US Layoffs — January 2004

The US labor market showed signs of rising strain as employers submitted 138 WARN Act notices in January 2004, putting at risk an estimated 19,157 workers — up substantially from December and down 38% versus January 2003. Filings came from 14 states and territories, with an average of 139 workers per notice.

Top States by Workers Affected

Illinois led the nation with 4,614 workers affected across 21 notices , followed by Pennsylvania (3,168 workers) and Texas (2,197 workers) .

Industry Breakdown

The Manufacturing sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 7,296 workers across 42 notices. Separately, Retail reported 1,961 workers.

Layoff Type Analysis

Closures accounted for 48% of all affected workers nationally, indicating significant structural workforce adjustments.

Largest Layoffs

Topping the list was Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, reporting 1,081 affected workers. Archibald Candy followed with 1,073 workers.

Trend & Outlook

After a dip last month, layoff activity has ticked back up.

These figures highlight 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 January 2004. 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.