Michigan Layoffs — February 2020
Employers in Michigan posted 6 WARN Act notices in February 2020, affecting an estimated 784 workers — reflecting a significant uptick compared to January and down 86% versus February 2019. The average filing covered 131 workers, with 4 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3 | 409 |
| Transportation | 3 | 375 |
The Manufacturing sector saw the heaviest impact with 409 workers across 3 notices. On a related front, Transportation reported 375 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 2 | 319 |
| Wayne | 1 | 144 |
| Jackson | 1 | 140 |
| Branch | 1 | 121 |
| Oakland | 1 | 60 |
Kent absorbed the greatest share of layoffs, accounting for 41% of all affected workers with 319 workers across 2 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ada | 1 | 209 |
| Detroit | 1 | 144 |
| Jackson | 1 | 140 |
| Coldwater | 1 | 121 |
| Walker | 1 | 110 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 4 | 435 |
| Layoff | 2 | 349 |
The high proportion of closures (55% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in Michigan's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alticor | Ada | 209 | Layoff | |
| Exel, Inc. DBA DHL Supply Chain (USA) | Detroit | 144 | Closure | |
| Gerdau-Jackson | Jackson | 140 | Layoff | |
| Penske Logistics | Coldwater | 121 | Closure | |
| Bear Down Logistics Michigan | Walker | 110 | Closure | |
| Peterson Spring | Madison Heights | 60 | Closure |
The largest notice was filed by Alticor at its Ada facility, reporting 209 affected workers. Exel, Inc. DBA DHL Supply Chain (USA) followed with 144 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.