Pennsylvania
Laid off in Pennsylvania? Start here.
Who to call, what Pennsylvania law says about your notice, and the free state programs most people never hear about. Everything here is free, and every fact has its source at the bottom.
Who to call
Pennsylvania's free help, in one place.
Rapid Response is the state team that steps in around a layoff. The job center is where you sign up for career help and training. Unemployment is its own office.
- Rapid Response
- Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry717-787-6874PA L&I WARN and Rapid Response
- Unemployment
- Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry1-888-313-7284File a claimBefore you file, check how Pennsylvania treats severance with the Unemployment Check.
- Job center near you
- Find an American Job Center (search by ZIP code)
The Rapid Response team works with employers too, so say up front that you're a worker who was laid off and ask where to start. You don't need your employer's permission.
Your notice
The federal notice rule applies here.
Pennsylvania has no layoff-notice law of its own in force; the federal WARN Act applies. Bills to add one were pending in the 2025–26 session.
Under the federal WARN Act, employers with 100 or more employees generally have to give 60 days' notice of a plant closing or mass layoff. Smaller layoffs often come with no notice at all.
See recent Pennsylvania notices on PinkSlipped's Layoff Wire.
Only in Pennsylvania
What's different here.
Your local workforce board
Pennsylvania has 22 local workforce development boards, each running PA CareerLink centers. The state lists them all.
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, local workforce boards
Before the first call
Four free checks, in the order you'll need them.
They work for Pennsylvania and every other state, and none of them asks for your name.
- 1Unemployment CheckWhen to file, and the weeks severance may offset
- 2Runway CheckKnow your runway in ten minutes
- 3Insurance CheckCOBRA or the Marketplace: what coverage actually costs
- 4401(k) CheckWhat touching the 401(k) really costs
Your Plan puts the Pennsylvania calls in the right week, next to your unemployment claim and your severance deadlines. Build my free Plan
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor, State Rapid Response Coordinators
- U.S. Department of Labor, How Do I File for Unemployment Insurance?
- Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, WARN requirements
- Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, local workforce boards
Last reviewed October 26, 2026. Contacts and programs change; Pennsylvania's job center has the final word.
General education, not legal advice. PinkSlipped isn't affiliated with the U.S. Department of Labor or any state agency.