US Layoffs — August 2008
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers filed 150 WARN Act notices in August 2008, impacting roughly 17,182 workers — representing a pullback from July and up 25% versus August 2007. Filings came from 18 states and territories, with an average of 115 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 19 | 2,054 |
| Indiana | 11 | 1,607 |
| Texas | 20 | 1,527 |
| Pennsylvania | 9 | 1,443 |
| Washington | 9 | 1,324 |
| Ohio | 13 | 1,269 |
| New Jersey | 11 | 1,008 |
| Michigan | 11 | 1,005 |
| New York | 8 | 957 |
| Kentucky | 5 | 927 |
| Georgia | 11 | 924 |
| Missouri | 3 | 733 |
| Kansas | 2 | 711 |
| Maryland | 5 | 483 |
| Louisiana | 2 | 392 |
| Arizona | 5 | 324 |
| Washington DC | 4 | 295 |
| Iowa | 2 | 199 |
Florida led the nation with 2,054 workers affected across 19 notices , followed by Indiana (1,607 workers) and Texas (1,527 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 71 | 7,276 |
| Information & Technology | 12 | 1,501 |
| Retail | 11 | 1,373 |
| Transportation | 8 | 1,220 |
| Finance & Insurance | 8 | 826 |
| Professional Services | 12 | 747 |
| Accommodation & Food | 4 | 637 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1 | 600 |
| Healthcare | 4 | 560 |
| Education | 3 | 265 |
The Manufacturing sector led the way in workforce reductions with 7,276 workers across 71 notices. In a parallel development, Information & Technology reported 1,501 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 36 | 4,829 |
| Layoff | 17 | 2,186 |
Closures accounted for 28% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Distributors | Kent, Washington | 600 | Closure |
| Superior Industries International | Pittsburg, Kansas | 600 | |
| TFE Logistics Group | Louisville, Kentucky | 595 | Layoff |
| Siemens Medical Solutions USA | Malvern, Pennsylvania | 500 | Layoff |
| Petit Jean Poultry | Buffalo, Missouri | 465 | Closure |
| Parsons | Newport, Indiana | 412 | |
| Airserv | Atlanta, Georgia | 352 | |
| MasterBrand Cabinets | Richmond, Indiana | 275 | |
| MASCO Builder Cabinet Group | Ocala, Florida | 260 | |
| Transit Facility Management | Brooklyn, New York | 248 | Closure |
The single largest action involved Alaska Distributors in Kent, Washington, reporting 600 affected workers. Superior Industries International followed with 600 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The data underscores a mixed picture for the nation's labor market, with activity diverging between monthly and annual comparisons. The Manufacturing sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This report covers all WARN Act filings with notice dates in August 2008. 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.