US Layoffs — October 2002
The US labor market showed signs of rising strain as employers reported 136 WARN Act notices in October 2002, displacing an estimated 19,401 workers — signaling an acceleration from September and down 37% versus October 2001. Filings came from 11 states and territories, with an average of 143 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 20 | 4,254 |
| Texas | 34 | 4,035 |
| Pennsylvania | 13 | 3,089 |
| Ohio | 13 | 2,260 |
| Michigan | 9 | 1,789 |
| Florida | 15 | 1,581 |
| Illinois | 8 | 923 |
| Maryland | 9 | 565 |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 551 |
| Alabama | 3 | 354 |
| Kansas | 9 | 0 |
Georgia led the nation with 4,254 workers affected across 20 notices , followed by Texas (4,035 workers) and Pennsylvania (3,089 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 48 | 6,010 |
| Transportation | 16 | 5,656 |
| Information & Technology | 22 | 2,092 |
| Finance & Insurance | 10 | 1,352 |
| Utilities | 2 | 670 |
| Accommodation & Food | 2 | 593 |
| Healthcare | 1 | 520 |
| Retail | 6 | 455 |
| Wholesale Trade | 4 | 390 |
| Construction | 2 | 334 |
The Manufacturing sector topped the list of affected industries with 6,010 workers across 48 notices. Notably, Transportation reported 5,656 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 23 | 3,463 |
| Layoff | 28 | 3,257 |
Closures accounted for 18% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Airlines | Atlanta, Georgia | 1,617 | |
| U.S. Airways (Pittsburgh International Airport and U.S. Airways Reservation Sales Center) | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 877 | Layoff |
| VF Jeanswear - El Paso | El Paso, Texas | 774 | |
| U.S. Airways (Philadelphia International Airport) | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 703 | Layoff |
| Northwest Airlines | Romulus, Michigan | 644 | Layoff |
| Consolidated Freightways | Ellenwood, Georgia | 626 | |
| Dynegy Midstream Services | Houston, Texas | 602 | |
| Delphi's Harrison Thermal Systems | Moraine, Ohio | 592 | |
| Kwikset | Waynesboro, Georgia | 550 | |
| BXW Technologies | Miamisburg, Ohio | 532 |
The most significant filing came from Northwest Airlines in Atlanta, Georgia, reporting 1,617 affected workers. U.S. Airways (Pittsburgh International Airport and U.S. Airways Reservation Sales Center) followed with 877 workers.
Trend & Outlook
After a dip last month, layoff activity has ticked back up.
The numbers illustrate 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 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 WARN Firehose, 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.