US Layoffs — December 2005
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers recorded 83 WARN Act notices in December 2005, covering approximately 9,453 workers — marking a decline from November and down 21% versus December 2004. Filings came from 14 states and territories, with an average of 114 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 8 | 2,107 |
| Georgia | 14 | 1,264 |
| Alabama | 4 | 1,202 |
| Illinois | 7 | 1,143 |
| Pennsylvania | 16 | 878 |
| Texas | 8 | 796 |
| Missouri | 1 | 638 |
| Florida | 6 | 411 |
| Kentucky | 3 | 323 |
| New Jersey | 5 | 217 |
| Washington | 4 | 200 |
| Washington DC | 3 | 158 |
| Michigan | 2 | 116 |
| Kansas | 2 | 0 |
Ohio led the nation with 2,107 workers affected across 8 notices , followed by Georgia (1,264 workers) and Alabama (1,202 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 36 | 5,264 |
| Transportation | 4 | 809 |
| Wholesale Trade | 4 | 714 |
| Information & Technology | 9 | 665 |
| Retail | 4 | 504 |
| Finance & Insurance | 8 | 452 |
| Professional Services | 7 | 397 |
| Accommodation & Food | 3 | 234 |
| Mining & Energy | 2 | 130 |
| Agriculture | 1 | 100 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 5,264 workers across 36 notices. At the same time, Transportation reported 809 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 27 | 2,696 |
| Layoff | 15 | 1,962 |
Closures accounted for 29% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Motor Company | Avon Lake, Ohio | 767 | |
| Russell Corp. (Alex City) | Alexander City, Alabama | 747 | Layoff |
| May Dept. Stores, Credit Service Ctr. - FLO Distribution Center | Bridgeton, Missouri | 638 | Layoff |
| M.T. Picture Display Corporation of America (Ohio) | Troy, Ohio | 480 | |
| American Coal | Galatia, Illinois | 404 | Closure |
| First Data Resources | Macon, Georgia | 293 | |
| Hoover | North Canton, Ohio | 292 | |
| Big River Zinc | Illinois | 284 | Closure |
| Foley's | Houston, Texas | 282 | |
| Pfizer | Augusta, Georgia | 240 |
Leading the list was Ford Motor Company in Avon Lake, Ohio, reporting 767 affected workers. Russell Corp. (Alex City) followed with 747 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The filings reflect 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 December 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.