US Layoffs — September 2009
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers posted 229 WARN Act notices in September 2009, affecting an estimated 16,352 workers — reflecting a cooling compared to August and down 18% versus September 2008. Filings came from 22 states and territories, with an average of 71 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | 91 | 3,355 |
| Pennsylvania | 13 | 2,506 |
| New York | 33 | 2,264 |
| Texas | 15 | 1,463 |
| Georgia | 6 | 1,351 |
| Ohio | 11 | 981 |
| New Jersey | 7 | 664 |
| Kansas | 5 | 541 |
| Michigan | 3 | 513 |
| Alabama | 3 | 376 |
| Washington | 4 | 350 |
| Florida | 7 | 285 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 280 |
| Missouri | 2 | 238 |
| Kentucky | 6 | 204 |
| Utah | 1 | 201 |
| Iowa | 4 | 198 |
| Arizona | 3 | 179 |
| Indiana | 1 | 133 |
| Washington DC | 8 | 127 |
| Maryland | 3 | 75 |
| Vermont | 1 | 68 |
California led the nation with 3,355 workers affected across 91 notices , followed by Pennsylvania (2,506 workers) and New York (2,264 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 62 | 4,675 |
| Utilities | 6 | 2,121 |
| Finance & Insurance | 32 | 1,491 |
| Information & Technology | 27 | 1,087 |
| Transportation | 13 | 1,046 |
| Professional Services | 16 | 1,033 |
| Healthcare | 9 | 839 |
| Accommodation & Food | 7 | 686 |
| Retail | 7 | 603 |
| Mining & Energy | 5 | 383 |
The Manufacturing sector saw the heaviest impact with 4,675 workers across 62 notices. On a related front, Utilities reported 2,121 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 48 | 4,199 |
| Layoff | 33 | 2,711 |
| Temporary Closure | 1 | 354 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Electric | Erie, Pennsylvania | 1,450 | Layoff |
| Lear Siegler Services, Inc - Sheppard AFB | Sheppard Afb, Texas | 496 | |
| Shaw Industries | Ringgold, Georgia | 431 | |
| Farmers Group / 21st Century Insurance Financial Svcs | Alpharetta, Georgia | 393 | |
| Milford Plaza | New York, New York | 354 | Temporary Closure |
| Comprehensive Cancer Centers | Los Angeles, California | 276 | |
| Hotel Bel-Air | Los Angeles, California | 274 | |
| Ryder Logistics | Auburn Hills, Michigan | 269 | Closure |
| Vail-Ballou Press | Kirkwood, New York | 265 | Closure |
| Church & Dwight | North Brunswick, New Jersey | 258 |
The largest notice was filed by General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania, reporting 1,450 affected workers. Lear Siegler Services, Inc - Sheppard AFB followed with 496 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The trends suggest 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 2009. 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.