30 major work stoppages began in 2025 and idled 306,800 workers

There were 30 major work stoppages beginning in 2025. The lowest annual total of major work stoppages was 5 in 2009 and the highest was 470 in 1952. Between 2016 and 2025, there were an average of 20.8 work stoppages beginning in the year. Over the same decade, the number of major work stoppages beginning each year ranged from 33 in 2023 to 7 in 2017.

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.

These data are from the 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 2025." We also have historical work stoppages analysis factsheets with more information.