US Layoffs — December 2012
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers reported 190 WARN Act notices in December 2012, displacing an estimated 19,282 workers — signaling a deceleration from November and roughly flat versus December 2011. Filings came from 26 states and territories, with an average of 101 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 24 | 4,306 |
| California | 61 | 3,773 |
| Arizona | 5 | 1,808 |
| Kentucky | 8 | 1,418 |
| Indiana | 4 | 1,111 |
| Pennsylvania | 9 | 964 |
| Texas | 9 | 924 |
| Florida | 7 | 813 |
| Ohio | 6 | 619 |
| North Carolina | 5 | 491 |
| Tennessee | 7 | 473 |
| Alaska | 2 | 411 |
| Washington | 10 | 378 |
| Virginia | 4 | 343 |
| New Jersey | 5 | 323 |
| Maryland | 4 | 234 |
| South Carolina | 5 | 215 |
| Oregon | 2 | 185 |
| Georgia | 3 | 176 |
| Alabama | 1 | 124 |
| Iowa | 1 | 94 |
| Mississippi | 3 | 52 |
| Kansas | 2 | 27 |
| Missouri | 1 | 15 |
| Louisiana | 1 | 3 |
| Idaho | 1 | 2 |
New York led the nation with 4,306 workers affected across 24 notices , followed by California (3,773 workers) and Arizona (1,808 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 48 | 5,106 |
| Healthcare | 36 | 4,297 |
| Information & Technology | 25 | 1,936 |
| Transportation | 11 | 1,762 |
| Professional Services | 11 | 1,095 |
| Construction | 3 | 820 |
| Finance & Insurance | 10 | 804 |
| Accommodation & Food | 7 | 509 |
| Government | 2 | 366 |
| Agriculture | 6 | 349 |
The Manufacturing sector topped the list of affected industries with 5,106 workers across 48 notices. Notably, Healthcare reported 4,297 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 52 | 6,975 |
| Layoff | 22 | 1,291 |
Closures accounted for 36% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| TriWest Healthcare Alliance | Phoenix, Arizona | 904 | |
| Beth Emeth Home Attendant Service | Brooklyn, New York | 769 | Closure |
| First Transit | Long Island City, New York | 708 | Closure |
| Archcare, Inc. @ Kateri Residence | New York, New York | 592 | Closure |
| New York Westchester Square Medical Center | Bronx, New York | 586 | Closure |
| Sikorsky Support Services | Corpus Christi, Texas | 456 | |
| Cequent Performance Products | Goshen, Indiana | 434 | |
| Cementation | Phoenix, Arizona | 400 | |
| Johnson Controls Interior Mfg., US | Georgetown, Kentucky | 392 | Closure |
| 8161 National Turnpike Louisville, Kentucky | Louisville, Kentucky | 392 | Closure |
The most significant filing came from TriWest Healthcare Alliance in Phoenix, Arizona, reporting 904 affected workers. Beth Emeth Home Attendant Service followed with 769 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The numbers illustrate 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 December 2012. 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.