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Rising Layoffs: Key Areas in the U.S. Facing Job Disruptions

KVIA•Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 9:19 AM•Stacker

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The U.S. is witnessing a rise in layoffs, with the unemployment rate increasing to 4.6% as of December 2025. This marks the first year since 2020 that layoffs have exceeded one million, largely driven by the adoption of artificial intelligence and economic uncertainties. Regions like Cleveland, Portland, and Washington D.C. have seen significant increases in unemployment rates, with Cleveland experiencing the highest rise at 0.8%. The ongoing job disruptions are affecting various sectors, including manufacturing and hospitality, prompting concerns about economic stability in these areas. Workers in industries such as healthcare and data science may be more insulated from these layoffs.

Key Details: • National unemployment rate increased to 4.6% as of December 2025. • Cleveland has the highest unemployment rate increase at 0.8%, now at 5.2%. • AI adoption has led to approximately 55,000 layoffs since January 2025. • Workers in healthcare and data science are less likely to be affected by layoffs.

economy unemployment artificial-intelligence job-market layoffs

People & Organizations

Washington D.C.Bureau of Labor StatisticsMemphis, TennesseeChallenger, Gray & ChristmasPortland, OregonCleveland, OhioVirginia Beach, Virginia

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