US Layoffs — November 2004
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers posted 92 WARN Act notices in November 2004, affecting an estimated 11,468 workers — reflecting a cooling compared to October and down 46% versus November 2003. Filings came from 13 states and territories, with an average of 125 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 13 | 2,078 |
| Alabama | 3 | 1,984 |
| New Jersey | 14 | 1,681 |
| Texas | 19 | 1,529 |
| Pennsylvania | 11 | 1,105 |
| Michigan | 7 | 1,043 |
| Illinois | 6 | 608 |
| Kentucky | 3 | 384 |
| Maryland | 4 | 343 |
| Georgia | 5 | 343 |
| Florida | 4 | 307 |
| Washington | 1 | 63 |
| Kansas | 2 | 0 |
Ohio led the nation with 2,078 workers affected across 13 notices , followed by Alabama (1,984 workers) and New Jersey (1,681 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 48 | 5,301 |
| Finance & Insurance | 7 | 2,269 |
| Information & Technology | 17 | 1,433 |
| Healthcare | 2 | 617 |
| Transportation | 4 | 554 |
| Retail | 3 | 421 |
| Professional Services | 6 | 395 |
| Accommodation & Food | 2 | 179 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1 | 118 |
| Education | 1 | 101 |
The Manufacturing sector saw the heaviest impact with 5,301 workers across 48 notices. On a related front, Finance & Insurance reported 2,269 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 23 | 4,538 |
| Layoff | 11 | 608 |
Closures accounted for 40% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wachovia | Birmingham, Alabama | 1,714 | Closure |
| Jumpking Incorporated - Mesquite | Mesquite, Texas | 550 | |
| Cole Vision | Twinsburg, Ohio | 516 | |
| Fleetwood Enterprises | Edgerton, Ohio | 324 | |
| Ny Waterway | Weehawken, New Jersey | 313 | |
| Anchor Glass | Connellsville, Pennsylvania | 312 | Closure |
| Money's Foods USA | Fennville, Michigan | 264 | Closure |
| Chubb & Son | Warren, New Jersey | 261 | |
| Oxford Automotive | Alma, Michigan | 260 | Closure |
| Bredero Shaw | Theodore, Alabama | 220 | Closure |
The largest notice was filed by Wachovia in Birmingham, Alabama, reporting 1,714 affected workers. Jumpking Incorporated - Mesquite followed with 550 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The trends suggest 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 November 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.