US Layoffs — February 2009
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers recorded 417 WARN Act notices in February 2009, covering approximately 57,970 workers — marking a decline from January and up 271% versus February 2008. Filings came from 25 states and territories, with an average of 139 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | 110 | 7,674 |
| New York | 47 | 6,914 |
| Georgia | 24 | 6,539 |
| Illinois | 28 | 5,082 |
| Texas | 35 | 3,397 |
| Indiana | 13 | 3,306 |
| Ohio | 21 | 3,072 |
| Kansas | 7 | 2,865 |
| Florida | 22 | 2,711 |
| Washington | 6 | 2,403 |
| Idaho | 3 | 2,243 |
| Michigan | 22 | 2,198 |
| Louisiana | 4 | 1,573 |
| Alabama | 12 | 1,500 |
| Missouri | 9 | 1,473 |
| New Jersey | 12 | 1,247 |
| Pennsylvania | 8 | 1,021 |
| Maryland | 9 | 821 |
| Arizona | 8 | 684 |
| Iowa | 5 | 474 |
| Kentucky | 5 | 352 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | 306 |
| Utah | 1 | 57 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 57 |
| Delaware | 1 | 1 |
California led the nation with 7,674 workers affected across 110 notices , followed by New York (6,914 workers) and Georgia (6,539 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 177 | 24,470 |
| Information & Technology | 50 | 8,057 |
| Retail | 54 | 6,587 |
| Healthcare | 13 | 3,498 |
| Finance & Insurance | 25 | 2,877 |
| Transportation | 23 | 2,458 |
| Wholesale Trade | 13 | 2,425 |
| Agriculture | 3 | 1,599 |
| Professional Services | 13 | 1,240 |
| Accommodation & Food | 5 | 917 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 24,470 workers across 177 notices. At the same time, Information & Technology reported 8,057 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 96 | 15,485 |
| Layoff | 60 | 9,467 |
| Temporary Closure | 2 | 113 |
| Temporary Layoff | 1 | 95 |
Closures accounted for 27% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micron Technology | Boise, Idaho | 2,000 | |
| Caritas Health Care, Inc. @ St John's Queens Hospital | Elmhurst, New York | 1,542 | Closure |
| Hawker Beechcraft | Wichita, Kansas | 1,500 | Layoff |
| Caterpillar | Decatur, Illinois | 1,490 | Closure |
| Navistar | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1,336 | |
| Pilgrim's Pride | Farmerville, Louisiana | 1,294 | |
| Rheem Manufacturing | Milledgeville, Georgia | 1,200 | |
| Caritas Health Care, Inc. @ Mary Immaculate Hospital | Jamaica, New York | 1,045 | Closure |
| Pilgrim's Pride | Douglas, Georgia | 900 | |
| KV Pharmaceutical | St. Louis, Missouri | 806 | Layoff |
Leading the list was Micron Technology in Boise, Idaho, reporting 2,000 affected workers. Caritas Health Care, Inc. @ St John's Queens Hospital followed with 1,542 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The filings reflect 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 February 2009. 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.