US Layoffs — August 2003
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers recorded 79 WARN Act notices in August 2003, covering approximately 9,397 workers — marking a decline from July and down 49% versus August 2002. Filings came from 10 states and territories, with an average of 119 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 15 | 1,993 |
| Pennsylvania | 23 | 1,466 |
| Ohio | 7 | 1,233 |
| Georgia | 10 | 1,178 |
| Florida | 7 | 989 |
| Alabama | 3 | 824 |
| Michigan | 5 | 574 |
| Kansas | 5 | 572 |
| Maryland | 3 | 322 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 246 |
Texas led the nation with 1,993 workers affected across 15 notices , followed by Pennsylvania (1,466 workers) and Ohio (1,233 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 49 | 5,382 |
| Retail | 6 | 1,061 |
| Utilities | 1 | 686 |
| Finance & Insurance | 5 | 472 |
| Transportation | 3 | 382 |
| Professional Services | 3 | 313 |
| Information & Technology | 3 | 245 |
| Healthcare | 3 | 226 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2 | 220 |
| Construction | 1 | 95 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 5,382 workers across 49 notices. At the same time, Retail reported 1,061 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 16 | 1,867 |
| Layoff | 18 | 1,319 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bechtel Power | Decatur, Alabama | 686 | Closure |
| Boeing Aerospace Operations | Kingsville, Texas | 450 | |
| Ormet Primary Aluminum | Hannibal, Ohio | 399 | |
| Publix Direct | Pompano Beach, Florida | 381 | |
| Wellington Home Products | Madison, Georgia | 323 | |
| Cessna | Wichita, Kansas | 300 | |
| Metaldyne | Bedford Heights, Ohio | 254 | |
| VF Jeanswear (Wrangler) | Ada, Oklahoma | 246 | |
| Dresser | Houston, Texas | 244 | |
| Dalfort Aerospace | Dallas, Texas | 237 |
Leading the list was Bechtel Power in Decatur, Alabama, reporting 686 affected workers. Boeing Aerospace Operations followed with 450 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The filings reflect 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 August 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.