US Layoffs — April 2002
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers reported 139 WARN Act notices in April 2002, displacing an estimated 19,825 workers — signaling a deceleration from March and down 30% versus April 2001. Filings came from 11 states and territories, with an average of 143 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 42 | 6,624 |
| Illinois | 23 | 3,123 |
| Ohio | 13 | 2,119 |
| Florida | 15 | 2,076 |
| Georgia | 11 | 1,679 |
| Maryland | 6 | 1,590 |
| Pennsylvania | 12 | 1,057 |
| Michigan | 7 | 620 |
| Alabama | 4 | 606 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | 331 |
| Kansas | 2 | 0 |
Texas led the nation with 6,624 workers affected across 42 notices , followed by Illinois (3,123 workers) and Ohio (2,119 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 60 | 9,487 |
| Retail | 19 | 2,449 |
| Information & Technology | 19 | 1,972 |
| Finance & Insurance | 10 | 1,441 |
| Professional Services | 9 | 1,249 |
| Wholesale Trade | 6 | 902 |
| Healthcare | 2 | 453 |
| Mining & Energy | 1 | 390 |
| Construction | 1 | 281 |
| Education | 3 | 237 |
The Manufacturing sector topped the list of affected industries with 9,487 workers across 60 notices. Notably, Retail reported 2,449 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 38 | 5,063 |
| Layoff | 16 | 1,933 |
Closures accounted for 26% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Airways | Linthicum, Maryland | 927 | Layoff |
| Ford Motor Company | Avon Lake, Ohio | 876 | |
| Levi Strauss & Company - El Paso | El Paso, Texas | 758 | |
| Levi Strauss & Company - Brownsville | Brownsville, Texas | 643 | |
| Nokia - Tarrant | Fort Worth, Texas | 553 | |
| Levi Strauss & Company - San Benito | San Benito, Texas | 481 | |
| Arthur Andersen | Saint Charles, Illinois | 450 | Closure |
| Portex | Fort Myers, Florida | 415 | |
| Emory Parkway Medical Center | Lithia Springs, Georgia | 402 | |
| Levi Strauss & | Blue Ridge, Georgia | 400 |
The most significant filing came from US Airways in Linthicum, Maryland, reporting 927 affected workers. Ford Motor Company followed with 876 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The numbers illustrate a easing in workforce disruptions across the nation, with filings falling below both recent and year-ago levels. The Manufacturing sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This report covers all WARN Act filings with notice dates in April 2002. 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.