Michigan Layoffs — January 2004
Employers in Michigan filed 13 WARN Act notices in January 2004, impacting roughly 1,145 workers — representing a notable rise over December and down 58% versus January 2003. The average filing covered 88 workers, with 13 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | 7 | 585 |
| Transportation | 1 | 250 |
| Finance & Insurance | 3 | 180 |
| Agriculture | 2 | 130 |
The Retail sector led the way in workforce reductions with 585 workers across 7 notices. In a parallel development, Transportation reported 250 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne | 6 | 550 |
| Kent | 1 | 250 |
| Saginaw | 2 | 185 |
| Oakland | 1 | 100 |
| Eaton | 1 | 30 |
Wayne bore the heaviest burden, accounting for 48% of all affected workers with 550 workers across 6 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 3 | 270 |
| Grand Rapids | 1 | 250 |
| Saginaw | 2 | 185 |
| Rochester Hills | 1 | 100 |
| Hamtramck | 1 | 100 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 13 | 1,145 |
The high proportion of closures (100% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in Michigan's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parker Motor Freight | Grand Rapids | 250 | Closure | |
| Blue Care Network | Saginaw | 150 | Closure | |
| Farmer Jack Store # 2651 | Rochester Hills | 100 | Closure | |
| Farmer Jack Store # 606 | Detroit | 100 | Closure | |
| Farmer Jack Store #720 | Hamtramck | 100 | Closure | |
| Farmer Jack | Wayne | 100 | Closure | |
| Farmer Jack Store #618 | Detroit | 90 | Closure | |
| Farmer Jack Store #670 | Detroit | 80 | Closure | |
| Farmer Jack Store #688 | Highland Park | 80 | Closure | |
| Kmart Store #4096 | Saginaw | 35 | Closure | |
| Farmer Jack | Delta Township | 30 | Closure | |
| Blue Care Network | Midland | 20 | Closure | |
| Blue Care Network | Essexville | 10 | Closure |
The single largest action involved Parker Motor Freight at its Grand Rapids facility, reporting 250 affected workers. Blue Care Network followed with 150 workers.
Trend & Outlook
After a dip last month, layoff activity has ticked back up.
The data underscores a mixed picture for Michigan's labor market, with activity diverging between monthly and annual comparisons. The Retail 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.