Massachusetts Layoffs — August 2021
Employers in Massachusetts submitted 2 WARN Act notices in August 2021, putting at risk an estimated 254 workers — up substantially from July and down 41% versus August 2020. The average filing covered 127 workers, with 0 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale Trade | 1 | 239 |
| Utilities | 1 | 15 |
The Wholesale Trade sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 239 workers across 1 notice. Separately, Utilities reported 15 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 1 | 239 |
| Norfolk | 1 | 15 |
Middlesex absorbed the greatest share of layoffs, accounting for 94% of all affected workers with 239 workers across 1 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Watertown | 1 | 239 |
| Foxboro | 1 | 15 |
Layoff Type Analysis
Layoff type classification was not available for filings in Massachusetts this month.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Russo & Sons | Watertown | 239 | ||
| Schneider Electric | Foxboro | 15 |
Topping the list was A. Russo & Sons at its Watertown facility, reporting 239 affected workers. Schneider Electric followed with 15 workers.
Trend & Outlook
This marks the third consecutive month of rising layoff activity.
These figures highlight a mixed picture for Massachusetts's labor market, with activity diverging between monthly and annual comparisons. The Wholesale Trade sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This analysis is based on official WARN Act filings reported by Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts WARN notices, browse layoffs by state, or download the full dataset.