US Layoffs — April 2005
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers reported 99 WARN Act notices in April 2005, displacing an estimated 10,688 workers — signaling a deceleration from March and down 47% versus April 2004. Filings came from 14 states and territories, with an average of 108 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 13 | 1,735 |
| Georgia | 14 | 1,572 |
| Illinois | 4 | 1,220 |
| New Jersey | 11 | 1,004 |
| Maryland | 4 | 970 |
| Washington | 7 | 954 |
| Michigan | 11 | 841 |
| Pennsylvania | 9 | 743 |
| Texas | 9 | 716 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 500 |
| Ohio | 4 | 330 |
| Alabama | 1 | 80 |
| Kansas | 10 | 17 |
| Washington DC | 1 | 6 |
Florida led the nation with 1,735 workers affected across 13 notices , followed by Georgia (1,572 workers) and Illinois (1,220 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 44 | 3,736 |
| Transportation | 7 | 2,486 |
| Healthcare | 5 | 839 |
| Information & Technology | 13 | 688 |
| Retail | 8 | 650 |
| Finance & Insurance | 7 | 498 |
| Construction | 2 | 467 |
| Professional Services | 3 | 452 |
| Accommodation & Food | 4 | 299 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1 | 245 |
The Manufacturing sector topped the list of affected industries with 3,736 workers across 44 notices. Notably, Transportation reported 2,486 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 23 | 3,765 |
| Layoff | 24 | 1,066 |
Closures accounted for 35% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Wisconsin | Chicago, Illinois | 800 | Closure |
| Prison Health Services | Baltimore City, Maryland | 584 | Closure |
| Unit Parts | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 500 | |
| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta, Georgia | 457 | |
| United Airlines | Kent, Washington | 426 | Closure |
| Bechtel National | Richland, Washington | 350 | Layoff |
| Delta Air Lines, Inc. - Tampa | Tampa, Florida | 327 | |
| Aircraft Service International Group | Miami, Florida | 318 | |
| Tower Automotice | Granite City, Illinois | 300 | Closure |
| Kmc Telecom | Lawrenceville, Georgia | 245 |
The most significant filing came from Air Wisconsin in Chicago, Illinois, reporting 800 affected workers. Prison Health Services followed with 584 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The numbers illustrate 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 2005. 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.