US Layoffs — December 2001
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers filed 117 WARN Act notices in December 2001, impacting roughly 17,006 workers — representing a pullback from November and up 108% versus December 2000. Filings came from 12 states and territories, with an average of 145 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 32 | 3,179 |
| Kentucky | 10 | 2,838 |
| Pennsylvania | 16 | 2,796 |
| Georgia | 15 | 2,301 |
| Illinois | 10 | 1,859 |
| Ohio | 10 | 1,635 |
| Florida | 12 | 1,416 |
| Alabama | 3 | 512 |
| Maryland | 3 | 230 |
| Michigan | 3 | 215 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 25 |
| Kansas | 2 | 0 |
Texas led the nation with 3,179 workers affected across 32 notices , followed by Kentucky (2,838 workers) and Pennsylvania (2,796 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 59 | 8,708 |
| Healthcare | 7 | 1,412 |
| Transportation | 8 | 1,322 |
| Information & Technology | 11 | 1,256 |
| Utilities | 3 | 1,181 |
| Wholesale Trade | 4 | 728 |
| Finance & Insurance | 4 | 410 |
| Professional Services | 6 | 377 |
| Retail | 4 | 376 |
| Mining & Energy | 3 | 309 |
The Manufacturing sector led the way in workforce reductions with 8,708 workers across 59 notices. In a parallel development, Healthcare reported 1,412 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Layoff | 21 | 3,860 |
| Closure | 22 | 3,307 |
Closures accounted for 19% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems | Louisville, Kentucky | 926 | |
| A. O. Smith | Ashland, Kentucky | 756 | Layoff |
| Aetna U.S. Healthcare | King of Prussia, Pennsylvania | 659 | Layoff |
| TRW Automotive | Cleveland, Ohio | 500 | |
| Mccook Metals | Mccook, Illinois | 483 | Closure |
| Ames Distribution Center | Columbus, Ohio | 454 | |
| Alliant Foodservice | Deerfield, Illinois | 450 | Layoff |
| Best Intimates, Inc. (Richland Distribution Center, Sidman Distribution Center) | Richland, Pennsylvania | 400 | Layoff |
| Mercy Community Hospital (Mercy Haverford Hospital) | Havertown, Pennsylvania | 370 | Layoff |
| A. O. Smith | Ashland, Kentucky | 350 | Layoff |
The single largest action involved Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems in Louisville, Kentucky, reporting 926 affected workers. A. O. Smith followed with 756 workers.
Trend & Outlook
This is the third consecutive month of declining layoff activity.
The data underscores 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 December 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.