US Layoffs — February 2012
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers recorded 222 WARN Act notices in February 2012, covering approximately 20,574 workers — marking a decline from January and down 5% versus February 2011. Filings came from 28 states and territories, with an average of 93 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | 32 | 2,224 |
| Kentucky | 18 | 2,222 |
| Tennessee | 15 | 1,617 |
| New York | 24 | 1,558 |
| Florida | 7 | 1,542 |
| Georgia | 9 | 1,362 |
| Virginia | 11 | 1,241 |
| Illinois | 8 | 1,218 |
| Ohio | 13 | 1,068 |
| Mississippi | 7 | 930 |
| Pennsylvania | 8 | 777 |
| New Jersey | 5 | 757 |
| Missouri | 8 | 709 |
| South Carolina | 11 | 495 |
| Maryland | 4 | 419 |
| Texas | 11 | 412 |
| North Carolina | 6 | 396 |
| Washington | 3 | 347 |
| Arizona | 6 | 270 |
| Indiana | 3 | 264 |
| Michigan | 2 | 239 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 228 |
| Utah | 1 | 84 |
| Alabama | 1 | 78 |
| South Dakota | 1 | 66 |
| Louisiana | 1 | 50 |
| Oregon | 1 | 1 |
| Kansas | 4 | 0 |
California led the nation with 2,224 workers affected across 32 notices , followed by Kentucky (2,222 workers) and Tennessee (1,617 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 82 | 6,854 |
| Healthcare | 18 | 2,183 |
| Retail | 20 | 1,965 |
| Information & Technology | 18 | 1,588 |
| Transportation | 19 | 1,265 |
| Professional Services | 12 | 1,046 |
| Accommodation & Food | 8 | 780 |
| Arts & Entertainment | 1 | 774 |
| Agriculture | 3 | 611 |
| Finance & Insurance | 11 | 424 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 6,854 workers across 82 notices. At the same time, Healthcare reported 2,183 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 61 | 7,239 |
| Layoff | 62 | 4,231 |
Closures accounted for 35% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Health System | Miami, Florida | 920 | |
| Jubilee Casino | Greenville, Mississippi | 774 | Closure |
| Concessions International/paschals | Atlanta, Georgia | 530 | |
| Patterson Vegetable | Patterson, California | 489 | |
| JC Penney Corporation, Inc. Allentown Store Support Center | Breinigsville, Pennsylvania | 460 | |
| Bloomfield Bakers | Los Alamitos, California | 456 | |
| Eagle Systems & Services | Columbus, Georgia | 359 | |
| Startek USA | Decatur, Illinois | 358 | Closure |
| Personnel Placements | Jackson, Tennessee | 350 | Closure |
| Verizon | Ewing, New Jersey | 336 |
Leading the list was Jackson Health System in Miami, Florida, reporting 920 affected workers. Jubilee Casino followed with 774 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 February 2012. 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.