Michigan Layoffs — March 2002
Employers in Michigan filed 28 WARN Act notices in March 2002, impacting roughly 2,236 workers — representing a notable rise over February and down 7% versus March 2001. The average filing covered 80 workers, with 28 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 7 | 1,334 |
| Retail | 18 | 548 |
| Information & Technology | 2 | 288 |
| Professional Services | 1 | 66 |
The Manufacturing sector led the way in workforce reductions with 1,334 workers across 7 notices. In a parallel development, Retail reported 548 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne | 4 | 606 |
| Oakland | 4 | 439 |
| Ottawa | 1 | 317 |
| Menominee | 1 | 213 |
| Kent | 2 | 147 |
Wayne was the epicenter of layoff activity, accounting for 27% of all affected workers with 606 workers across 4 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Holland | 1 | 317 |
| Southfield | 2 | 288 |
| Canton | 1 | 268 |
| Inkster | 1 | 234 |
| Menominee | 1 | 213 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 28 | 2,236 |
The high proportion of closures (100% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in Michigan's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herman Miller | Holland | 317 | Closure | |
| DrawTite | Canton | 268 | Closure | |
| SBC Ameritech | Southfield | 264 | Closure | |
| Carron Industries | Inkster | 234 | Closure | |
| Emerson Tool | Menominee | 213 | Closure | |
| Newell | Lowell | 113 | Closure | |
| Jervis B. Webb | New Hudson | 107 | Closure | |
| Regal Plastics | Roseville | 82 | Closure | |
| Kmart #4393 | Taylor | 72 | Closure | |
| Midwest Metalurgical Laboratories | Marshall | 66 | Closure | |
| Kmart #3537 | Novi | 44 | Closure | |
| Kmart # 4256 | Lansing | 35 | Closure | |
| Kmart #3000 | Marquette | 34 | Closure | |
| Kmart #3344 | Kentwood | 34 | Closure | |
| Kmart #3843 | Ludington | 32 | Closure |
The single largest action involved Herman Miller at its Holland facility, reporting 317 affected workers. DrawTite followed with 268 workers.
Trend & Outlook
After a dip last month, layoff activity has ticked back up.
The data underscores a mixed picture for Michigan's labor market, with activity diverging between monthly and annual comparisons. The Manufacturing sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This analysis is based on official WARN Act filings reported by Michigan. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires employers with 100+ employees to provide 60-day advance notice of mass layoffs and plant closings. Data is updated daily by WARN Firehose. View all Michigan WARN notices, browse layoffs by state, or download the full dataset.