New York Layoffs — May 2008
Employers in New York submitted 26 WARN Act notices in May 2008, putting at risk an estimated 1,933 workers — down from April and up 58% versus May 2007. The average filing covered 74 workers, with 22 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Finance & Insurance | 1 | 500 |
| Information & Technology | 1 | 187 |
| Manufacturing | 2 | 177 |
| Utilities | 1 | 108 |
| Healthcare | 2 | 104 |
| Retail | 1 | 80 |
| Education | 1 | 27 |
| Admin & Support Services | 1 | 11 |
The Finance & Insurance sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 500 workers across 1 notice. Separately, Information & Technology reported 187 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 5 | 672 |
| Monroe | 14 | 504 |
| Niagara | 1 | 187 |
| Fulton | 1 | 118 |
| Orange | 1 | 110 |
New York was the epicenter of layoff activity, accounting for 35% of all affected workers with 672 workers across 5 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 4 | 661 |
| Rochester | 10 | 385 |
| Niagara Falls | 1 | 187 |
| Johnstown | 1 | 118 |
| Pine Bush | 1 | 110 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 22 | 1,051 |
| Layoff | 4 | 882 |
The high proportion of closures (54% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in New York's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrill Lynch | New York | 500 | Layoff | |
| TeleTech Niagara Falls SDC | Niagara Falls | 187 | Layoff | |
| Callaway Golf Ball Operations | Johnstown | 118 | Closure | |
| First Student | Pine Bush | 110 | Layoff | |
| Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) Russell Station | Rochester | 108 | Closure | |
| L.B. Furniture Industries | Hudson | 99 | Closure | |
| EmblemHealth Services Company LLC (Medicare Part B Operation) | New York | 93 | Closure | |
| Capital Group Partners, Inc. dba Rapid Solutions Group | Melville | 85 | Layoff | |
| Penguin Supermarkets, Inc. (Key Food) | Brooklyn | 80 | Closure | |
| Portola Packaging | Clifton Park | 78 | Closure | |
| UniCredit Banca di Roma | New York | 57 | Closure | |
| Holy Family-Diocese of Rochester | Rochester | 42 | Closure | |
| St. Andrew-Diocese of Rochester | Rochester | 39 | Closure | |
| St. Monica-Diocese of Rochester | Rochester | 38 | Closure | |
| St. John of Rochester-Diocese of Rochester | Fairport | 32 | Closure |
Topping the list was Merrill Lynch at its New York facility, reporting 500 affected workers. TeleTech Niagara Falls SDC followed with 187 workers.
Trend & Outlook
These figures highlight a mixed picture for New York's labor market, with activity diverging between monthly and annual comparisons. The Finance & Insurance sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This analysis is based on official WARN Act filings reported by New York. 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 New York WARN notices, browse layoffs by state, or download the full dataset.