US Information Sector Layoffs Spike to 2.3% in June, Nearing Pandemic-Era Records
The layoff rate in the U.S. information sector climbed 0.7 percentage points to 2.3% in June, the third-highest since the 2020 pandemic, with 63,000 workers discharged. The six-month moving average hit a near-record 2.0%, exceeding peaks from the 2008 and 2001 recessions.
The U.S. information sector saw its layoff rate jump to 2.3% in June, up 0.7 percentage points from the prior month. That marks the third-highest reading since the 2020 pandemic, translating to roughly 63,000 workers laid off or discharged during the month.
Since November 2025, the layoff rate has more than doubled. The six-month moving average climbed to 2.0%, the second-highest on record. For context, this metric peaked at around 1.5% during the 2008 Financial Crisis and the 2001 recession.
The June figure is the third-largest monthly total of layoffs and discharges since April 2020, as AI continues to reshape the labor market.
Source: The Kobeissi Letter