Work Stoppages Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Friday, February 20, 2026	                               USDL-26-0232

Technical information:	(202) 691-6199     *  workstoppagesinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/wsp
Media contact:	        (202) 691-5902     *  pressoffice@bls.gov


                                   MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2025

In 2025, there were 30 major work stoppages beginning in the year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 
Statistics reported today. The lowest annual total of major work stoppages was 5 in 2009 and the 
highest was 470 in 1952. Between the years 2006-2025, there have been an average of 17.8 work 
stoppages beginning in the year. A major work stoppage involves 1,000 or more workers and lasts 
at least one shift during the work week, Monday through Friday excluding Federal holidays.    

There were 306,800 workers involved in major work stoppages that began in 2025. Service-providing 
industries accounted for 300,600 workers, or 98.0 percent of idled workers over the year. Within 
service-providing industries, the education and health services sector accounted for the idling 
of 196,500 workers, the public administration sector for 82,300 workers, and the other services 
sectors for 21,800 workers. 

In 2025, work stoppages in the manufacturing sector within goods-producing industries accounted
for 6,200 workers, or 2.0 percent of idled workers over the year.

Six local government and 11 state government work stoppages began in 2025, idling 232,800 workers
and resulting in 711,600 cumulative days of idleness. In the private industry, 74,000 workers were
idled beginning in the year, resulting in 784,400 cumulative days of idleness.