US Layoffs — January 2010
The US labor market showed signs of rising strain as employers submitted 294 WARN Act notices in January 2010, putting at risk an estimated 21,608 workers — up substantially from December and down 63% versus January 2009. Filings came from 25 states and territories, with an average of 73 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | 108 | 4,822 |
| Iowa | 3 | 2,024 |
| Pennsylvania | 10 | 1,764 |
| Georgia | 15 | 1,715 |
| New York | 25 | 1,615 |
| Kentucky | 18 | 1,556 |
| Florida | 15 | 1,252 |
| Michigan | 9 | 956 |
| Texas | 34 | 901 |
| Ohio | 11 | 812 |
| Alabama | 3 | 599 |
| New Jersey | 10 | 578 |
| Maryland | 3 | 571 |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 458 |
| Louisiana | 2 | 377 |
| Idaho | 3 | 322 |
| Utah | 2 | 260 |
| Indiana | 4 | 256 |
| Washington | 6 | 192 |
| Kansas | 4 | 183 |
| Missouri | 1 | 107 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 105 |
| Washington DC | 1 | 91 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 66 |
| Arizona | 1 | 26 |
California led the nation with 4,822 workers affected across 108 notices , followed by Iowa (2,024 workers) and Pennsylvania (1,764 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 84 | 6,417 |
| Information & Technology | 38 | 3,364 |
| Retail | 29 | 2,354 |
| Finance & Insurance | 21 | 1,799 |
| Transportation | 16 | 1,457 |
| Accommodation & Food | 15 | 1,185 |
| Healthcare | 27 | 650 |
| Education | 6 | 510 |
| Utilities | 6 | 421 |
| Construction | 1 | 302 |
The Manufacturing sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 6,417 workers across 84 notices. Separately, Information & Technology reported 3,364 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 49 | 6,595 |
| Layoff | 31 | 2,946 |
Closures accounted for 31% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Morrell | Sioux City, Iowa | 1,450 | Closure |
| Tyson Foods | Council Bluffs, Iowa | 480 | Layoff |
| Pfizer Inc (Chester Co) | Collegeville, Pennsylvania | 450 | Layoff |
| DISH Network | McKeesport, Pennsylvania | 449 | Closure |
| ARAMARK Management Services University of Maryland Medical System | Baltimore, Maryland | 411 | Closure |
| New Era Cap, Demopolis | Demopolis, Alabama | 351 | Closure |
| Service America Corp. DBA Centerplate'S | San Jose, California | 342 | |
| Accent Marketing Services | Monroe, Louisiana | 342 | |
| ASTAR Air Cargo | Louisville, Kentucky | 303 | Layoff |
| [Unknown - KY] | Erlanger, Kentucky | 303 | Layoff |
Topping the list was John Morrell in Sioux City, Iowa, reporting 1,450 affected workers. Tyson Foods followed with 480 workers.
Trend & Outlook
After a dip last month, layoff activity has ticked back up.
These figures highlight 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 January 2010. 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.