US Layoffs — August 2006
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers recorded 133 WARN Act notices in August 2006, covering approximately 12,044 workers — marking a decline from July and down 12% versus August 2005. Filings came from 17 states and territories, with an average of 91 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 17 | 2,663 |
| Texas | 26 | 1,428 |
| Georgia | 13 | 1,340 |
| New York | 26 | 1,087 |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | 789 |
| Washington | 4 | 745 |
| Florida | 7 | 738 |
| Missouri | 4 | 652 |
| Washington DC | 2 | 567 |
| Michigan | 7 | 507 |
| Illinois | 4 | 357 |
| Iowa | 5 | 336 |
| Alabama | 2 | 327 |
| New Jersey | 3 | 260 |
| Maryland | 4 | 198 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 50 |
| Kansas | 3 | 0 |
Ohio led the nation with 2,663 workers affected across 17 notices , followed by Texas (1,428 workers) and Georgia (1,340 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 64 | 6,083 |
| Finance & Insurance | 7 | 1,504 |
| Retail | 9 | 966 |
| Transportation | 6 | 723 |
| Information & Technology | 21 | 686 |
| Professional Services | 7 | 596 |
| Accommodation & Food | 3 | 277 |
| Arts & Entertainment | 1 | 200 |
| Healthcare | 2 | 114 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1 | 98 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 6,083 workers across 64 notices. At the same time, Finance & Insurance reported 1,504 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Layoff | 40 | 2,821 |
| Closure | 27 | 2,794 |
Closures accounted for 23% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of America Card Services Operations | Horsham, Pennsylvania | 617 | Closure |
| Tyson's Fresh Meats | Pasco, Washington | 590 | Layoff |
| United Airlines | Washington, Washington DC | 504 | Layoff |
| Hospira | Ashland, Ohio | 450 | |
| Paloma (formerly NCED) | El Paso, Texas | 400 | |
| Briggs and Stratton | Rolla, Missouri | 395 | Closure |
| ReadyOne Industries (formerly NCED) | El Paso, Texas | 333 | |
| Chase Home Finance Default | Cleveland, Ohio | 282 | |
| Southern Family Markets | Birmingham, Alabama | 278 | Layoff |
| Ceres Administrators | Strongsville, Ohio | 272 |
Leading the list was Bank of America Card Services Operations in Horsham, Pennsylvania, reporting 617 affected workers. Tyson's Fresh Meats followed with 590 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 August 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.