US Layoffs — December 1996
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers recorded 4 WARN Act notices in December 1996, covering approximately 917 workers — marking a decline from November. Filings came from 1 states and territories, with an average of 229 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 4 | 917 |
Ohio led the nation with 917 workers affected across 4 notices .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3 | 467 |
| Finance & Insurance | 1 | 450 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 467 workers across 3 notices. At the same time, Finance & Insurance reported 450 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
Layoff type data was not available for filings this month.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key | Cleveland, Ohio | 450 | |
| Varity, Kelsey-Hayes | Fremont, Ohio | 219 | |
| Belden Wire Cable | Apple Creek, Ohio | 172 | |
| Delphos Ohio Axle Plant | Delphos, Ohio | 76 |
Leading the list was Key in Cleveland, Ohio, reporting 450 affected workers. Varity, Kelsey-Hayes followed with 219 workers.
Trend & Outlook
This is the third consecutive month of declining layoff activity.
The filings reflect a mixed picture for the nation's labor market, with activity diverging between monthly and annual comparisons. The Manufacturing sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This report covers all WARN Act filings with notice dates in December 1996. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires employers with 100+ employees to provide 60-day advance notice of mass layoffs and plant closings. Data is sourced from official state filings and updated daily by WARN Firehose, which also tracks SEC 8-K filings, bankruptcy proceedings, H-1B visa petitions, and unemployment claims across all six datasets. API access and data exports available.