Mass layoffs hit Tennessee businesses in 2025, from FedEx and Bridgestone to Kroger and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported 8,856 employees laid off during the year, which is the highest number on record since the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.
Mass layoffs in Tennessee rose 20.9% in 2025 compared with the previous year and were up 139.3% from 2021.
A recent surge in artificial intelligence usage, the cooling labor market and shifting U.S. trade policies throughout the year all contributed to the rise in Tennessee layoffs, economists said…