#unemployment

Initial unemployment benefit filings in Ohio decreased last week. The U.S. Department of Labor reported this decline on Thursday. New jobless claims in Ohio fell to 6,773 for the week ending January 24. This was down from 6,847 claims the previous week. Nationally, U.S. unemployment claims also dropped to 209,000.

https://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/story/news/2026/01/31/unemployment-numbers/88413597007/

Start looking for your next role today, but do not quit. The market is absolutely awful, worse than it looks from the inside. I was laid off and with twenty years in the field, it still took me forever to land something new. Being unemployed puts you at a huge disadvantage from the start. Keep your current seat warm until you've secured another one.

North Carolina saw a decline in initial unemployment benefit filings last week. The U.S. Department of Labor reported this data on Thursday. New jobless claims in the state fell to 3,224. This figure is down from 3,930 the previous week. Nationally, U.S. unemployment claims also decreased to 209,000.

https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/2026/01/31/unemployment-numbers/88413557007

Montana saw a drop in initial unemployment claims last week. The U.S. Department of Labor released this data. Claims fell to 929 for the week ending January 24. This number was down from 1,059 the prior week. National unemployment claims also decreased slightly.

https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2026/01/31/unemployment-numbers/88413498007/

For those who were laid off, condolences. Don't sign anything without examining it carefully or, if you think appropriate, have an attorney review it. For those with long careers, please invoke the Rule of 70 when discussing your severance. It has to do with compensating tenured employees close to retirement age. Whether they honor it or not, it will give them something to consider if it keeps coming up. Be kind to yourselves. When reviewing your resume, make sure that it is in an ATS friendly format, this will make sure that any AI tools being used to filter resumes will see it and forward it for review. Apply for unemployment too. Remember, none of this was your fault. It will continue to happen to those still left on the field. It ain't over.

Connecticut’s unemployment rate increased to 4.2% in December. This represents a 0.2% rise from the previous month. Payroll jobs also declined by an estimated 500 in December. The state's labor force dropped by 20,000 workers over six months. Republican lawmakers criticized the state's economic growth and affordability.

https://www.courant.com/2026/01/26/connecticuts-unemployment-rate-rises-hundreds-lost-jobs-in-december/

I’ve been unemployed for 11 months, and watching people I know announce new jobs or promotions makes me feel smaller every time... I want to feel happy for them, but instead I’m left with envy, frustration, and a quiet sadness that doesn’t really go away.

I’m in my mid-30s with no job, no partner, no kids, and it makes me feel stuck, behind... honestly undesirable. The job market is broken. I’ve done the applications... the final-round interviews, the books, the videos, the advice threads --- and none of it has paid off. i’ve come close more times than I can count... and only to see someone else eventually land the role. I can’t ignore the thought that not being white may be part of it.

If you were stuck here this long and still made it out, what actually helped?

I haven’t given up but i am sooo tired

The U.S. unemployment rate reached 4.6% by December 2025. Total layoffs for 2025 surpassed one million, marking the highest number since 2020. Artificial intelligence adoption and company restructuring contributed to these widespread job cuts. Additionally, Department of Government Efficiency cuts led to 300,000 layoffs. Twelve major metropolitan areas experienced significant unemployment rate increases between July 2024 and July 2025.

https://localnews8.com/stacker-money/2026/01/25/layoffs-are-rising-heres-where-americans-are-experiencing-the-most-job-disruption/

*S Labor Department Reports Jobless Claims Remain Low at 200,000
by MSN News:

https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/us-jobless-claims-steady-at-200000-in-sign-of-low-layoffs/ar-AA1UK1Gb

US initial jobless claims rose slightly to 200,000 last week. This figure, for the week ended January 17, indicates a labor market with limited layoffs. The four-week moving average of new applications fell to a two-year low of 201,500. Continuing claims also dropped to 1.85 million, the lowest since November. Federal Reserve officials are widely expected to maintain current interest rates next week.

