Layoffs & Discharges

Total nonfarm layoffs and discharge rate (JOLTS)

1.0%12th percentile
1M: ↓ 0.1%

As of 2026-08-01 · Updated October 20, 2026

What it means

  • The share of all jobs ended by an involuntary separation in a given month — layoffs, firings, and other employer-initiated discharges.
  • Has historically been remarkably stable around 1%; sustained jumps tend to coincide with recessions.
  • From the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), seasonally adjusted.
Data Sources