US Layoffs — November 2001
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers posted 159 WARN Act notices in November 2001, affecting an estimated 31,131 workers — reflecting a cooling compared to October and up 251% versus November 2000. Filings came from 11 states and territories, with an average of 196 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 18 | 6,591 |
| Georgia | 17 | 6,344 |
| Texas | 36 | 5,076 |
| Alabama | 13 | 3,778 |
| Illinois | 21 | 2,589 |
| Kentucky | 8 | 1,754 |
| Maryland | 10 | 1,520 |
| Pennsylvania | 11 | 1,429 |
| Florida | 17 | 1,341 |
| Michigan | 5 | 709 |
| Kansas | 3 | 0 |
Ohio led the nation with 6,591 workers affected across 18 notices , followed by Georgia (6,344 workers) and Texas (5,076 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 65 | 14,381 |
| Transportation | 8 | 4,336 |
| Information & Technology | 19 | 3,102 |
| Finance & Insurance | 10 | 1,467 |
| Retail | 16 | 1,413 |
| Utilities | 7 | 1,045 |
| Professional Services | 10 | 979 |
| Construction | 7 | 697 |
| Healthcare | 5 | 575 |
| Real Estate | 1 | 150 |
The Manufacturing sector saw the heaviest impact with 14,381 workers across 65 notices. On a related front, Transportation reported 4,336 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 44 | 7,236 |
| Layoff | 26 | 4,454 |
Closures accounted for 23% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta, Georgia | 3,500 | |
| Cleveland Works (LTV Steel Company) | Cleveland, Ohio | 2,964 | |
| Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems | Louisville, Kentucky | 926 | Layoff |
| Wachovia Bank Card Services | Atlanta, Georgia | 850 | |
| Alcatel USA, Inc. - Plano | Plano, Texas | 762 | |
| Vf Jeanswear, Oneonta | Oneonta, Alabama | 681 | Closure |
| Ltv Steel | Hennepin, Illinois | 583 | Closure |
| VF Jeanswear - El Paso | El Paso, Texas | 582 | |
| Vf Jeanswear, Russellville | Russellville, Alabama | 574 | Closure |
| Vanity Fair Intimates, Atmore | Atmore, Alabama | 509 | Closure |
The largest notice was filed by Delta Air Lines in Atlanta, Georgia, reporting 3,500 affected workers. Cleveland Works (LTV Steel Company) followed with 2,964 workers.
Trend & Outlook
This is the third consecutive month of declining layoff activity.
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 November 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.