Wisconsin Layoffs — April 2019
Employers in Wisconsin submitted 9 WARN Act notices in April 2019, putting at risk an estimated 1,033 workers — down from March and down 78% versus April 2018. The average filing covered 115 workers, with 7 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 4 | 399 |
| Transportation | 1 | 211 |
| Other | 1 | 171 |
| Retail | 1 | 99 |
| Accommodation & Food | 1 | 87 |
| Information & Technology | 1 | 66 |
The Manufacturing sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 399 workers across 4 notices. Separately, Transportation reported 211 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 1 | 265 |
| Racine | 1 | 211 |
| Waukesha | 1 | 171 |
| Winnebago | 2 | 149 |
| Manitowoc | 1 | 99 |
Milwaukee absorbed the greatest share of layoffs, accounting for 26% of all affected workers with 265 workers across 1 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 1 | 265 |
| Racine | 1 | 211 |
| Pewaukee | 1 | 171 |
| Oshkosh | 2 | 149 |
| Manitowoc | 1 | 99 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 7 | 884 |
The high proportion of closures (86% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in Wisconsin's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inmar | Milwaukee | 265 | Closure | |
| Durham School Services | Racine | 211 | Closure | |
| LifeCare Management Services | Pewaukee | 171 | Closure | |
| Shopko | Manitowoc | 99 | Closure | |
| Sodexo | Oshkosh | 87 | ||
| F+W Media | Stevens Point | 66 | Closure | |
| Silver Star Brands | Oshkosh | 62 | ||
| Saputo Cheese USA | Dresser | 49 | Closure | |
| Backyard Products | Janesville | 23 | Closure |
Topping the list was Inmar at its Milwaukee facility, reporting 265 affected workers. Durham School Services followed with 211 workers.
Trend & Outlook
These figures highlight a easing in workforce disruptions across Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin. 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 Wisconsin WARN notices, browse layoffs by state, or download the full dataset.