US Layoffs — August 2008

The US labor market showed continued flux as employers filed 157 WARN Act notices in August 2008, impacting roughly 18,177 workers — representing a pullback from July and up 25% versus August 2007. Filings came from 19 states and territories, with an average of 116 workers per notice.

Top States by Workers Affected

Florida led the nation with 2,054 workers affected across 19 notices , followed by Indiana (1,607 workers) and Texas (1,523 workers) .

Industry Breakdown

The Manufacturing sector led the way in workforce reductions with 8,316 workers across 77 notices. In a parallel development, Retail reported 1,705 workers.

Layoff Type Analysis

Closures accounted for 32% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.

Largest Layoffs

The single largest action involved Alaska Distributors in Kent, Washington, reporting 600 affected workers. Superior Industries International followed with 600 workers.

Trend & Outlook

The data underscores 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 August 2008. 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.