US Layoffs — May 2001
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers posted 118 WARN Act notices in May 2001, affecting an estimated 18,156 workers — reflecting a cooling compared to April and up 155% versus May 2000. Filings came from 11 states and territories, with an average of 154 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 24 | 3,398 |
| Kentucky | 7 | 2,628 |
| Texas | 26 | 2,589 |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | 2,345 |
| Georgia | 9 | 1,930 |
| Michigan | 11 | 1,802 |
| Florida | 11 | 1,585 |
| Alabama | 8 | 966 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 700 |
| Kansas | 2 | 146 |
| Maryland | 1 | 67 |
Ohio led the nation with 3,398 workers affected across 24 notices , followed by Kentucky (2,628 workers) and Texas (2,589 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 54 | 8,150 |
| Information & Technology | 17 | 3,166 |
| Transportation | 12 | 926 |
| Utilities | 2 | 775 |
| Retail | 6 | 767 |
| Healthcare | 3 | 358 |
| Professional Services | 4 | 357 |
| Finance & Insurance | 3 | 295 |
| Construction | 1 | 210 |
| Accommodation & Food | 2 | 161 |
The Manufacturing sector saw the heaviest impact with 8,150 workers across 54 notices. On a related front, Information & Technology reported 3,166 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Layoff | 19 | 4,235 |
| Closure | 26 | 3,573 |
Closures accounted for 20% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comair | Lexington, Kentucky | 1,662 | Layoff |
| American Electric Power | Athens, Ohio | 710 | |
| Seagate Technology | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 700 | |
| Motorola Order Fulfillment Ctr | Suwanee, Georgia | 625 | |
| Tower Automotive | Sebewaing, Michigan | 509 | Closure |
| Sappi | Mobile, Alabama | 500 | Closure |
| Lucent Technologies | Columbus, Ohio | 400 | |
| Agere Systems | Breinigsville, Pennsylvania | 390 | Layoff |
| Automotive Component Carrier | Flint, Michigan | 373 | Closure |
| Mission Valley Fabrics Division | New Braunfels, Texas | 348 |
The largest notice was filed by Comair in Lexington, Kentucky, reporting 1,662 affected workers. American Electric Power followed with 710 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The trends suggest 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 May 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.