US Layoffs — April 2003
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers filed 116 WARN Act notices in April 2003, impacting roughly 13,123 workers — representing a pullback from March and down 34% versus April 2002. Filings came from 11 states and territories, with an average of 113 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 22 | 2,965 |
| Illinois | 15 | 2,193 |
| Florida | 9 | 1,571 |
| Michigan | 13 | 1,470 |
| Ohio | 9 | 1,412 |
| Texas | 26 | 1,311 |
| Georgia | 6 | 1,004 |
| Maryland | 5 | 594 |
| Alabama | 3 | 462 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 141 |
| Kansas | 7 | 0 |
Pennsylvania led the nation with 2,965 workers affected across 22 notices , followed by Illinois (2,193 workers) and Florida (1,571 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 71 | 8,023 |
| Transportation | 6 | 1,042 |
| Information & Technology | 14 | 1,017 |
| Healthcare | 5 | 829 |
| Arts & Entertainment | 1 | 527 |
| Wholesale Trade | 3 | 465 |
| Retail | 2 | 239 |
| Professional Services | 3 | 196 |
| Education | 5 | 130 |
| Accommodation & Food | 1 | 122 |
The Manufacturing sector led the way in workforce reductions with 8,023 workers across 71 notices. In a parallel development, Transportation reported 1,042 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 46 | 6,102 |
| Layoff | 19 | 1,582 |
Closures accounted for 46% of all affected workers nationally, indicating significant structural workforce adjustments.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corning Asahi Video Products | State College, Pennsylvania | 673 | Closure |
| Tecumseh Products | Douglas, Georgia | 535 | |
| Cypress Gardens | Winter Haven, Florida | 527 | |
| Werner Co. (Greenville Division) | Greenville, Pennsylvania | 450 | Layoff |
| Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc. - Sherman | Sherman, Texas | 402 | |
| Meridian Rail | Cicero, Illinois | 400 | Closure |
| Teleflex Automotive | Hillsdale, Michigan | 371 | Closure |
| Ingersoll International | Rockford, Illinois | 370 | Closure |
| US Airways (Philadelphia International Airport) | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 361 | Layoff |
| Tyson Foods | Berlin, Maryland | 323 | Closure |
The single largest action involved Corning Asahi Video Products in State College, Pennsylvania, reporting 673 affected workers. Tecumseh Products followed with 535 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The data underscores 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 2003. 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.