Waves of layoffs are sweeping across Utah. Here’s what workers losing their jobs should know

Even in the face of a surprise layoff notice, one of over 700 sent out last month to employees of the Tyson Foods meat processing plant in Eagle Mountain, Austin Campbell is embracing an attitude of gratitude and empathy as he and his family face the challenging road ahead.

“For me, I’m kind of in a blessed situation,” Campbell told the Deseret News. “I finally have the bachelor’s degree I sought after and I’m thankful for that.

“Other people I work with, they aren’t as fortunate. Tyson is also a second-chance company for a lot of people. I hope everyone can come through it and survive.”

Campbell is just one of thousands of Utah workers to have lost their jobs so far in 2026 due to employer cutbacks or, in the case of the 5-year-old Tyson plant in Eagle Mountain, facility shutdowns. Those companies include well-known brands like Tyson, Qualtrics, Crumbl and Sheraton, but also plenty of lesser-known Utah businesses that have made the decision to trim employee rosters this year.

On a national basis, job cuts are tracking well short of last year’s rate with just under 530,000 U.S. workers losing their positions so far in 2026, 41% fewer than the first eight months of 2025, according to tracking by Challenger, Gray & Christmas. It’s also the lowest January-August total since 2022.

While job cuts are down, the growth rate of the U.S. employment sector has also slowed, with a monthly average of just 61,000 new positions so far this year. Many economists have adopted the term “no hire, no fire” to describe the current dynamic as cautious employers navigate economic challenges and political uncertainty.

“What we’d like to see with low layoffs is an increase in hiring activity,” said Andy Challenger, workplace expert and chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, in a recent report. “While companies are making plans to hire more workers than last year, according to our numbers, it doesn’t appear those positions are being filled quickly.”

Anatomy of a shutdown

Tyson Foods’ decision to shut down its case-ready beef processing plant in Utah, along with the closure of an even bigger facility in Joslin, Illinois, and the sale of another plant in Washington state, was driven by a 75-year low in U.S. cattle supplies, itself a result of rising costs and multi-year drought. While Campbell said he and his colleagues at the Eagle Mountain facility have been offered the opportunity to apply for positions at other Tyson locations, the 27-year-old father of two young children, who purchased his first home just a year ago, isn’t game to roll the dice on an industry currently in turmoil.

“For me, I don’t see any pros to relocating,” Campbell said. “If the company is really struggling so hard that it had to close three plants, I don’t see much of a future there.”

Campbell holds a bachelor’s degree in software engineering but said he’s “always loved working with my hands more, instead of sitting around” and worked in automotive repair before taking a maintenance position at the Tyson facility. Campbell was moving up the ranks before finding out about the plant closure and had been looking forward to honing his skills in automation processes while bridging his software knowledge with physical maintenance skills.

“I had hopes for being an automation engineer and hopefully expanding my education into the physical engineering side,” Campbell said.

While that pathway has been interrupted, Campbell is upbeat about his prospects, although he carries plenty of worries about finances and looking out for his young family. He noted Tyson maintenance employees earn salaries well above industry norms, with starting positions paying around $30 per hour with opportunities to make as much as $39 per hour for those in lead positions. And it’s an income level, Campbell said, that he needs to maintain or improve moving forward.

“We’ve been so highly paid here at Tyson, we can’t go backwards,” Campbell said. “We look at other (industrial plants) and it’s $20 to $25 an hour. A lot of people act like we can just go work somewhere else, but it’s not as easy as that.”

Finding help after a job loss

Troy Lamb, workforce development specialist for the Utah Department of Workforce Services, said his agency can provide a wide range of assistance, available at no charge, for Utah workers facing job displacement.

“When a company announces that there’s a plant closing or a layoff, we have great resources to help you get back on track with employment,” Lamb said.

Those resources include “getting connected with an employment specialist for one-on-one coaching, job search assistance, short-term training, licensing and education opportunities.”

