State WARN notices give workers a two-month advance look at tech layoffs
Public state registries list major company layoffs 60 days before they happen, giving job seekers advance notice of market shifts.
Layoffs · Source: Q13 Fox Seattle — Oracle 359 WARN
What happened
Under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, large employers must file advance notices with state workforce agencies before conducting major job cuts. In Washington state, these filings give employees and the public at least 60 days of advance warning before scheduled separations begin. Recent public records from the Washington State Employment Security Department show scheduled cuts across multiple major technology employers weeks before the actual departure dates take place.
Oracle America submitted a notice on September 14 detailing plans to permanently cut 359 positions in Washington starting November 13. The cuts hit remote staff across the state and on-site staff at two Seattle office locations, situated at 1301 2nd Avenue and 2025 5th Avenue. Oracle confirmed that both Seattle offices will remain open and the jobs are not being contracted out or relocated, arriving as the company manages an estimated 2.1 billion dollars in severance costs while shifting capital spending to artificial intelligence data centers and tools.
Expedia Group submitted a separate filing on September 22 planning 58 layoffs at its Interbay waterfront headquarters campus in Seattle, scheduled between November 21 and December 1. Impacted positions include software engineers, data scientists, finance managers, and senior leadership. The cuts follow the departure of at least eight vice presidents and senior vice presidents last month, alongside a January round that eliminated 162 jobs in Washington. Expedia leaders cited advances in artificial intelligence as a driver to operate with smaller and faster teams.
By the numbers
- 359 — Washington jobs Oracle plans to permanently cut starting November 13
- 58 — Expedia Seattle campus employees slated for separation between November 21 and December 1
- 60 days — Minimum advance notice required under the Washington State WARN Act before mass layoffs
- 162 — Washington employees previously cut by Expedia in January 2026
- $2.1 billion — Estimated 2026 severance and restructuring spend reported for Oracle
Why it matters
Most workers only hear about corporate reductions after exit meetings happen and social media posts appear. Reading state WARN registries flips that timeline. Because employers must file sixty days ahead of mass separations, candidates can see weeks in advance which companies are shrinking specific departments and which teams are entering hiring freezes. This eliminates surprise and allows professionals to plan their career steps earlier.
These notices also signal where talent will flood local job markets. When Oracle and Expedia release hundreds of software developers, data scientists, and managers into the regional market in November and December, competition for open engineering roles increases. Job seekers targeting Pacific Northwest companies can adjust their timelines, tailor their applications early, and connect with hiring managers before displaced workers enter active job searches.
Who this hits
Software engineers and data scientists
Expedia specifically listed engineering and data science roles among its upcoming cuts. These specialists face increased local competition as dozens of technical peers hit the job market starting late November.
Tech workers on H-1B and OPT visas
Foreign workers facing scheduled separations need every day of advance notice to protect their legal status. Learning about workforce cuts during the 60-day notice window gives visa holders valuable lead time to secure transfers before their formal 60-day grace periods begin.
Finance managers and senior leaders
Expedia cuts extend beyond junior tech staff to finance management and leadership tiers following executive departures. Senior corporate personnel must navigate fewer open management seats as travel and enterprise software firms streamline layers.
What to do this week
- Bookmark the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification registry on the Washington State Employment Security Department website and review weekly updates to identify hiring freezes early.
- If your current employer or direct department appears on a state WARN list, update your portfolio and resume immediately instead of waiting for your final exit day.
- Reach out to recruiters and engineering managers at mid-sized firms this month to initiate interview pipelines before November layoff dates release hundreds of qualified applicants into the market.
- If you hold an H-1B visa at an affected employer, contact an immigration attorney during the notice period to review transfer timelines and explore alternative visa classifications.
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My take
The skill in navigation is not reading layoff news after it breaks. The real skill is checking public WARN registries that show workforce plans sixty days ahead. When you use public records instead of headlines, you gain two months of preparation that other applicants never use.