Work Stoppages Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, February 21, 2024	                            USDL-24-0348

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


                                   MAJOR WORK STOPPAGES IN 2023

In 2023, there were 33 major work stoppages beginning in the year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
reported today. This is the largest number of major work stoppages since there were 39 in 2000. The 
lowest annual total of major work stoppages was 5 in 2009 and the highest was 470 in 1952. Over the last
20 years (2004-2023), there have been an average of 16.7 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 458,900 workers involved in major work stoppages that began in 2023. Service-providing 
industries accounted for 397,700 workers, or 86.7 percent of idled workers over the year. Within 
service-providing industries, the education and health services sector accounted for the idling of 
188,900 workers, the information sector for 171,500 workers, and the other sectors for 37,300 workers. 

In 2023, work stoppages in the manufacturing sector within goods-producing industries accounted for 
61,200 workers, or 13.3 percent of idled workers over the year.

In 2023, three local government and five state government work stoppages began, idling 91,100 workers. 
In private industry, 367,800 workers were idled beginning in the year.