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There were 33 major work stoppages that began in 2023, the largest number since 39 began in 2000. There were two work stoppages that began in 2022 and carried over from 2022 into 2023.
Year | Beginning during the year | In effect during the year |
---|---|---|
2000 |
39 | 40 |
2001 |
29 | 30 |
2002 |
19 | 20 |
2003 |
14 | 15 |
2004 |
17 | 18 |
2005 |
22 | 24 |
2006 |
20 | 23 |
2007 |
21 | 23 |
2008 |
15 | 16 |
2009 |
5 | 5 |
2010 |
11 | 11 |
2011 |
19 | 19 |
2012 |
19 | 21 |
2013 |
15 | 15 |
2014 |
11 | 11 |
2015 |
12 | 13 |
2016 |
15 | 16 |
2017 |
7 | 7 |
2018 |
20 | 21 |
2019 |
25 | 27 |
2020 |
8 | 10 |
2021 |
16 | 17 |
2022 |
23 | 26 |
2023 |
33 | 35 |
There were 458,900 workers involved in major work stoppages that began in 2023. The information industry, which includes the motion picture industry, had the largest number of idled workers, at 171,500.
Industry sector | Number of workers |
---|---|
Total |
458,900 |
Information |
171,500 |
Health care and social assistance |
103,200 |
Educational Services |
85,700 |
Manufacturing |
61,200 |
Accommodation and Food Services |
15,000 |
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services |
12,100 |
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services |
4,300 |
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation |
3,700 |
Transportation and warehousing |
1,100 |
Finance and Insurance |
1,100 |
These data are from Work Stoppages Program. Major work stoppages include both worker-initiated strikes and employer-initiated lockouts that involve 1,000 or more workers and last at least one shift during the work week, Monday through Friday excluding federal holidays. To learn more, see "Major Work Stoppages in 2023". We have historical work stoppages analysis factsheets available as well.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, 33 major work stoppages began in 2023 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/33-major-work-stoppages-began-in-2023.htm (visited February 15, 2025).