Michigan Layoffs — October 2018
Employers in Michigan filed 5 WARN Act notices in October 2018, impacting roughly 226 workers — representing a pullback from September and up 31% versus October 2017. The average filing covered 45 workers, with 5 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2 | 96 |
| Agriculture | 1 | 62 |
| Accommodation & Food | 1 | 50 |
| Education | 1 | 18 |
The Manufacturing sector led the way in workforce reductions with 96 workers across 2 notices. In a parallel development, Agriculture reported 62 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne | 3 | 182 |
| Kent | 2 | 44 |
Wayne saw the most concentrated activity, accounting for 81% of all affected workers with 182 workers across 3 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Westland | 1 | 70 |
| Livonia | 1 | 62 |
| Detroit | 1 | 50 |
| Kentwood | 1 | 26 |
| Caledonia | 1 | 18 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 5 | 226 |
The high proportion of closures (100% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in Michigan's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ernest Industries | Westland | 70 | Closure | |
| StateFarm | Livonia | 62 | Closure | |
| Bays Bakery | Detroit | 50 | Closure | |
| Spectrum Industries Decorative Finishes | Kentwood | 26 | Closure | |
| Professional Educational Services Group | Caledonia | 18 | Closure |
The single largest action involved Ernest Industries at its Westland facility, reporting 70 affected workers. StateFarm followed with 62 workers.
Trend & Outlook
This is the third consecutive month of declining layoff activity.
The data underscores a mixed picture for Michigan's labor market, with activity diverging between monthly and annual comparisons. The Manufacturing sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This analysis is based on official WARN Act filings reported by Michigan. 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 Michigan WARN notices, browse layoffs by state, or download the full dataset.