US Layoffs — August 2012
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers recorded 213 WARN Act notices in August 2012, covering approximately 18,679 workers — marking a decline from July and roughly flat versus August 2011. Filings came from 29 states and territories, with an average of 88 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | 59 | 2,960 |
| Florida | 11 | 1,915 |
| Kentucky | 16 | 1,890 |
| Texas | 13 | 1,183 |
| Pennsylvania | 10 | 945 |
| Washington | 4 | 926 |
| Illinois | 6 | 919 |
| Virginia | 8 | 836 |
| Michigan | 5 | 817 |
| New York | 17 | 747 |
| Tennessee | 10 | 689 |
| South Carolina | 9 | 672 |
| Mississippi | 4 | 663 |
| Ohio | 4 | 616 |
| New Jersey | 5 | 451 |
| Missouri | 5 | 421 |
| Maryland | 5 | 350 |
| Iowa | 5 | 330 |
| Georgia | 5 | 321 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 247 |
| South Dakota | 1 | 180 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 143 |
| Indiana | 1 | 121 |
| Alabama | 1 | 119 |
| North Carolina | 1 | 59 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 51 |
| Kansas | 2 | 50 |
| Arizona | 1 | 44 |
| Louisiana | 1 | 14 |
California led the nation with 2,960 workers affected across 59 notices , followed by Florida (1,915 workers) and Kentucky (1,890 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 75 | 7,252 |
| Information & Technology | 28 | 2,416 |
| Healthcare | 17 | 2,060 |
| Construction | 15 | 1,092 |
| Retail | 10 | 908 |
| Professional Services | 7 | 660 |
| Finance & Insurance | 6 | 651 |
| Accommodation & Food | 12 | 648 |
| Transportation | 10 | 607 |
| Government | 11 | 449 |
The Manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share of job cuts with 7,252 workers across 75 notices. At the same time, Information & Technology reported 2,416 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 52 | 5,140 |
| Layoff | 45 | 4,392 |
Closures accounted for 28% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn Regional Medical Center | Auburn, Washington | 827 | Layoff |
| Motorola Cellular Manufacturing | Libertyville, Illinois | 659 | Closure |
| PEMCO World Air Services | Tampa, Florida | 474 | |
| Kbr | DeKalb, Mississippi | 396 | Layoff |
| BankAtlantic/BB&T | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | 365 | |
| Lexmark International | Lexington, Kentucky | 350 | Layoff |
| 740 New Circle Road Lexington, Kentucky | Lexington, Kentucky | 350 | Layoff |
| Masterbrand Cabinets | Martinsville, Virginia | 345 | Closure |
| Hyatt Regency | Dearborn, Michigan | 322 | Closure |
| Gaylord Entertainment | Nashville, Tennessee | 310 | Closure |
Leading the list was Auburn Regional Medical Center in Auburn, Washington, reporting 827 affected workers. Motorola Cellular Manufacturing followed with 659 workers.
Trend & Outlook
This is the third consecutive month of declining layoff activity.
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 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.