Washington Layoffs — May 2006
Employers in Washington posted 3 WARN Act notices in May 2006, affecting an estimated 730 workers — reflecting a significant uptick compared to April and down 25% versus May 2005. The average filing covered 243 workers, with 3 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | 2 | 605 |
| Accommodation & Food | 1 | 125 |
The Retail sector saw the heaviest impact with 605 workers across 2 notices. On a related front, Accommodation & Food reported 125 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| King | 2 | 670 |
| Chelan | 1 | 60 |
King bore the heaviest burden, accounting for 92% of all affected workers with 670 workers across 2 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bellevue | 1 | 545 |
| Seattle | 1 | 125 |
| Wenatchee | 1 | 60 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 3 | 730 |
The high proportion of closures (100% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in Washington's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larry's Markets | Bellevue | 545 | Closure | |
| Food Services of America | Seattle | 125 | Closure | |
| K-Mart | Wenatchee | 60 | Closure |
The largest notice was filed by Larry's Markets at its Bellevue facility, reporting 545 affected workers. Food Services of America followed with 125 workers.
Trend & Outlook
This marks the third consecutive month of rising layoff activity.
The trends suggest a mixed picture for Washington'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 Washington. 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 Washington WARN notices, browse layoffs by state, or download the full dataset.