US Layoffs — May 2018

The US labor market showed continued flux as employers submitted 272 WARN Act notices in May 2018, putting at risk an estimated 29,930 workers — down from April and up 6% versus May 2017. Filings came from 36 states and territories, with an average of 110 workers per notice.

Top States by Workers Affected

California led the nation with 5,960 workers affected across 64 notices , followed by Texas (3,721 workers) and New York (2,478 workers) .

Industry Breakdown

The Manufacturing sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 4,438 workers across 58 notices. Separately, Professional Services reported 3,913 workers.

Layoff Type Analysis

Closures accounted for 41% of all affected workers nationally, indicating significant structural workforce adjustments.

Largest Layoffs

Topping the list was Jt3 in Las Vegas, Nevada, reporting 1,526 affected workers. XTO Energy followed with 1,200 workers.

Trend & Outlook

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 May 2018. 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.