state workforce agencies under federal WARN requirements.
Are layoffs increasing or decreasing in 2023? ▼
The monthly trend chart above shows how 2023 layoff activity varied throughout the year. WARN Act filings fluctuate with economic conditions, seasonal patterns, and industry-specific factors. Compare with other years using the year navigation.
What industries had the most layoffs in 2023? ▼
The industry breakdown for 2023 is shown in the sidebar. Industries with the highest WARN Act activity often correlate with sectors undergoing restructuring, automation, or economic headwinds.
Does the WARN Act data capture all layoffs in 2023? ▼
No. The WARN Act only requires notice for mass layoffs affecting 50+ workers at companies with 100+ employees. Smaller layoffs, gradual attrition, and voluntary separation programs are not included. Actual job losses in 2023 are likely higher than WARN data alone suggests.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
| Publisher | PlainLayoffs |
| Sources | Public state WARN-Act layoff registries |