US Layoffs — September 1999
The US labor market showed signs of rising strain as employers submitted 52 WARN Act notices in September 1999, putting at risk an estimated 7,029 workers — up substantially from August and up 193% versus September 1998. Filings came from 6 states and territories, with an average of 135 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 12 | 2,117 |
| Texas | 16 | 1,920 |
| Alabama | 8 | 1,228 |
| Kentucky | 8 | 945 |
| Kansas | 3 | 428 |
| Florida | 5 | 391 |
Ohio led the nation with 2,117 workers affected across 12 notices , followed by Texas (1,920 workers) and Alabama (1,228 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 18 | 3,251 |
| Retail | 9 | 1,191 |
| Construction | 10 | 883 |
| Mining & Energy | 5 | 661 |
| Information & Technology | 3 | 426 |
| Accommodation & Food | 2 | 300 |
| Utilities | 2 | 104 |
| Healthcare | 1 | 80 |
| Professional Services | 1 | 80 |
| Agriculture | 1 | 53 |
The Manufacturing sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 3,251 workers across 18 notices. Separately, Retail reported 1,191 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 12 | 1,472 |
| Layoff | 6 | 1,081 |
| Relocation | 1 | 48 |
Closures accounted for 21% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing | Wichita, Kansas | 428 | Layoff |
| Raytheon Systems Co. - Richardson | Richardson, Texas | 390 | |
| Drummond Company-Shoal Creek | Adger, Alabama | 350 | Layoff |
| Hechinger | Columbus, Ohio | 330 | |
| Wackenhut Corrections | Austin, Texas | 300 | |
| Russell Corp. Brundidge | Brundidge, Alabama | 297 | Layoff |
| Bolton Square Hotel | Cleveland, Ohio | 280 | |
| GKN Sinter Metals | Van Wert, Ohio | 275 | |
| Alphabet | Kent, Ohio | 267 | |
| Hechinger | Cincinnati, Ohio | 256 |
Topping the list was Boeing in Wichita, Kansas, reporting 428 affected workers. Raytheon Systems Co. - Richardson followed with 390 workers.
Trend & Outlook
This marks the third consecutive month of rising layoff activity.
These figures highlight mounting pressure on the the nation labor market, with activity running above both recent and year-ago benchmarks. The Manufacturing sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This report covers all WARN Act filings with notice dates in September 1999. 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 LaborCurrent, 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.