US Layoffs — May 2001
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers posted 136 WARN Act notices in May 2001, affecting an estimated 22,034 workers — reflecting a cooling compared to April and up 119% versus May 2000. Filings came from 12 states and territories, with an average of 162 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 17 | 3,971 |
| Ohio | 24 | 3,398 |
| Kentucky | 7 | 2,628 |
| Texas | 26 | 2,589 |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | 2,345 |
| Georgia | 9 | 1,930 |
| Michigan | 11 | 1,802 |
| Florida | 11 | 1,585 |
| Alabama | 8 | 966 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 700 |
| Maryland | 1 | 67 |
| Kansas | 3 | 53 |
Illinois led the nation with 3,971 workers affected across 17 notices , followed by Ohio (3,398 workers) and Kentucky (2,628 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 69 | 11,584 |
| Information & Technology | 17 | 3,166 |
| Transportation | 14 | 2,934 |
| Utilities | 2 | 775 |
| Retail | 6 | 767 |
| Government | 4 | 615 |
| Finance & Insurance | 4 | 427 |
| Healthcare | 3 | 358 |
| Professional Services | 4 | 357 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2 | 329 |
The Manufacturing sector saw the heaviest impact with 11,584 workers across 69 notices. On a related front, Information & Technology reported 3,166 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 40 | 7,405 |
| Layoff | 25 | 4,427 |
Closures accounted for 34% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comair | Lexington, Kentucky | 1,662 | Layoff |
| Northwestern Steel And Wire | Sterling, Illinois | 1,400 | Closure |
| American Electric Power | Athens, Ohio | 710 | |
| Seagate Technology | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 700 | |
| Motorola Order Fulfillment Ctr | Suwanee, Georgia | 625 | |
| Tower Automotive | Sebewaing, Michigan | 509 | Closure |
| Sappi | Mobile, Alabama | 500 | Closure |
| Lucent Technologies | Columbus, Ohio | 400 | |
| Agere Systems | Breinigsville, Pennsylvania | 390 | Layoff |
| Automotive Component Carrier | Flint, Michigan | 373 | Closure |
The largest notice was filed by Comair in Lexington, Kentucky, reporting 1,662 affected workers. Northwestern Steel And Wire followed with 1,400 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The trends suggest 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 May 2001. 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.