New York Layoffs — May 2016
Employers in New York logged 18 WARN Act notices in May 2016, involving roughly 595 workers — falling below April and down 82% versus May 2015. The average filing covered 33 workers, with 10 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2 | 98 |
| Accommodation & Food | 1 | 82 |
| Retail | 1 | 67 |
| Information & Technology | 1 | 50 |
| Utilities | 1 | 38 |
| Arts & Entertainment | 1 | 6 |
| Professional Services | 2 | 2 |
The Manufacturing sector dominated layoff filings with 98 workers across 2 notices. Meanwhile, Accommodation & Food reported 82 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Erie | 3 | 180 |
| New York | 3 | 95 |
| Kings | 2 | 93 |
| Schenectady | 1 | 67 |
| Monroe | 6 | 65 |
Erie was the epicenter of layoff activity, accounting for 30% of all affected workers with 180 workers across 3 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 2 | 133 |
| New York | 3 | 95 |
| Brooklyn | 2 | 93 |
| Schenectady | 1 | 67 |
| Sleepy Hollow | 1 | 50 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 10 | 432 |
| Layoff | 8 | 163 |
The high proportion of closures (73% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in New York's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WPH Midtown Associates, L.P. @ the Holiday Inn Hotel | Buffalo | 82 | Closure | |
| MakerBot Industries | Brooklyn | 80 | Layoff | |
| Sears Holdings | Schenectady | 67 | Closure | |
| Kerry Inc. on behalf of its affiliate Island Oasis Manufacturing | Buffalo | 51 | Closure | |
| New York Life Insurance Company - Information Technology Operations and Finance Operations | Sleepy Hollow | 50 | Layoff | |
| Barnes & Noble Booksellers | New York | 50 | Closure | |
| Robinson Solutions, Inc. (@ General Motors Tonawanda Engine Plant) | Tonawanda | 47 | Closure | |
| The | New York | 39 | Closure | |
| Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric of NY | Henrietta | 38 | Closure | |
| Panalpina | Jamaica | 38 | Closure | |
| Eastman Kodak Company (Eastman Business Park) | Rochester | 21 | Layoff | |
| Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services, Inc. - Outreach & Integration Program | Brooklyn | 13 | Closure | |
| Experience Works, Inc. (SCSEP Program) | Cortland | 7 | Closure | |
| SFX Entertainment | New York | 6 | Layoff | |
| Eastman Kodak Company (Kodak Office) | Rochester | 3 | Layoff |
The biggest impact was at WPH Midtown Associates, L.P. @ the Holiday Inn Hotel at its Buffalo facility, reporting 82 affected workers. MakerBot Industries followed with 80 workers.
Trend & Outlook
This data points to a easing in workforce disruptions across New York, with filings falling below both recent and year-ago levels. The Manufacturing sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This analysis is based on official WARN Act filings reported by New York. 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 New York WARN notices, browse layoffs by state, or download the full dataset.