The number of workers in Wisconsin fell by nearly 67,000. Wisconsin's unemployment rate held at 3.1% for December. This workforce reduction significantly impacts the state's economy. Demographic shifts, like aging baby boomers, contribute to the reduction. The state's participation rate for its workforce reached 64.2%.

https://www.aol.com/news/wisconsin-unemployment-remains-steady-number-193800515.html

https://www.journalstandard.com/story/news/2026/01/23/unemployment-numbers/88299794007/

Initial unemployment filings in Illinois decreased last week. The Labor Department reported this data on Thursday. Illinois saw 10,542 new jobless claims by January 17. This number was lower than the 12,733 claims from the previous week. Across the U.S., total claims for unemployment reached 200,000 last week.

Missouri Jobless Claims Fall, Labor Department Reports

Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Missouri decreased last week. The U.S. Department of Labor reported this decline. New jobless claims fell to 4,871 for the week ending January 17. This was a drop from 7,306 claims the previous week. Nationally, U.S. unemployment claims slightly rose to 200,000.

https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/business/2026/01/23/missouri-unemployment-claims-declined-last-week/88299917007/

The U.S. unemployment rate has risen to 4.6% since early 2025. Total layoffs reached one million in 2025, the highest since 2020. Artificial intelligence and company restructuring are major causes for these job cuts. PeopleFinders and Stacker identified 12 large metro areas with significant unemployment rate increases. Cleveland, Ohio, saw the highest increase, rising 0.8% between July 2024 and July 2025.

https://keyt.com/news/money-and-business/stacker-money/2026/01/24/layoffs-are-rising-heres-where-americans-are-experiencing-the-most-job-disruption/

Zimmer Biomet Begins Global Layoffs

Zimmer Biomet is conducting layoffs. The company makes orthopedic products. Most affected employees are located outside of Warsaw. The company aims to align resources with business priorities. Zimmer Biomet will assist impacted workers with employment transition.

https://wsbt.com/news/local/layoffs-underway-warsaw-based-zimmer-biomet-people-losing-lost-jobs-unemployed-unemployment-warsaw-laid-off-warn-notice-workers

Any details if they got any severance / layoff / unemployment packages. Or where they outright fired since they were warned by Lumen that not taking their "similar job offers" with ATT would end this way. Will they have any recourse, has there been more than just AZ.

https://www.kuow.org/stories/tech-layoffs-drive-seattle-area-unemployment-above-5-5296

The benefits book severance section confuses me. It makes it sound like Wells Fargo will adjust or reduce your severance payment amount if you also collect unemployment. Does anybody know for sure? I’m in Oregon.

This week it is official, I will be unemployed for the first time in my life. I've sent out a few applications but I'm nervous. December crew- how did the timing work for vacation payouts and severance, have you gotten your money yet?

Job market is tough but if we don’t relocate can I apply for unemployment? What are my options? I’ve been looking for awhile but no luck.

I was just denied unemployment in Florida cause of the severance I was always told we could still get unemployment

With everything that's been happening I've been looking and applying like crazy for a couple of months and all I'm getting is complete silence in return. I don't remember it being this bad even at the start of the pandemic. To say I'm worried would be an understatement.

1) If you say NO. Will submit before March 4.

They will hold you until 6mos just like what they did to the CSO folks. Basically, they do nothing getting paid. Wait until you get released so you can get the severance and can file unemployment to the state as you are marked being surplussed.

If you accepted a new job in between 6mos. That is consider a resignation.

2) if you say YES and no plan to drive on the new location - you will get terminated. State unemployment will not be an option.

The (2) contributors for a Major recession when they do (and have) happened during U.S. economic-financial history are Unemployment, and a Major Downturn in consumer spending; currently (70%) of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) as shown in the PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures Index).

2025 - Worst year of job growth since 2020, just reported.

2025 - Worst year of layoffs since 2020 (1.17 million), just reported.

2025 - The seven (7) U.S. debt bubbles at the highest level in U.S. history with (all of them) at (record) levels, just reported.

The (7) Debt bubbles - Household spending, mortgage loans; credit card debt, automotive loans; student loans, stock purchase financing; and finally the U.S. National debt.

