Work Stoppages Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, February 20, 2025	                            USDL-25-0226

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


                                   MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2024

In 2024, there were 31 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 2005-2024, there have been an average of 17.4 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 271,500 workers involved in major work stoppages that began in 2024. Service-providing 
industries accounted for 232,500 workers, or 85.6 percent of idled workers over the year. Within 
service-providing industries, the education and health services sector accounted for the idling of 
126,500 workers, the other services (except for public administration) sector for 47,000 workers, 
and the other sectors for 59,000 workers. 

In 2024, work stoppages in the manufacturing sector within goods-producing industries accounted 
for 38,000 workers, or 14.0 percent of idled workers over the year.

In 2024, one local government and nine state government work stoppages began, idling 113,300 
workers and resulting in 366,700 cumulative days of idleness. In the private industry, 158,200 
workers were idled beginning in the year, resulting in 2,997,400 cumulative days of idleness.