recession.world · chart
Monthly Layoff Trend
US workers affected by layoffs, month-by-month over the last year.
Key takeaway: Apr '26 saw 876 workers affected — the latest monthly reading in the trend.
What this chart shows
Monthly count of workers affected by layoff events in the US. Each bar is the sum of worker_count across all filings whose filing_date fell in that month. The current month is always partial — its bar reflects filings through the most recent refresh, not an estimate.
Why monthly framing matters
Weekly data is too noisy — WARN filings cluster around end-of-month deadlines and post-holiday restructurings. Monthly smooths out that cadence without blurring the macro pattern. A three-month rising trend is a real signal; a single spike is usually one mega-filing.
Reading the trend
Look for multi-month direction, not single-bar peaks. Compare the most recent complete month to the same month a year ago — year-over-year is a cleaner read than month-over-month. Mega-filings (single-event >5,000 workers) can distort any single bar; cross-reference with the 'Largest Filings' chart to spot them.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the current month lower than recent months?
The current month is partial — it only includes filings through the most recent data refresh. It will keep climbing through the end of the month as new filings land.
What counts as 'workers affected'?
The headcount disclosed in the filing or press release. Not all filings include a precise number; those are excluded from the totals shown here.