US Layoffs — April 1999
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers reported 38 WARN Act notices in April 1999, displacing an estimated 4,983 workers — signaling a deceleration from March and up 452% versus April 1998. Filings came from 6 states and territories, with an average of 131 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 13 | 1,725 |
| Florida | 11 | 1,008 |
| Alabama | 3 | 827 |
| Texas | 7 | 760 |
| Kansas | 2 | 349 |
| Kentucky | 2 | 314 |
Ohio led the nation with 1,725 workers affected across 13 notices , followed by Florida (1,008 workers) and Alabama (827 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 15 | 2,365 |
| Information & Technology | 5 | 1,403 |
| Finance & Insurance | 8 | 838 |
| Utilities | 1 | 85 |
| Agriculture | 3 | 78 |
| Healthcare | 2 | 75 |
| Transportation | 1 | 70 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1 | 47 |
| Arts & Entertainment | 1 | 17 |
| Professional Services | 1 | 5 |
The Manufacturing sector topped the list of affected industries with 2,365 workers across 15 notices. Notably, Information & Technology reported 1,403 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Layoff | 3 | 849 |
| Closure | 4 | 641 |
Closures accounted for 13% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Data Systems | Plano, Texas | 611 | |
| BWX Technologies | Barberton, Ohio | 575 | |
| Kimberly-Clark | Mobile, Alabama | 500 | Layoff |
| All Lock | Selma, Alabama | 315 | Closure |
| SAI Automotive | Wichita, Kansas | 275 | Layoff |
| Unisys | Tallahassee, Florida | 240 | |
| Batesville Casket | Taylor, Kentucky | 212 | Closure |
| Greenfield Industries | Solon, Ohio | 174 | |
| Taylor Farms | South Bay, Florida | 150 | |
| Shelby Insurance Companies | Shelby, Ohio | 130 |
The most significant filing came from Electronic Data Systems in Plano, Texas, reporting 611 affected workers. BWX Technologies followed with 575 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The numbers illustrate 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 April 1999. 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.