Which department get laid off first?
Asked by: Dr. Hector Bahringer III | Last update: October 13, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (8 votes)
However, patterns emerging during layoffs earlier this year show that non-essential departments, meaning those that don't contribute to the core functionality of the business, are the ones that often see cuts first.
What departments are most likely to be laid off?
- Professional and business services. ...
- Trade, transportation, and utilities. ...
- Leisure and hospitality. ...
- Construction. ...
- Education and health services. ...
- Manufacturing. ...
- State and local government.
What is the order of employee layoffs?
Normally, layoffs are in seniority order regardless of time base; that is, the least senior employees, regardless of whether they are part time, intermittent, or full time, are laid off first.
What is the most common day to get laid off?
The middle of the week—Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday—is usually considered the best time for laying off employees. It doesn't seem quite as harsh as doing it on a Monday while still giving employees some time in the week to get started on their job search.
Which jobs are prone to layoffs?
- Recruiter (Most likely) ...
- Customer success specialist (Most likely) ...
- Data scientist (Most likely) ...
- Software engineer (Most likely) ...
- Corporate trainer (Least likely) ...
- Auditor (Least likely) ...
- Technology analyst (Least likely) ...
- Project manager (Least likely)
Which Departments Get Laid Off First? - CountyOffice.org
Who usually goes first in layoffs?
The last employees to be hired become the first people to be let go. This makes sense logically. If they were recently hired, they probably haven't become as strong of organizational assets yet.
What jobs get laid off first?
However, patterns emerging during layoffs earlier this year show that non-essential departments, meaning those that don't contribute to the core functionality of the business, are the ones that often see cuts first.
Who gets laid off first in a recession?
Particularly hard hit by the downturns of the last three decades was the manufacturing sector, which accounted for 90 percent of all job losses. These employment re- ductions were concentrated largely in the durable goods industries and almost exclusively among production workers.
How to tell if a layoff is coming?
- Less work. ...
- Budget reductions. ...
- New management or leadership changes. ...
- Reorganization announcements. ...
- Hiring freeze or reduced hiring plans. ...
- Earnings reports. ...
- Debt and cash flow issues. ...
- Frequent meetingsor sudden communication from leadership.
Who is likely to be laid off?
Who Usually Gets Laid Off First and When? Newer employees are at risk of getting laid off in the early round of downsizing, as the "last in, first out" saying goes. In some cases, recruiters and higher earners are let go as well.
What not to do during layoffs?
- DON'T: Lay the blame on others for the decision.
- DON'T: Allow the layoff to sound up as if it is for discussion.
- DON'T: Provide the employee any promises you cannot keep.
- DON'T: Pressure the employee to sign anything they're not ready to sign.
- DON'T: Lay off employees the week before a holiday break if avoidable.
Who gets cut during layoffs?
Layoffs can hit anyone, from the entry level to the C-suite. Yet experts say the first wave of workers to go in mass dismissals typically are the much maligned, but always necessary, middle managers.
Do good employees get laid off?
it's very hard to get fired if you are just in the Top 50% and aren't a threat to your boss' bonus. Layoffs in BigCos happen all the time, but in reality, the folks impacted are the ones who are ranked in the bottom 5%-20% of the team.
Which employees are most at risk for layoffs?
- Manufacturing (7.68/10)
- Transportation/warehousing (7.56/10)
- Information (7.43/10)
- Finance and insurance (7.24/10)
- Total private (7.17/10)
- Mining/quarrying (7.17/10)
- Wholesale trade (7.17/10)
- Professional/scientific/technical services (7.04/10)
What industry is safe from layoffs?
These include the medical industry, the legal industry, and essential services, like grocery stores. If you're looking for greater stability in your career, considering industries and professions that tend to remain in demand across economic conditions can be a good idea.
Why are Big 4 laying off employees?
The reason for the layoffs: low levels of voluntary turnover at the Big Four accounting firm. Mark Maurer of the Wall Street Journal wrote: KPMG is among the large accounting firms that have continued to experience slower-than-expected levels of voluntary attrition after aggressively hiring people during the pandemic.
How do they choose who to layoff?
BLR advises organizations to “base layoffs on legitimate and objective business needs, not totally or primarily on performance evaluations.” Using skills-based evaluations as your layoff selection criteria can help your organization retain those employees whose skills will be most valuable after the restructuring.
What month do most layoffs occur?
Data supplied to Fast Company from the firm shows that between 1993 and 2012, January was the month that saw the most layoffs. And since then, April and May tend to be the most popular months for layoffs, with April seeing a monthly average of more than 100,000 layoffs between 2013 and 2023.
How does HR determine who gets laid off?
There are a number of factors that companies consider when making layoff decisions, including: Performance: Companies may choose to lay off employees who have consistently performed below expectations. Skills: Companies may also lay off employees whose skills are no longer needed.
What industry has the most layoffs?
The tech industry is leading the way when it comes to layoffs, though firings are economy-wide. The workers who feel most at risk include those in product management, quality assurance, marketing, finance and IT roles.
How to tell if you're getting laid off?
While no one can predict with absolute certainty whether they will lose their job, being aware of warning signs can put you in a better position to protect your career. Declines in industry health, company financial instability, budget cuts, and departmental reorganizations are major warning signs of potential layoffs.
What industry gets hit first in a recession?
Financial Services: The Domino Effect
The financial services sector is often at the heart of any recession. When a crisis hits—whether it's a housing bubble, a credit crunch, or a stock market collapse—banks, investment firms, and insurance companies are the first to feel the shockwaves.
Do companies layoff new hires first?
That need for transparency about layoff decisions is part of the reason many employers have historically decided to let go more recent hires first, according to Sandra Sucher, a professor at Harvard Business School who studies layoffs.
How to tell if redundancies are coming?
When redundancies are about to happen, the atmosphere in a workplace can change. Signs can include whispered conversations, a lack of eye contact and a general 'weird' feeling.
Does seniority matter in layoffs?
Order of Layoff
Employees with less seniority are laid off before more senior employees in their class. All employees in temporary or limited term positions in the class affected by layoff must be laid off before any permanent or probationary state civil service employee is laid off (DPA Rule 599.843).