US Layoffs — August 2004
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers reported 103 WARN Act notices in August 2004, displacing an estimated 13,388 workers — signaling a deceleration from July and up 36% versus August 2003. Filings came from 15 states and territories, with an average of 130 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 13 | 2,325 |
| Florida | 16 | 2,315 |
| Texas | 18 | 2,093 |
| Michigan | 11 | 1,379 |
| Alabama | 2 | 1,092 |
| New Jersey | 8 | 884 |
| Ohio | 5 | 784 |
| Georgia | 6 | 744 |
| Kentucky | 4 | 563 |
| Illinois | 6 | 457 |
| Washington | 3 | 289 |
| Vermont | 2 | 257 |
| Maryland | 3 | 136 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 70 |
| Kansas | 5 | 0 |
Pennsylvania led the nation with 2,325 workers affected across 13 notices , followed by Florida (2,315 workers) and Texas (2,093 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 42 | 4,489 |
| Healthcare | 12 | 2,351 |
| Information & Technology | 10 | 1,823 |
| Finance & Insurance | 9 | 932 |
| Transportation | 5 | 735 |
| Retail | 5 | 668 |
| Professional Services | 4 | 208 |
| Arts & Entertainment | 1 | 164 |
| Agriculture | 1 | 157 |
| Accommodation & Food | 1 | 116 |
The Manufacturing sector topped the list of affected industries with 4,489 workers across 42 notices. Notably, Healthcare reported 2,351 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 24 | 4,111 |
| Layoff | 19 | 1,567 |
Closures accounted for 31% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Telemarketing | Huntsville, Alabama | 1,081 | Closure |
| Medical College of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 702 | Closure |
| Techneglas | Pittston, Pennsylvania | 670 | Closure |
| Robert Bosch Corp. Chassis Davis | St. Joseph, Michigan | 530 | Layoff |
| American Medical Response | Largo, Florida | 425 | |
| Vought Aircraft Industries | Stuart, Florida | 375 | |
| Capital One Services | Tampa, Florida | 363 | |
| Techneglas | Columbus, Ohio | 358 | |
| Jumpking Incorporated - Mesquite | Mesquite, Texas | 340 | |
| GST Autoleather | Fleetwood, Pennsylvania | 296 | Layoff |
The most significant filing came from West Telemarketing in Huntsville, Alabama, reporting 1,081 affected workers. Medical College of Pennsylvania followed with 702 workers.
Trend & Outlook
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 August 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.