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States with the highest rate of layoffs

·Dom DiFurio

Bacho // Shutterstock
Bacho // Shutterstock
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It's been three years since the arrival of COVID-19 triggered historic job losses, and the looming stress of potential layoffs has once again lodged itself in the minds of American workers.

Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to compare preliminary December layoff levels and rates across all 50 states and Washington D.C. States are ranked primarily by their layoff rates, then by the total number of layoffs.

Data released by the agency for January shows a slight uptick in layoffs, but the bureau's data for December is the most recent available that allows an analysis of the layoff rate by state. The bureau calculates layoff rates by taking the number of layoffs and discharges through the end of the month, and dividing that by the total number of people who worked during that month.

If you're worried the next pay day could come with a surprise message telling you to check your inbox for a termination notice, you aren't alone.

In December, 1 in 3 Americans surveyed by LinkedIn said they worried about the potential of layoffs at their place of business. Workers responded with varying anxiety levels, however, depending on their sector. Those holding jobs in product management, quality assurance, marketing, finance, and IT expressed the most anxiety.

That's despite an annual average layoff rate of just 1% of workers nationwide for 2022. Large shares of the roughly 1.5 million workers laid off in 2022 made headlines, with layoffs at massive tech firms like Google, Salesforce, and Microsoft dominating corporate media and cable news shows. That publicity can have the effect of warping reality for consumers.

Still, layoff activity hit those fields reporting high anxiety about losing their jobs particularly hard in recent months. In January, the professional and business services sector experienced the most significant uptick in layoffs. The industry includes IT jobs, accountants, financial advisers, and lawyers.

Stacker's analysis found that layoff activity has varied from state to state much as it has varied across industries. Layoff rates as a ratio of the workforce were above the national average in 23 states.

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Aerial view of downtown Tucson at sunset.

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#51. Arizona

- Layoff rate: 0.7% (0.3 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 23,000 (1.6% of all layoffs nationwide)

Two yellow bridges and the Pittsburgh skyline.

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#50. Pennsylvania

- Layoff rate: 0.7% (0.3 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 44,000 (3.0% of all layoffs nationwide)

Skyscrapers from the ground looking up.

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#49. New York

- Layoff rate: 0.7% (0.3 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 70,000 (4.8% of all layoffs nationwide)

Buildings in downtown D.C.

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#48. Washington DC

- Layoff rate: 0.8% (0.2 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 6,000 (0.4% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of downtown Portland with mountains and an orange sky in the background.

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#46. Oregon

- Layoff rate: 0.8% (0.2 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 15,000 (1.0% of all layoffs nationwide)

The downtown Minneapolis skyline.

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#45. Minnesota

- Layoff rate: 0.8% (0.2 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 24,000 (1.6% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of downtown Boston.

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#44. Massachusetts

- Layoff rate: 0.8% (0.2 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 29,000 (2.0% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of homes and buildings in Portsmouth on the river.

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#43. Virginia

- Layoff rate: 0.8% (0.2 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 34,000 (2.3% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of Tallahassee.

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#41. Florida

- Layoff rate: 0.8% (0.2 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 74,000 (5.0% of all layoffs nationwide)

The downtown Houston skyline.

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#40. Texas

- Layoff rate: 0.8% (0.2 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 107,000 (7.3% of all layoffs nationwide)

A large parking lot in front of buildings in downtown Albuquerque.

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#39. New Mexico

- Layoff rate: 0.9% (0.1 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 8,000 (0.5% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of downtown Reno with a bright orange sunset and mountains in the background.

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#38. Nevada

- Layoff rate: 0.9% (0.1 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 14,000 (1.0% of all layoffs nationwide)

The Denver skyline.

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#36. Colorado

- Layoff rate: 0.9% (0.1 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 26,000 (1.8% of all layoffs nationwide)

The Seattle skyline with mountains in the background.

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#35. Washington

- Layoff rate: 0.9% (0.1 percentage points below the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 31,000 (2.1% of all layoffs nationwide)

Historic buildings in downtown Burlington.

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#34. Vermont

- Layoff rate: 1.0% (same as national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 3,000 (0.2% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of downtown Honolulu next to turquoise water.

