US Layoffs — October 2013
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers recorded 232 WARN Act notices in October 2013, covering approximately 25,592 workers — marking a decline from September and up 43% versus October 2012. Filings came from 28 states and territories, with an average of 110 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | 52 | 6,308 |
| Texas | 20 | 3,213 |
| Kentucky | 12 | 1,914 |
| New York | 36 | 1,900 |
| Florida | 12 | 1,693 |
| Ohio | 7 | 1,538 |
| Pennsylvania | 14 | 1,477 |
| New Jersey | 12 | 1,210 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | 1,201 |
| Georgia | 10 | 1,044 |
| Virginia | 6 | 502 |
| Delaware | 3 | 471 |
| Washington | 3 | 425 |
| North Carolina | 6 | 424 |
| Indiana | 6 | 420 |
| Mississippi | 5 | 387 |
| Missouri | 3 | 313 |
| Tennessee | 6 | 259 |
| Oregon | 3 | 202 |
| Washington DC | 1 | 200 |
| Louisiana | 3 | 125 |
| Alabama | 2 | 121 |
| Idaho | 1 | 75 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 66 |
| South Carolina | 1 | 50 |
| Arizona | 1 | 30 |
| Kansas | 1 | 22 |
| Iowa | 1 | 2 |
California led the nation with 6,308 workers affected across 52 notices , followed by Texas (3,213 workers) and Kentucky (1,914 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 57 | 7,378 |
| Healthcare | 32 | 4,052 |
| Finance & Insurance | 24 | 3,284 |
| Information & Technology | 15 | 1,682 |
| Arts & Entertainment | 4 | 1,363 |
| Utilities | 7 | 1,357 |
| Accommodation & Food | 11 | 1,037 |
| Retail | 12 | 683 |
| Transportation | 14 | 674 |
| Professional Services | 4 | 478 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 7,378 workers across 57 notices. At the same time, Healthcare reported 4,052 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Layoff | 52 | 4,415 |
| Closure | 33 | 2,348 |
Closures accounted for 9% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Venue Laboratories | Bedford, Ohio | 1,150 | |
| Aramark Sports & Entertainment-Angel Stadium | Anaheim, California | 1,088 | |
| Cisco Systems | San Jose, California | 899 | |
| Visiting Nurses Association-El Paso | El Paso, Texas | 845 | |
| Century Aluminum of Kentucky GP "Hawesville Smelter" | Hawesville, Kentucky | 686 | Layoff |
| [Unknown - KY] | Hawesville, Kentucky | 686 | Layoff |
| Chesapeake Energy | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 640 | |
| Child Care Associates | Ft. Worth, Texas | 600 | |
| Pacific Hospital Of Long Beach | Long Beach, California | 569 | |
| Southern California Edison | San Clemente, California | 547 |
Leading the list was Ben Venue Laboratories in Bedford, Ohio, reporting 1,150 affected workers. Aramark Sports & Entertainment-Angel Stadium followed with 1,088 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The filings reflect 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 October 2013. 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.