Layoffs More Than Doubled in 10 States in 2026. New Hampshire Recorded the Fastest Rise.

Layoffs more than doubled in 10 states in 2026 year-to-date figures, with New Hampshire posting the steepest percentage increase, according to a new analysis that shows sharp differences in how job cuts are changing across America.

The study, conducted by Bridge Point Business Brokers, compared layoff counts in 48 states against their 2025 year-to-date figures. Twenty-five states recorded increases, while 23 reported declines. The findings measure changes in recorded layoffs, rather than unemployment rates or the likelihood that an individual worker will lose a job.

New Hampshire topped the ranking with a 294.16% increase, as layoffs rose from 154 to 607. The total nearly quadrupled, although the increase amounted to 453 additional cuts. Idaho ranked second, with layoffs climbing 203.64%, from 330 to 1,002. Vermont followed with a 176.70% increase, rising from 339 to 938.

Arkansas and Connecticut completed the five states with the fastest growth. Arkansas recorded 1,613 layoffs, an increase of 160.16%, while Connecticut's total reached 4,260, up 159.44%. Michigan, Oregon, South Carolina, Indiana and West Virginia also reported increases exceeding 100%, bringing the number of states where layoffs more than doubled to 10.

Those rankings, however, tell a different story from the raw totals. A state can record a dramatic percentage increase from a relatively small starting point, while another can report substantially more layoffs even as its total falls.

California recorded 114,818 layoffs, the highest total among the states examined, despite a 20.56% decline from 144,528 in the 2025 comparison period. Washington had the second-highest count, with 52,313 layoffs. Texas followed with 46,098, while Georgia recorded 41,952.

The contrast between New Hampshire and Michigan further demonstrates why percentage changes need context. New Hampshire's nation-leading increase represented 453 additional layoffs. Michigan recorded 19,498 more layoffs, despite a lower percentage increase of 138%.

"The percentage increase tells us how quickly layoffs have risen, while the total shows how many cuts were recorded. Looking at both gives readers a clearer picture," said Terry Williams, spokesperson for Bridge Point Business Brokers.

On the other side of the ranking, Maine recorded the largest percentage decline. Its layoff count fell 86.59%, from 4,811 to 645. That left Maine with fewer recorded cuts than Idaho or Vermont, despite having a substantially higher count in the previous year's comparison period.

The split between 25 states with increases and 23 with declines also shows that rising layoffs were far from uniform across the country. The findings document both steep increases and substantial reductions, with the direction and scale varying by state.

For businesses assessing what those changes could mean locally, Williams urged employers to examine their own operating conditions. "For local businesses, the practical step is to review cash flow and customer demand before making staffing decisions. Statewide figures provide context, but conditions can vary widely between employers and communities."

The analysis ranked states by the percentage change between their 2026 and 2025 year-to-date layoff counts. Alaska and Hawaii were excluded, and the figures were not adjusted for population or workforce size.

Those limitations matter when comparing states with different numbers of residents and workers. The ranking does not establish which state has the highest layoff rate relative to its workforce, nor does it measure overall unemployment.