US Layoffs — September 1997
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers posted 7 WARN Act notices in September 1997, affecting an estimated 494 workers — reflecting a cooling compared to August and down 40% versus September 1996. Filings came from 1 states and territories, with an average of 71 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 7 | 494 |
Ohio led the nation with 494 workers affected across 7 notices .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 5 | 392 |
| Healthcare | 1 | 61 |
| Utilities | 1 | 41 |
The Manufacturing sector saw the heaviest impact with 392 workers across 5 notices. On a related front, Healthcare reported 61 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
Layoff type data was not available for filings this month.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minute Maid | Geneva, Ohio | 101 | |
| Oneal | Toledo, Ohio | 76 | |
| Superior Jewelry | Cincinnati, Ohio | 76 | |
| Teledyne Fluid System Efficient Die | Cleveland, Ohio | 72 | |
| Wickes Lumber | Mansfield, Ohio | 67 | |
| Healthsource | Cincinnati, Ohio | 61 | |
| Rockwell Reliance Electric | Ashtabula, Ohio | 41 |
The largest notice was filed by Minute Maid in Geneva, Ohio, reporting 101 affected workers. Oneal followed with 76 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The trends suggest a easing in workforce disruptions across the nation, with filings falling below both recent and year-ago levels. The Manufacturing sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This report covers all WARN Act filings with notice dates in September 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.