Permanent Job Losers Job losers are defined as individuals who have left their jobs due to various reasons, including layoffs, restructurings, downsizing, and technology. The graph below shows permanent job losers since 2016. Since September 2022, permanent job losers have fluctuated, but the trend is unmistakenly increasing. In 2025 that trend continued, with permanent job losers increasing from 1.72 million in January to 1.97 million in December, the highest level since October 2021. After reaching 2.04 million in February, a slight dip occurred in March 2026 with permanent job losers at 1.88 million. The break in the time series line for October 2025 reflects the absence of data collection due to the government shutdown last year. You will see similar breaks in other charts in this report. The overall growing trend in job cuts in a period of economic growth increases labor market consternation, particularly with the growing presence of AI. Permanent Job Losers (thousands) January 2016-March 2026 (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics via Federal Reserve Bank Database)
Duration of Unemployment The graph below shows the median (blue line) and average (green line) length of unemployment since 2022. Since January 2025 both the median and average length of unemployment have increased, another sign of a challenging labor market. The March 2026 median length of unemployment was the highest level since February 2022, at 11.5 weeks, compared to 10.1 weeks in January 2025. The average length of unemployment rose from 22.0 weeks in January 2026 to 25.3 weeks in March 2026, the highest level in over three years.
Median and Average Duration of Unemployment January 2022-March 2026 (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics via Federal Reserve Bank Database)
Central Wisconsin Report - Spring 2026
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