US Layoffs — February 2001
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers reported 116 WARN Act notices in February 2001, displacing an estimated 15,750 workers — signaling a deceleration from January and up 13% versus February 2000. Filings came from 10 states and territories, with an average of 136 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 23 | 3,375 |
| Ohio | 18 | 3,074 |
| Georgia | 20 | 3,071 |
| Pennsylvania | 16 | 1,758 |
| Florida | 8 | 1,579 |
| Kentucky | 9 | 938 |
| Alabama | 11 | 761 |
| Michigan | 4 | 565 |
| Maryland | 5 | 461 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 168 |
Texas led the nation with 3,375 workers affected across 23 notices , followed by Ohio (3,074 workers) and Georgia (3,071 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 47 | 5,996 |
| Information & Technology | 13 | 2,558 |
| Finance & Insurance | 6 | 1,386 |
| Government | 3 | 980 |
| Retail | 4 | 945 |
| Wholesale Trade | 4 | 615 |
| Transportation | 5 | 458 |
| Healthcare | 4 | 394 |
| Accommodation & Food | 5 | 389 |
| Professional Services | 3 | 272 |
The Manufacturing sector topped the list of affected industries with 5,996 workers across 47 notices. Notably, Information & Technology reported 2,558 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 31 | 2,902 |
| Layoff | 12 | 1,503 |
Closures accounted for 18% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Communication Center, Inc. Tampa Call and Collection Center | Tampa, Florida | 950 | |
| Washington Mutual Bank | Houston, Texas | 600 | |
| Premier Farnell Corp. - Cleveland | Cleveland, Ohio | 446 | |
| Amazon | Mcdonough, Georgia | 442 | |
| U S Marine | Valdosta, Georgia | 402 | |
| Nokia - Tarrant2 | Ft. Worth, Texas | 400 | |
| Lexmark International | Lexington, Kentucky | 375 | Layoff |
| Pillowtex | Hawkinsville, Georgia | 367 | |
| Textile Services | Youngstown, Ohio | 364 | |
| Lionel | Chesterfield, Michigan | 325 | Closure |
The most significant filing came from Customer Communication Center, Inc. Tampa Call and Collection Center in Tampa, Florida, reporting 950 affected workers. Washington Mutual Bank followed with 600 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 February 2001. 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.