US Layoffs — May 2003
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers submitted 84 WARN Act notices in May 2003, putting at risk an estimated 10,599 workers — down from April and down 37% versus May 2002. Filings came from 9 states and territories, with an average of 126 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 25 | 3,727 |
| Pennsylvania | 14 | 1,440 |
| Michigan | 10 | 1,281 |
| Florida | 12 | 1,022 |
| Ohio | 5 | 826 |
| Alabama | 6 | 792 |
| Georgia | 4 | 731 |
| Kansas | 5 | 587 |
| Maryland | 3 | 193 |
Texas led the nation with 3,727 workers affected across 25 notices , followed by Pennsylvania (1,440 workers) and Michigan (1,281 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 43 | 6,240 |
| Information & Technology | 7 | 923 |
| Healthcare | 6 | 901 |
| Retail | 3 | 452 |
| Wholesale Trade | 3 | 391 |
| Professional Services | 5 | 373 |
| Transportation | 3 | 291 |
| Finance & Insurance | 6 | 207 |
| Government | 2 | 194 |
| Arts & Entertainment | 1 | 111 |
The Manufacturing sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 6,240 workers across 43 notices. Separately, Information & Technology reported 923 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 22 | 2,441 |
| Layoff | 11 | 1,265 |
Closures accounted for 23% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northrup Grumman Electro-Optical Systems | Garland, Texas | 2,341 | |
| Prison Health Services | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 382 | Layoff |
| Teletech | Kansas City, Kansas | 380 | |
| Coats North America | Toccoa, Georgia | 323 | |
| TS Trim Industries | Athens, Ohio | 308 | |
| Valley Fresh | Talmo, Georgia | 272 | |
| Wohlert | Lansing, Michigan | 258 | Closure |
| Steelcase | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 247 | Layoff |
| Ameripol - Synpol - Port Neches | Port Neches, Texas | 245 | |
| Save-A-Lot | Columbus, Ohio | 197 |
Topping the list was Northrup Grumman Electro-Optical Systems in Garland, Texas, reporting 2,341 affected workers. Prison Health Services followed with 382 workers.
Trend & Outlook
This is the third consecutive month of declining layoff activity.
These figures highlight 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 May 2003. 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.