Michigan Layoffs — December 2019
Employers in Michigan posted 3 WARN Act notices in December 2019, affecting an estimated 1,381 workers — reflecting a significant uptick compared to November and down 23% versus December 2018. The average filing covered 460 workers, with 2 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1 | 1,286 |
| Government | 1 | 58 |
| Professional Services | 1 | 37 |
The Manufacturing sector saw the heaviest impact with 1,286 workers across 1 notice. On a related front, Government reported 58 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne | 2 | 1,344 |
| Oakland | 1 | 37 |
Wayne absorbed the greatest share of layoffs, accounting for 97% of all affected workers with 1,344 workers across 2 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ecorse | 1 | 1,286 |
| Detroit | 1 | 58 |
| Troy | 1 | 37 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 2 | 1,344 |
| Layoff | 1 | 37 |
The high proportion of closures (97% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in Michigan's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Steel | Ecorse | 1,286 | Closure | |
| Focus Hope Companies | Detroit | 58 | Closure | |
| Motus One (ESI) | Troy | 37 | Layoff |
The largest notice was filed by U.S. Steel at its Ecorse facility, reporting 1,286 affected workers. Focus Hope Companies followed with 58 workers.
Trend & Outlook
After a dip last month, layoff activity has ticked back up.
The trends suggest 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.