The U.S. National debt (currently) is at $38.6 Trillion (and rising) with Interest paid per year by U.S. taxpayers at $968.0 Billion to outside Investors who finance it per usdebtclock.

Currently (skewed) U.S. GDP (positive data) is from AI corporate infrastructure spending, and higher income household spending.

Both of those things will (not if) revert Downwards over time impacting U.S. GDP negatively.

Note - The stock market, and U.S. economy are (not) the same thing.

It is called Divergence that (currently) exists between them (for now).

The (2) contributors for a Major recession when they do (and have) happened during U.S. economic-financial history are Unemployment, and a Major Downturn in consumer spending; currently (70%) of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) as shown in the PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures Index).

2025 - Worst year of job growth since 2020, just reported.

2025 - Worst year of layoffs since 2020 (1.17 million), just reported.

2025 - The seven (7) U.S. debt bubbles at the highest level in U.S. history with (all of them) at (record) levels, just reported.

The (7) Debt bubbles - Household spending, mortgage loans; credit card debt, automotive loans; student loans, stock purchase financing; and finally the U.S. National debt.

The U.S. National debt (currently) is at $38.6 Trillion (and rising) with Interest paid per year by U.S. taxpayers at $968.0 Billion to outside Investors who finance it per usdebtclock.

Currently (skewed) U.S. GDP (positive data) is from AI corporate infrastructure spending, and higher income household spending.

Both of those things will (not if) revert Downwards over time impacting U.S. GDP negatively.

Note - The stock market, and U.S. economy are (not) the same thing.

It is called Divergence that (currently) exists between them (for now).

It amazes me that (some) employees at Charles Schwab do (not) even understand basic U.S. economics -

The (2) contributors for a Major recession when they do (and have) happened during U.S. economic-financial history are Unemployment, and a Major Downturn in consumer spending; currently (70%) of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) as shown in the PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures Index).

2025 - Worst year of job growth since 2020, just reported.

2025 - Worst year of layoffs since 2020 (1.17 million), just reported.

2025 - The seven (7) U.S. debt bubbles at the highest level in U.S. history with (all of them) at (record) levels, just reported.

The (7) Debt bubbles - Household spending, mortgage loans; credit card debt, automotive loans; student loans, stock purchase financing; and finally the U.S. National debt.

The U.S. National debt (currently) is at $38.6 Trillion (and rising) with Interest paid per year by U.S. taxpayers at $968.0 Billion to outside Investors who finance it per usdebtclock.

Currently (skewed) U.S. GDP (positive data) is from AI corporate infrastructure spending, and higher income household spending.

Both of those things will (not if) revert Downwards over time impacting U.S. GDP negatively.

Note - The stock market, and U.S. economy are (not) the same thing.

It is called Divergence that (currently) exists between them (for now).

While on medical LOA that exceeded FMLA protection I was informed that my portion was no longer available for me to return to, and that once I was cleared by my doctor to return to work I would have 30 days of unpaid leave to find another position before being terminated with no severance.
Of course it's pretty much impossible to go through the hiring process at corporate in 30 days, so i ended up being terminated.
After filing for unemployment I received a letter from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services accusing me of fraud due to my indicating that I'd been laid off, but that Walmart had reported me as having voluntarily quit.
Fortunately I had documentation proving Walmart wrong, but I'm curious if anyone else has had this happen to them and if there might be a pattern of intentionality here on the part of Walmart to try and avoid reporting too many "quiet firings".

The first batch of Performance Improvement Plans goes out next week. HR defined the Performance Improvement Plans, and they have been standardized and nearly impossible to pass.
If you have a feeling you are going to get a Performance Improvement Plan next week, your hunch is probably right. Your not likely going to pass your PiP, because Microsoft HR defined them for employees to fail. The best thing you can start doing next week after being handed your Performance Improvement Plan. Is to so stop preforming any work and focus on updating your resume. On your Resume, you want to give yourself a fake Microsoft job title that makes you sound like you are really important, in fact using your Microsoft manager's job title as your own is a great idea, On your resume write boasting about all the important work you have done, knowing its total bs. Then start applying to jobs, in between watching Hulu movies while at work.

