US Layoffs — December 2003
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers reported 64 WARN Act notices in December 2003, displacing an estimated 7,386 workers — signaling a deceleration from November and down 51% versus December 2002. Filings came from 12 states and territories, with an average of 115 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 14 | 2,082 |
| Florida | 9 | 1,354 |
| Ohio | 8 | 1,085 |
| Pennsylvania | 9 | 787 |
| Kansas | 8 | 713 |
| Maryland | 3 | 450 |
| Alabama | 2 | 259 |
| Michigan | 4 | 250 |
| Georgia | 3 | 197 |
| Vermont | 2 | 133 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 65 |
| Minnesota | 1 | 11 |
Texas led the nation with 2,082 workers affected across 14 notices , followed by Florida (1,354 workers) and Ohio (1,085 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24 | 3,011 |
| Information & Technology | 12 | 1,580 |
| Retail | 3 | 327 |
| Professional Services | 2 | 269 |
| Finance & Insurance | 3 | 257 |
| Healthcare | 2 | 226 |
| Accommodation & Food | 2 | 201 |
| Education | 2 | 194 |
| Construction | 1 | 175 |
| Transportation | 2 | 160 |
The Manufacturing sector topped the list of affected industries with 3,011 workers across 24 notices. Notably, Information & Technology reported 1,580 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 12 | 1,139 |
| Layoff | 6 | 607 |
Closures accounted for 15% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abitibi | Lufkin, Texas | 580 | |
| Mediacopy | El Paso, Texas | 562 | |
| RTX | Wichita, Kansas | 296 | |
| Cordis | Miami, Florida | 265 | |
| Electronic Data Systems Corporation - Austin | Austin, Texas | 242 | |
| Williamsport Wirerope Works | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | 215 | Layoff |
| Pasco Beverage | Dade City, Florida | 201 | |
| Ncr | Dayton, Ohio | 200 | |
| Clyde's of Chevy Chase | Chevy Chase, Maryland | 193 | Layoff |
| Elizabeth Arden | Miami, Florida | 190 |
The most significant filing came from Abitibi in Lufkin, Texas, reporting 580 affected workers. Mediacopy followed with 562 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The numbers illustrate 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 December 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.