Michigan Layoffs — October 2003
Employers in Michigan recorded 5 WARN Act notices in October 2003, covering approximately 674 workers — marking a decline from September and down 62% versus October 2002. The average filing covered 135 workers, with 4 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 5 | 674 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 674 workers across 5 notices.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Traverse | 1 | 331 |
| Kent | 1 | 161 |
| Menominee | 1 | 106 |
| Oakland | 1 | 53 |
| Calhoun | 1 | 23 |
Grand Traverse was the epicenter of layoff activity, accounting for 49% of all affected workers with 331 workers across 1 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | 1 | 331 |
| Grand Rapids | 1 | 161 |
| Menominee | 1 | 106 |
| Rochester Hills | 1 | 53 |
| Marshall | 1 | 23 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 4 | 651 |
| Layoff | 1 | 23 |
The high proportion of closures (97% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in Michigan's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lear | Traverse City | 331 | Closure | |
| Interstate Brands Companies | Grand Rapids | 161 | Closure | |
| Giddings & Lewis Foundry | Menominee | 106 | Closure | |
| Tower Automotive | Rochester Hills | 53 | Closure | |
| Marshall Brass | Marshall | 23 | Layoff |
Leading the list was Lear at its Traverse City facility, reporting 331 affected workers. Interstate Brands Companies followed with 161 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The filings reflect a easing in workforce disruptions across Michigan, with filings falling below both recent and year-ago levels. 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.