Layoffs by U.S. Industry in 2025 ⚠️

Key Takeaways

• As of June 30, 2025 the U.S. government laid off more employees than any other industry this year, totaling 288,600.
• The vast majority of layoffs are in the federal government, driven by DOGE actions.
• Retail and tech follow next, as tariff uncertainty and AI advancements impact their industries.

761,000 Layoffs So Far in 2025

In the first half of the year, government layoffs made up 39% of terminations nationally, with the largest share in Washington, DC.

Meanwhile, the retail sector has been particularly exposed to trade policy and its impact on consumer spending, with 79,900 layoffs overall.

Compared to the first half of 2024, tech layoffs have surged 27% in a challenging job market as employers focus increasingly on specialized AI and machine learning roles.