US Layoffs — April 2022
The US labor market showed signs of rising strain as employers recorded 160 WARN Act notices in April 2022, covering approximately 17,227 workers — marking a sharp increase from March and down 9% versus April 2021. Filings came from 29 states and territories, with an average of 108 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | 52 | 3,405 |
| Florida | 7 | 1,791 |
| Ohio | 8 | 1,574 |
| Indiana | 4 | 1,309 |
| Michigan | 8 | 1,008 |
| Tennessee | 4 | 832 |
| Massachusetts | 6 | 780 |
| Illinois | 7 | 779 |
| Nevada | 10 | 602 |
| Utah | 2 | 580 |
| Virginia | 5 | 566 |
| Iowa | 11 | 562 |
| Washington | 3 | 497 |
| Georgia | 5 | 465 |
| South Carolina | 3 | 392 |
| North Carolina | 3 | 314 |
| Oklahoma | 6 | 238 |
| Alabama | 2 | 219 |
| Texas | 1 | 202 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 198 |
| Missouri | 2 | 181 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 150 |
| Maryland | 2 | 136 |
| New Mexico | 1 | 128 |
| Connecticut | 1 | 100 |
| Louisiana | 1 | 70 |
| Minnesota | 2 | 61 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 57 |
| Hawaii | 1 | 31 |
California led the nation with 3,405 workers affected across 52 notices , followed by Florida (1,791 workers) and Ohio (1,574 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 43 | 5,023 |
| Retail | 9 | 2,075 |
| Accommodation & Food | 15 | 1,814 |
| Transportation | 8 | 1,556 |
| Healthcare | 18 | 1,189 |
| Education | 8 | 1,161 |
| Professional Services | 3 | 745 |
| Information & Technology | 8 | 554 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2 | 363 |
| Mining & Energy | 2 | 253 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 5,023 workers across 43 notices. At the same time, Retail reported 2,075 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 66 | 5,291 |
| Layoff | 41 | 3,228 |
Closures accounted for 31% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart Fulfillment Center | Plainfield, Indiana | 1,132 | |
| Aramark at University of Florida Educational Services | Gainesville, Florida | 949 | |
| Tenneco | Kettering, Ohio | 597 | |
| Waupaca Foundry | Etowah, Tennessee | 540 | |
| Maximus Federal Services | Sandy, Utah | 504 | |
| WestRock Services, LLC Panama City Mill | Panama City, Florida | 426 | |
| Nektar Therapeutics | South San Francisco, California | 337 | Layoff |
| Belk Fulfillment Center | Jonesville, South Carolina | 310 | Closure |
| GEODIS Logistics | Columbus, Ohio | 302 | |
| Lincoln College-Main Campus | Lincoln, Illinois | 259 | Closure |
Leading the list was Walmart Fulfillment Center in Plainfield, Indiana, reporting 1,132 affected workers. Aramark at University of Florida Educational Services followed with 949 workers.
Trend & Outlook
This marks the third consecutive month of rising layoff activity.
The filings reflect a mixed picture for the nation's labor market, with activity diverging between monthly and annual comparisons. The Manufacturing sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This report covers all WARN Act filings with notice dates in April 2022. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires employers with 100+ employees to provide 60-day advance notice of mass layoffs and plant closings. Data is sourced from official state filings and updated daily by WARN Firehose, which also tracks SEC 8-K filings, bankruptcy proceedings, H-1B visa petitions, and unemployment claims across all six datasets. API access and data exports available.