US Layoffs — October 2010
The US labor market showed signs of rising strain as employers recorded 227 WARN Act notices in October 2010, covering approximately 21,671 workers — marking a sharp increase from September and down 10% versus October 2009. Filings came from 25 states and territories, with an average of 95 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 25 | 4,622 |
| California | 75 | 3,646 |
| New Jersey | 11 | 2,935 |
| Pennsylvania | 10 | 1,797 |
| Texas | 27 | 1,327 |
| Illinois | 11 | 1,309 |
| Florida | 6 | 839 |
| Indiana | 5 | 676 |
| Georgia | 5 | 624 |
| Iowa | 3 | 550 |
| Ohio | 3 | 549 |
| Louisiana | 4 | 467 |
| Mississippi | 4 | 348 |
| Michigan | 2 | 327 |
| Maryland | 4 | 270 |
| Utah | 2 | 253 |
| Oregon | 3 | 207 |
| Washington | 2 | 183 |
| Virginia | 4 | 182 |
| Arizona | 2 | 133 |
| Alabama | 3 | 126 |
| Missouri | 2 | 121 |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 115 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 65 |
| Kansas | 10 | 0 |
New York led the nation with 4,622 workers affected across 25 notices , followed by California (3,646 workers) and New Jersey (2,935 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 77 | 4,914 |
| Accommodation & Food | 7 | 3,030 |
| Admin & Support Services | 1 | 2,065 |
| Transportation | 10 | 1,881 |
| Healthcare | 30 | 1,820 |
| Professional Services | 18 | 1,727 |
| Information & Technology | 18 | 1,456 |
| Retail | 11 | 1,022 |
| Finance & Insurance | 18 | 893 |
| Agriculture | 7 | 817 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 4,914 workers across 77 notices. At the same time, Accommodation & Food reported 3,030 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 48 | 8,475 |
| Layoff | 35 | 1,735 |
Closures accounted for 39% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Services Systems | Astoria, New York | 2,065 | Closure |
| Resorts International Hotel | Atlantic City, New Jersey | 2,022 | |
| Express Scripts | Bensalem, Pennsylvania | 992 | Closure |
| Atlantic Paratrans of NYC | Maspeth, New York | 610 | Closure |
| Ocwen Loan Servicing | North Highlands, California | 452 | |
| Avon Products | Springdale, Ohio | 407 | |
| Rite Aid Distribution Center | Rome, New York | 355 | Closure |
| Agri-Best Holdings | Chicago, Illinois | 309 | Closure |
| Hilton Reservation Worldwide | Hemet, California | 295 | |
| Electrolux | Webster City, Iowa | 295 | Closure |
Leading the list was Home Services Systems in Astoria, New York, reporting 2,065 affected workers. Resorts International Hotel followed with 2,022 workers.
Trend & Outlook
After a dip last month, layoff activity has ticked back up.
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 October 2010. 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.