US Layoffs — October 2001
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers recorded 229 WARN Act notices in October 2001, covering approximately 31,883 workers — marking a decline from September and up 178% versus October 2000. Filings came from 12 states and territories, with an average of 139 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 25 | 8,438 |
| Texas | 41 | 5,419 |
| Georgia | 39 | 4,454 |
| Florida | 31 | 2,681 |
| Kansas | 7 | 2,253 |
| Pennsylvania | 17 | 2,026 |
| Ohio | 15 | 1,932 |
| Michigan | 23 | 1,594 |
| Alabama | 7 | 1,144 |
| Kentucky | 10 | 1,096 |
| Maryland | 11 | 726 |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 120 |
Illinois led the nation with 8,438 workers affected across 25 notices , followed by Texas (5,419 workers) and Georgia (4,454 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 92 | 13,045 |
| Transportation | 15 | 6,151 |
| Information & Technology | 31 | 2,434 |
| Retail | 24 | 2,352 |
| Professional Services | 10 | 1,154 |
| Healthcare | 3 | 889 |
| Wholesale Trade | 10 | 812 |
| Accommodation & Food | 10 | 714 |
| Mining & Energy | 7 | 692 |
| Finance & Insurance | 7 | 565 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 13,045 workers across 92 notices. At the same time, Transportation reported 6,151 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Layoff | 46 | 10,134 |
| Closure | 51 | 6,981 |
Closures accounted for 22% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | Chicago, Illinois | 4,500 | Layoff |
| Sprint | Overland Park, Kansas | 1,300 | Layoff |
| Acme Steel | Riverdale, Illinois | 1,094 | Closure |
| Health Midwest - Menorah Medical Center | Kansas City, Kansas | 803 | Layoff |
| Tyco Electronics | Mesquite, Texas | 594 | |
| Lucent Technology | Norcross, Georgia | 579 | |
| Scientific Atlanta | Norcross, Georgia | 550 | |
| Flextronics | Palm Harbor, Florida | 540 | |
| Sears Store Support | Hoffman Estates, Illinois | 500 | Closure |
| Dee Howard Aircraft Maintenance | San Antonio, Texas | 492 |
Leading the list was United Airlines in Chicago, Illinois, reporting 4,500 affected workers. Sprint followed with 1,300 workers.
Trend & Outlook
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 October 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.