2016 Major Work Stoppages (Annual) — 2017-02-09

In 2016, there were 15 major work stoppages involving 99,000 workers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Private industry organizations accounted for over 94 percent of the 1.54 million total days idle for major work stoppages in effect during 2016. This year marks 70 years of work stoppages data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the past four decades (1977-1986 to 2007-2016) major work stoppages declined approximately 90 percent. (See table A and table 1.) The period from 2007 to 2016 was the lowest decade on record, averaging approximately 14 major work stoppages per year. The lowest annual number of major work stoppages was 5 in 2009. In 2016, the information industry had the largest number of workers involved in major work stoppages with 38,200. Educational services were the next largest industry with 33,600 followed by health care and social assistance with 12,100 workers.