Michigan Layoffs — March 2019
Employers in Michigan reported 8 WARN Act notices in March 2019, displacing an estimated 844 workers — signaling a deceleration from February and up 183% versus March 2018. The average filing covered 106 workers, with 5 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 4 | 411 |
| Utilities | 1 | 166 |
| Retail | 1 | 91 |
| Healthcare | 1 | 89 |
| Finance & Insurance | 1 | 87 |
The Manufacturing sector topped the list of affected industries with 411 workers across 4 notices. Notably, Utilities reported 166 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne | 3 | 351 |
| Washtenaw | 2 | 167 |
| Lapeer | 1 | 160 |
| Isabella | 1 | 91 |
| Calhoun | 1 | 75 |
Wayne was the epicenter of layoff activity, accounting for 42% of all affected workers with 351 workers across 3 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 1 | 166 |
| Lapeer | 1 | 160 |
| Livonia | 1 | 96 |
| Mount Pleasant | 1 | 91 |
| Lincoln Park | 1 | 89 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 5 | 517 |
| Layoff | 3 | 327 |
The high proportion of closures (61% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in Michigan's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Renewable Power | Detroit | 166 | Closure | |
| Lapeer Industries | Lapeer | 160 | Layoff | |
| AMI Livonia | Livonia | 96 | Closure | |
| Kroger | Mount Pleasant | 91 | Closure | |
| Vibra Hospital | Lincoln Park | 89 | Closure | |
| Fifth Third Bank | Ann Arbor | 87 | Layoff | |
| Thomson Shore | Dexter | 80 | Layoff | |
| TreeHouse Private Brands | Battle Creek | 75 | Closure |
The most significant filing came from Detroit Renewable Power at its Detroit facility, reporting 166 affected workers. Lapeer Industries followed with 160 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The numbers illustrate 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.