Alabama Layoffs — January 2004
Employers in Alabama reported 4 WARN Act notices in January 2004, displacing an estimated 741 workers — signaling an acceleration from December and down 4% versus January 2003. The average filing covered 185 workers, with 4 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1 | 300 |
| Construction | 1 | 226 |
| Transportation | 1 | 140 |
| Retail | 1 | 75 |
The Manufacturing sector topped the list of affected industries with 300 workers across 1 notice. Notably, Construction reported 226 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Etowah | 2 | 366 |
| Chambers | 1 | 300 |
| Jefferson | 1 | 75 |
Etowah bore the heaviest burden, accounting for 49% of all affected workers with 366 workers across 2 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Valley | 1 | 300 |
| Attalla | 1 | 226 |
| Gadsden | 1 | 140 |
| Birmingham | 1 | 75 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 4 | 741 |
The high proportion of closures (100% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in Alabama's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westpoint Stevens (Fairfax Greige Plant) | Valley | 300 | Closure | |
| Aaa Plumbing Pottery | Attalla | 226 | Closure | |
| Advance Auto Parts Distribution Center | Gadsden | 140 | Closure | |
| Rich’S-Macy’S Century Plaza Store | Birmingham | 75 | Closure |
The most significant filing came from Westpoint Stevens (Fairfax Greige Plant) at its Valley facility, reporting 300 affected workers. Aaa Plumbing Pottery followed with 226 workers.
Trend & Outlook
After a dip last month, layoff activity has ticked back up.
The numbers illustrate a mixed picture for Alabama'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 Alabama. 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 Alabama WARN notices, browse layoffs by state, or download the full dataset.