US Layoffs — February 1997
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers recorded 8 WARN Act notices in February 1997, covering approximately 1,404 workers — marking a decline from January. Filings came from 1 states and territories, with an average of 176 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 8 | 1,404 |
Ohio led the nation with 1,404 workers affected across 8 notices .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 4 | 960 |
| Finance & Insurance | 1 | 280 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2 | 94 |
| Transportation | 1 | 70 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 960 workers across 4 notices. At the same time, Finance & Insurance reported 280 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
Layoff type data was not available for filings this month.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo Orrvile Assembly Plt | Orrville, Ohio | 490 | |
| Capital American | Cleveland, Ohio | 280 | |
| Cincinnati Microwave | Cincinnati, Ohio | 264 | |
| Tenneco Packaging Rittman Carton | Rittman, Ohio | 121 | |
| Camcar Textron | Girard, Ohio | 85 | |
| Ryder Integrated Logistics | Sidney, Ohio | 70 | |
| Handleman | North Jackson, Ohio | 53 | |
| Ohio Periodical Distributors | Columbus, Ohio | 41 |
Leading the list was Volvo Orrvile Assembly Plt in Orrville, Ohio, reporting 490 affected workers. Capital American followed with 280 workers.
Trend & Outlook
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 February 1997. 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.