US Layoffs — May 2003

The US labor market showed continued flux as employers submitted 92 WARN Act notices in May 2003, putting at risk an estimated 11,508 workers — down from April and down 37% versus May 2002. Filings came from 10 states and territories, with an average of 125 workers per notice.

Top States by Workers Affected

Texas led the nation with 3,727 workers affected across 25 notices , followed by Illinois (1,496 workers) and Pennsylvania (1,440 workers) .

Industry Breakdown

The Manufacturing sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 6,212 workers across 45 notices. Separately, Transportation reported 1,290 workers.

Layoff Type Analysis

Closures accounted for 30% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.

Largest Layoffs

Topping the list was Northrup Grumman Electro-Optical Systems in Garland, Texas, reporting 2,341 affected workers. American Airlines followed with 543 workers.

Trend & Outlook

This is the third consecutive month of declining layoff activity.

These figures highlight 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 May 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.