Michigan Layoffs — March 2009
Employers in Michigan recorded 18 WARN Act notices in March 2009, covering approximately 2,133 workers — marking a decline from February and up 97% versus March 2008. The average filing covered 118 workers, with 9 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 14 | 1,420 |
| Information & Technology | 4 | 713 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 1,420 workers across 14 notices. At the same time, Information & Technology reported 713 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne | 2 | 598 |
| Muskegon | 2 | 276 |
| Jackson | 2 | 211 |
| Midland | 1 | 186 |
| Saint Joseph | 1 | 150 |
Wayne was the epicenter of layoff activity, accounting for 28% of all affected workers with 598 workers across 2 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 2 | 598 |
| Muskegon | 1 | 236 |
| Jackson | 2 | 211 |
| Coleman | 1 | 186 |
| Sturgis | 1 | 150 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Layoff | 9 | 1,402 |
| Closure | 9 | 731 |
Closures accounted for 34% of affected workers, while the majority of filings were layoffs rather than permanent shutdowns.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technicolor Video Services of Michigan | Detroit | 563 | Layoff | |
| Sappi Paper | Muskegon | 236 | Layoff | |
| Sparton Electronics | Jackson | 206 | Closure | |
| Robinson Industries | Coleman | 186 | Layoff | |
| Penguin | Sturgis | 150 | Layoff | |
| Hydro Aluminum | Adrian | 141 | Closure | |
| Android Industries | Warren | 102 | Closure | |
| Safariland | Central Lake | 89 | Closure | |
| Flint Journal | Flint | 82 | Layoff | |
| Valley Publishing | Bay City | 63 | Layoff | |
| Mantex | Imlay City | 60 | Closure | |
| Cequent Performance Products | Tekonsha | 50 | Layoff | |
| Nisshinbo Automotive | Sterling Heights | 47 | Closure | |
| Center Manufacturing | Wayland | 46 | Closure | |
| Michigan Casting Center | Fruitport | 40 | Layoff |
Leading the list was Technicolor Video Services of Michigan at its Detroit facility, reporting 563 affected workers. Sappi Paper followed with 236 workers.
Trend & Outlook
This is the third consecutive month of declining layoff activity.
The filings reflect a mixed picture for Michigan's labor market, with activity diverging between monthly and annual comparisons. The Manufacturing 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.