Industries that laid off the most workers in September

(STACKER) – World economies were left in disarray after the COVID-19 pandemic shocked supply chains and deeply affected the global workforce—and the U.S. was no exception.

As financial rescue efforts fade into the background, the U.S. economy faces dual crises of stubbornly lingering inflation and persistent uncertainty about a looming downturn stemming from central banks’ own prescription for combating inflation: higher interest rates.

Companies spent 2022 pulling back on spending and new hires, moving forward cautiously. About 1.5 million people were laid off or fired in September 2023 nationwide, down about 10% from the previous month and up about 6% from the same time last year.

Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to rank 19 major industries by the number of layoffs they had in September 2023. The analysis uses seasonally adjusted data. Numbers for the month are preliminary and may be updated.

#19. Federal government

– September 2023 layoffs: 7,000
— Change from prior month: +1,000
— Change from September 2022: -4,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 0.2% (Rank: #18)
— Change from prior month: No change
— Change from September 2022: -0.2 percentage points

#18. Mining and logging

– September 2023 layoffs: 9,000
— Change from prior month: No change
— Change from September 2022: +2,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 1.4% (Rank: #4)
— Change from prior month: No change
— Change from September 2022: +0.2 percentage points

#17. State and local government, excluding education

– September 2023 layoffs: 21,000
— Change from prior month: -11,000
— Change from September 2022: -22,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 0.2% (Rank: #18)
— Change from prior month: -0.1 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: -0.3 percentage points

#16. Finance and insurance

– September 2023 layoffs: 23,000
— Change from prior month: -4,000
— Change from September 2022: -16,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 0.3% (Rank: #16)
— Change from prior month: -0.1 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: -0.3 percentage points

#15. Information

– September 2023 layoffs: 26,000
— Change from prior month: -2,000
— Change from September 2022: -5,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 0.8% (Rank: #11)
— Change from prior month: -0.1 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: -0.2 percentage points

#14. Educational services

– September 2023 layoffs: 29,000
— Change from prior month: -5,000
— Change from September 2022: -2,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 0.7% (Rank: #14)
— Change from prior month: -0.2 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: -0.1 percentage points

#12. Real estate and rental and leasing (tie)

– September 2023 layoffs: 30,000
— Change from prior month: +9,000
— Change from September 2022: +13,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 1.2% (Rank: #5)
— Change from prior month: +0.3 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: +0.5 percentage points

#12. State and local government education (tie)

– September 2023 layoffs: 30,000
— Change from prior month: -22,000
— Change from September 2022: -4,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 0.3% (Rank: #16)
— Change from prior month: -0.2 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: No change

#11. Nondurable goods manufacturing

– September 2023 layoffs: 50,000
— Change from prior month: -10,000
— Change from September 2022: +2,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 1.0% (Rank: #8)
— Change from prior month: -0.2 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: No change

#10. Wholesale trade

– September 2023 layoffs: 51,000
— Change from prior month: +18,000
— Change from September 2022: +13,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 0.8% (Rank: #11)
— Change from prior month: +0.3 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: +0.2 percentage points

#9. Other services

– September 2023 layoffs: 56,000
— Change from prior month: -19,000
— Change from September 2022: +11,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 0.9% (Rank: #9)
— Change from prior month: -0.4 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: +0.1 percentage points

#8. Durable goods manufacturing

– September 2023 layoffs: 65,000
— Change from prior month: -11,000
— Change from September 2022: +19,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 0.8% (Rank: #11)
— Change from prior month: -0.1 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: +0.2 percentage points

#7. Arts, entertainment, and recreation

– September 2023 layoffs: 78,000
— Change from prior month: +26,000
— Change from September 2022: +13,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 3.1% (Rank: #1)
— Change from prior month: +1.0 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: +0.3 percentage points

#6. Transportation, warehousing, and utilities

– September 2023 layoffs: 88,000
— Change from prior month: -15,000
— Change from September 2022: -19,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 1.2% (Rank: #5)
— Change from prior month: -0.2 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: -0.3 percentage points

#5. Retail trade

– September 2023 layoffs: 137,000
— Change from prior month: -17,000
— Change from September 2022: -15,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 0.9% (Rank: #9)
— Change from prior month: -0.1 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: -0.1 percentage points

#4. Health care and social assistance

– September 2023 layoffs: 147,000
— Change from prior month: -2,000
— Change from September 2022: +24,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 0.7% (Rank: #14)
— Change from prior month: No change
— Change from September 2022: +0.1 percentage points

#3. Construction

– September 2023 layoffs: 150,000
— Change from prior month: -25,000
— Change from September 2022: -43,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 1.9% (Rank: #2)
— Change from prior month: -0.3 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: -0.6 percentage points

#2. Accommodation and food services

– September 2023 layoffs: 154,000
— Change from prior month: -11,000
— Change from September 2022: +64,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 1.1% (Rank: #7)
— Change from prior month: -0.1 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: +0.4 percentage points

#1. Professional and business services

– September 2023 layoffs: 367,000
— Change from prior month: -64,000
— Change from September 2022: +50,000
– September 2023 layoff rate: 1.6% (Rank: #3)
— Change from prior month: -0.3 percentage points
— Change from September 2022: +0.2 percentage points