California consistently ranks near the top of every US layoff measure, and October 2026 is no exception. WARN filings currently show 15,910 workers affected by layoff notices in California — second only to Washington's 16,776. But raw totals only tell part of the story. Here is how the hardest-hit states actually compare, and what is driving the numbers.
The top 5 states right now
Based on current WARN registry data (October 8, 2026):
| Rank | State | Workers affected |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | 16,776 |
| 2 | California | 15,910 |
| 3 | Illinois | 4,861 |
| 4 | Texas | 3,957 |
| 5 | Ohio | 3,224 |
Two things jump out. First, Washington and California are in a league of their own — together they account for about 47% of all workers in the national registry (32,686 of 69,260). Second, there is a steep cliff after the top two: Illinois, in third place, has less than a third of California's total.
California: big economy, strict rules, big numbers
California's 15,910 figure reflects two compounding factors. The obvious one is scale: California has the largest state economy and workforce in the country, so in absolute terms it will almost always rank high when layoffs rise nationally.
The less obvious factor is the state's mini-WARN law. California requires notice from employers with 75 or more employees (versus 100 under federal law), which means the state's registry captures layoffs that would never be filed in states following only the federal baseline. California's numbers are therefore more complete — which paradoxically makes them look worse in raw comparisons.
None of this diminishes the real impact: nearly 16,000 workers with filed layoff notices is significant by any measure. But anyone comparing California to other states should remember they are not always comparing like with like.
Washington at number one
Washington edges out California with 16,776 workers — a striking figure for a state with roughly two-thirds of California's workforce. The concentration suggests sector-specific cuts rather than broad economic weakness: Washington's economy is heavily weighted toward large tech and aerospace employers, where a handful of big filings can move the state total dramatically.
Texas and the rest
Texas (3,957) ranks fourth despite having the second-largest workforce in the country — a reminder that absolute numbers reflect industry mix as much as economic health. Texas's diversified economy, spanning energy, healthcare, and tech, spreads layoff risk across sectors. It is also worth noting that Texas has no state mini-WARN law, so its registry only captures layoffs meeting the federal thresholds — its true large-layoff count is likely understated relative to states like California and Illinois with stricter reporting rules.
Illinois (4,861) and Ohio (3,224) round out the top five, both states with significant manufacturing and logistics footprints where facility closures generate large single filings.
Beyond the top 5
The concentration at the top means most states see far smaller numbers — but small does not mean painless. In a smaller labor market, a single 500-worker plant closure can devastate a town even though it barely registers nationally. State-level data matters precisely because national totals hide local impact. If you live outside the top five states, the statewide ranking is less useful to you than filtering the registry to your own state and metro area.
It is also worth remembering that WARN thresholds shape what gets counted. A state with heavy small-business layoff activity but few large employers can have real economic pain that never appears in WARN data at all. The registry captures the large-employer layer of the labor market — important, but partial.
Per-capita vs. absolute: why it matters
Absolute rankings favor big states. A fairer comparison would adjust for workforce size — and on that basis, Washington's lead over California would look even larger, while Texas would fall further down the list. Absolute numbers matter for the sheer human impact; per-capita figures matter for understanding which labor markets are under the most stress. Both views are worth keeping in mind.
The caveat behind every number
As with all WARN data: these are reported plans, not confirmed job losses. Filings can be amended, delayed, or withdrawn. And because state thresholds differ, registries in strict mini-WARN states like California and Illinois capture activity that goes unrecorded elsewhere. The data is the best public signal available — just read it with its known blind spots in view.
What to watch next
The national picture shows 8,220 workers with layoffs effective in the week of October 28 — the heaviest week in the current window. How that breaks down by state will determine whether California and Washington extend their lead or whether the pain spreads. The state rankings update as new notices are filed, so the leaderboard is worth revisiting regularly.
Data source: state figures from Layoff Atlas, current as of October 8, 2026.