Lamb said the agency’s website, jobs.utah.gov, is packed with resources as well as over 25,000 statewide jobs listings. Those seeking assistance can also visit one of over a dozen employment centers where, Lamb said, job seekers can get help updating their resumes, practicing interview skills, finding and connecting with potential employers and learning more about networking opportunities.

Lamb said networking, in particular, is an extremely effective strategy for finding that next job.

“After receiving a layoff notice, the No. 1 most effective way of finding your next job is through networking,” Lamb said. “Being able to establish those relationships is key … . Eighty percent of all jobs are found through networking. It’s about finding connections through family, friends, colleagues, alumni.”

Lamb said DWS also provides information on filing for unemployment insurance, finding medical and/or financial assistance, as well as food and childcare programs. He noted his agency is hosting its bimonthly job fair on Sept. 10, where job seekers can meet in person with a wide range of Utah employers. Attendees can register for the event and find additional information on the DWS website.

How to deal with household finances

Jenny Groberg, founder and CEO of Utah-based accounting firm BookSmarts, said those facing disruptions to their family finances due to a layoff should act quickly, be ready to make budget sacrifices and consider taking the best first opportunity rather than staying unemployed waiting for the “perfect job” to come along.

Groberg also noted the ripple effects that follow a mass layoff event, like the one impacting Campbell and his family, extend far beyond one household.

“Losing a company like Tyson, everyone is going to feel that,” Groberg said. “When their friends move or their kids’ friends move … it’s a broad disruption.”

Groberg laid out a concrete, prioritized action plan for displaced workers:

• Protect your cash. “The moment things become uncertain, you’ve got to extend your financial runway,” Groberg said. “How long can I extend covering essential expenses? And look at discretionary spending.” She added that a spouse or partner may need to pick up work: “Maybe your partner needs to look for a job.”
• Stay grounded in reality. “You can’t live in denial. You have to change your spending habits right now,” she said. Groberg acknowledged the emotional difficulty — “Finances are 80% emotional and people are hesitant to change their spending” — but stressed the stakes: “People don’t realize that making good decisions right now can help avoid playing catch-up for a decade or more.”
• Preserve liquidity. For workers who have received a WARN notice and know a layoff is coming within 60 days, Groberg recommended immediate tactical moves: “Stop contributing to retirement. Don’t pay down your debt aggressively. A lot of people pay a little bit more on their mortgage — that’s an easy step to reduce. Make minimum payments on student loans and credit cards. Keep payments going but don’t overpay.”
• Understand your employee benefits. “Before you’re out of a job completely, what does the severance look like? Do you have unused (paid time off)? Do you have COBRA insurance extension? What happens with my 401(k)?” she said. “Look at unemployment right now. Be ready. Don’t wait until you’re actually laid off to create a bridge.”
• Start looking for work right now .“Attend a job fair. Update your resume. If you have time between a layoff notice and losing your job, this is your time to transition. Start now to line something up,” Groberg urged. “Maybe that means in anticipation you get a second job to be able to pay basic bills.”

Above all else, Groberg said, those facing the aftermath of a job loss need to work to safeguard two things: housing and insurance.

“Nothing will destroy you faster than a health emergency,” Groberg said.

Is Utah the best place to recover from a layoff?

The latest federal jobs data, released Friday, finds monthly growth far outpacing expectations, with U.S. employers adding 162,000 jobs in August alongside an unemployment rate of 4.1%, according to the Labor Department’s Employment Situation report.

Utah’s most recent unemployment reading, according to the state’s Department of Workforce Services, was 3.6% in July and is one that has been tracking well below the national average for years. The figure represents functional full employment across the state, a data point that bodes well for those on the job hunt following a layoff or other work displacement.

“Utah’s labor market continues to show resilience through robust job growth and low unemployment,” said Ben Crabb, Department of Workforce Services’ chief economist, in his agency’s latest reporting. “Even as constrained hiring rates and slowing labor force growth present clear headwinds, employers across major sectors continue to expand payrolls.”