US Layoffs — September 2005
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers submitted 88 WARN Act notices in September 2005, putting at risk an estimated 8,505 workers — down from August and down 28% versus September 2004. Filings came from 14 states and territories, with an average of 97 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 13 | 1,684 |
| Georgia | 14 | 1,471 |
| Florida | 14 | 1,113 |
| Michigan | 7 | 1,025 |
| New Jersey | 11 | 974 |
| Alabama | 5 | 678 |
| Pennsylvania | 6 | 631 |
| Ohio | 4 | 518 |
| Washington | 6 | 214 |
| Kansas | 3 | 88 |
| Maryland | 2 | 49 |
| Vermont | 1 | 45 |
| Washington DC | 1 | 14 |
| Iowa | 1 | 1 |
Texas led the nation with 1,684 workers affected across 13 notices , followed by Georgia (1,471 workers) and Florida (1,113 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 33 | 3,052 |
| Transportation | 8 | 1,092 |
| Finance & Insurance | 12 | 972 |
| Professional Services | 6 | 863 |
| Healthcare | 7 | 541 |
| Information & Technology | 7 | 445 |
| Accommodation & Food | 1 | 251 |
| Retail | 2 | 173 |
| Agriculture | 1 | 124 |
| Construction | 1 | 108 |
The Manufacturing sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 3,052 workers across 33 notices. Separately, Transportation reported 1,092 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Layoff | 18 | 1,493 |
| Closure | 10 | 1,119 |
Closures accounted for 13% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro Demonstration Services | San Antonio, Texas | 733 | |
| Northwest Airlines | Romulus, Michigan | 662 | Layoff |
| Cooper-standard Automotive | Griffin, Georgia | 347 | |
| Lenox China | Pomona, New Jersey | 285 | |
| Wachovia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 274 | Closure |
| Renaissance Pineisle Resort & Golf Club | Buford, Georgia | 251 | |
| TRW Automotive | Fremont, Ohio | 250 | |
| Bae Systems, 10Th St. Forge Facility | Anniston, Alabama | 222 | Layoff |
| Saint-Gobain Containers | Carteret, New Jersey | 200 | |
| Commscope | Scottsboro, Alabama | 180 | Closure |
Topping the list was Pro Demonstration Services in San Antonio, Texas, reporting 733 affected workers. Northwest Airlines followed with 662 workers.
Trend & Outlook
These figures highlight 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 September 2005. 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.