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#33. Hawaii

- Layoff rate: 1.0% (same as national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 6,000 (0.4% of all layoffs nationwide)

A bridge going over to downtown Little Rock.

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#31. Arkansas

- Layoff rate: 1.0% (same as national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 13,000 (0.9% of all layoffs nationwide)

Buildings in downtown Louisville.

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#30. Kentucky

- Layoff rate: 1.0% (same as national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 20,000 (1.4% of all layoffs nationwide)

Downtown Madison on the water with the Capitol in the background.

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#29. Wisconsin

- Layoff rate: 1.0% (same as national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 30,000 (2.0% of all layoffs nationwide)

Downtown Nashville on the water.

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#28. Tennessee

- Layoff rate: 1.0% (same as national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 34,000 (2.3% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of the Atlanta skyline.

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#26. Georgia

- Layoff rate: 1.0% (same as national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 48,000 (3.3% of all layoffs nationwide)

The Akron skyline.

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#25. Ohio

- Layoff rate: 1.0% (same as national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 53,000 (3.6% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of homes and businesses in Silicon Valley.

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#24. California

- Layoff rate: 1.0% (same as national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 174,000 (11.9% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of Wilmington.

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#22. Delaware

- Layoff rate: 1.1% (0.1 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 5,000 (0.3% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of colorful buildings in Portland, Maine.

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#21. Maine

- Layoff rate: 1.1% (0.1 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 7,000 (0.5% of all layoffs nationwide)

Downtown Charleston on the water.

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#20. West Virginia

- Layoff rate: 1.1% (0.1 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 8,000 (0.5% of all layoffs nationwide)

Buildings in downtown Jackson.

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#19. Mississippi

- Layoff rate: 1.1% (0.1 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 13,000 (0.9% of all layoffs nationwide)

The Mobile skyline.

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#18. Alabama

- Layoff rate: 1.1% (0.1 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 23,000 (1.6% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of downtown Fargo at night.

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#16. North Dakota

- Layoff rate: 1.2% (0.2 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 5,000 (0.3% of all layoffs nationwide)

Downtown Providence at sunset.

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#15. Rhode Island

- Layoff rate: 1.2% (0.2 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 6,000 (0.4% of all layoffs nationwide)

A street view of historic Topeka.

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#14. Kansas

- Layoff rate: 1.2% (0.2 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 17,000 (1.2% of all layoffs nationwide)

The Des Moines skyline.

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#13. Iowa

- Layoff rate: 1.2% (0.2 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 19,000 (1.3% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of downtown New Orleans.

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#12. Louisiana

- Layoff rate: 1.2% (0.2 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 23,000 (1.6% of all layoffs nationwide)

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Buildings in Greenville on the river.

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#11. South Carolina

- Layoff rate: 1.2% (0.2 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 26,000 (1.8% of all layoffs nationwide)

The Chicago skyline in the evening from a park.

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#10. Illinois

- Layoff rate: 1.2% (0.2 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 71,000 (4.8% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of Boise with mountains in the background.

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#9. Idaho

- Layoff rate: 1.3% (0.3 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 11,000 (0.7% of all layoffs nationwide)

An Oklahoma City downtown cityscape.

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#8. Oklahoma

- Layoff rate: 1.3% (0.3 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 22,000 (1.5% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of downtown Casper with mountains in the background.

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#6. Wyoming

- Layoff rate: 1.4% (0.4 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 4,000 (0.3% of all layoffs nationwide)

An aerial view of downtown Billings.

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#5. Montana

- Layoff rate: 1.4% (0.4 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 7,000 (0.5% of all layoffs nationwide)

The Jersey City skyline from the water at sunset.

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#4. New Jersey

- Layoff rate: 1.4% (0.4 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 58,000 (4.0% of all layoffs nationwide)

Downtown Juneau on the water with mountains in the background.

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#3. Alaska

- Layoff rate: 1.5% (0.5 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 5,000 (0.3% of all layoffs nationwide)

Boats on the water with Portsmouth in the background.

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#1. New Hampshire

- Layoff rate: 1.6% (0.6 percentage points above the national rate)
- Number of layoffs: 11,000 (0.7% of all layoffs nationwide)

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