US Layoffs — May 2006

The US labor market showed signs of rising strain as employers submitted 115 WARN Act notices in May 2006, putting at risk an estimated 15,948 workers — up substantially from April and up 54% versus May 2005. Filings came from 16 states and territories, with an average of 139 workers per notice.

Top States by Workers Affected

Florida led the nation with 3,693 workers affected across 25 notices , followed by Ohio (2,954 workers) and Alabama (1,777 workers) .

Industry Breakdown

The Manufacturing sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 7,474 workers across 45 notices. Separately, Accommodation & Food reported 1,499 workers.

Layoff Type Analysis

Closures accounted for 31% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.

Largest Layoffs

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

This marks the third consecutive month of rising layoff activity.

These figures highlight mounting pressure on the the nation labor market, with activity running above both recent and year-ago benchmarks. 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.