US Layoffs — May 2006
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers submitted 114 WARN Act notices in May 2006, putting at risk an estimated 15,719 workers — down from April and up 50% versus May 2005. Filings came from 16 states and territories, with an average of 138 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 25 | 3,693 |
| Ohio | 13 | 2,954 |
| Alabama | 3 | 1,421 |
| Iowa | 5 | 1,151 |
| Texas | 12 | 1,142 |
| New Jersey | 8 | 1,092 |
| Georgia | 13 | 1,031 |
| Washington | 3 | 730 |
| Pennsylvania | 8 | 658 |
| Illinois | 7 | 491 |
| Michigan | 8 | 443 |
| Maryland | 4 | 306 |
| District of Columbia | 2 | 239 |
| Alaska | 1 | 151 |
| Kansas | 1 | 127 |
| Missouri | 1 | 90 |
Florida led the nation with 3,693 workers affected across 25 notices , followed by Ohio (2,954 workers) and Alabama (1,421 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 45 | 7,474 |
| Professional Services | 7 | 1,481 |
| Retail | 8 | 1,449 |
| Accommodation & Food | 5 | 1,143 |
| Healthcare | 11 | 849 |
| Finance & Insurance | 7 | 800 |
| Information & Technology | 10 | 635 |
| Mining & Energy | 3 | 629 |
| Transportation | 6 | 448 |
| Wholesale Trade | 4 | 257 |
The Manufacturing sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 7,474 workers across 45 notices. Separately, Professional Services reported 1,481 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 27 | 4,575 |
| Layoff | 15 | 1,081 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Motors - Moraine Assembly Plant | Moraine, Ohio | 1,100 | |
| Avondale Mills, Inc., Sylacauga | Sylacauga, Alabama | 1,023 | Closure |
| Whirlpool | Newton, Iowa | 900 | Closure |
| Fairmount Turnberry Isle Resort & Club | Aventura, Florida | 589 | |
| Larry's Markets | Bellevue, Washington | 545 | Closure |
| DynCorp International | Fort Hood, Texas | 537 | |
| Mosaic Fertilizer | Mulberry, Florida | 379 | |
| Springs Industries | Hartwell, Georgia | 340 | |
| Sara Lee Food & Beverge | Cincinnati, Ohio | 334 | |
| Mead Westvaco | Dayton, Ohio | 300 |
Topping the list was General Motors - Moraine Assembly Plant in Moraine, Ohio, reporting 1,100 affected workers. Avondale Mills, Inc., Sylacauga followed with 1,023 workers.
Trend & Outlook
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 May 2006. 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.