For a lot of workers, unemployment benefits are the safety net that keeps them going after a layoff. But moments like this reveal how complicated the system can be. People trying to find their next job shouldn’t be stressing over forms, yet thousands of Californians on unemployment have to report all earnings every single month.

https://timesofsandiego.com/opinion/2026/01/09/when-layoffs-hit-californians-deserve-help-that-works-hard/

From Verizon or anywhere else. What happens if you get a job right away, can you work at another place and still get your severance? On the opposite end of the spectrum, if the severance you got runs out before you are able to find another job, are you allowed to apply for unemployment?

Are you able to work during severance?... And bonus question can you receive severance and state unemployment at the same time ?

More than a million Americans have lost jobs in 2025 as the labor market continues to show signs of weakness, including many staying unemployed for longer.

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-layoff-lost-job-labor-market-holiday-worker-reduction-weak-economy/601548165

After eight months, I'm still looking for a job. I had a few promising interviews just to get ghosted in the end. I'm lucky because I have plenty of savings to be okay for at least another year, but I know so many folks who are not so lucky. These layoffs destroyed so many lives.

Hundreds of families may be forced to pack up and leave the town of 11,000, heading east to Omaha or Iowa, or south to the meatpacking towns of Kansas or beyond, causing spinoff layoffs in Lexington's restaurants, barbershops, grocers, and convenience stores. "Losing 3,000 jobs in a city of 10,000 to 12,000 people is as big a closing event as we've seen virtually for decades," says Michael Hicks, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Indiana's Ball State University. It will be "close to the poster child for hard times."

https://www.newser.com/story/380812/in-a-small-town-one-third-of-residents-are-losing-their-jobs.html

Oregon’s unemployment rate has climbed a full percentage point in the past year to 5.2%, its highest level since the pandemic. Oregon has the third-highest jobless rate of any state, behind only California (5.6%) and Nevada (5.3%.)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2025/12/oregons-year-of-layoffs-2025s-historic-job-cuts-are-shaking-the-states-economy.html

Your time has come you are done good luck good riddance it's over for you enjoy unemployment

I am reminded that we each have a little Karl Marx in us. For someone who is far from a Marx fan, let alone apologist, something inside kinda understands his view point.

How could I not in a world where there will soon be a trillionaire, and we are hearing news that the economy grew 4.3% in a country where months even years go on without adequate employment. For some, being unemployed in a so called best country in the world is hard to grasp, especially if you are able bodied, and willing and want to work.

If you are in precarious situation like so many, where variables that allow for adequate employment such as skills, right training/education, and employers willing to add to their personnel are lacking, news that GDP and the economy growing appear to be a mirage.

This is not whining, but rather a desperate realization that this is the new reality setting in. For so many we have to contend with the fact that sitting in an office, engaging in PI planning sessions, sizing stories, pushing code through production is going to be a thing of the past.

The hiring in today's job environment is happening in areas that people in third world countries would laugh at. I'm talking about jobs that would barely help you pay your mortgage. Jobs that sooner or later will have you dip into your retirement accounts out of desperation because savings have eroded.

I wonder if Karl Marx knew how to count to one trillion. Because as the great book says, those who have abundance will have abundance aplenty, and those who have no two pennies to rub together will continue to have nothing. So many of us are in this last group.

MCO bids for 2027 went out recently. Any word about whether or not BCBS will be losing their contract with the Healthchoice Illinois program? The plan has been underperforming in a lot of metrics compared to the other MCOs. Wondering if I need to be looking to avoid future unemployment...

Has anyone seen the severance package under uniti? Heritage windstream had cut theirs back to a few dollars added to your standard state unemployment benefits. I wonder if uniti's is better.

I still have no clue why Dell is sponsoring and renewing H1b Visas while there is unprecedented unemployment in the tech sector right now. They should stop renewing any H1b Visas.