US Layoffs — May 2013
The US labor market showed continued flux as employers posted 232 WARN Act notices in May 2013, affecting an estimated 22,222 workers — reflecting a cooling compared to April and down 45% versus May 2012. Filings came from 30 states and territories, with an average of 96 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | 66 | 5,214 |
| Florida | 20 | 1,945 |
| Kentucky | 11 | 1,479 |
| New York | 26 | 1,421 |
| Delaware | 1 | 1,200 |
| Texas | 15 | 1,046 |
| North Carolina | 6 | 1,017 |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | 988 |
| Mississippi | 7 | 925 |
| Illinois | 8 | 753 |
| Washington | 3 | 731 |
| Ohio | 4 | 701 |
| Georgia | 6 | 582 |
| Tennessee | 7 | 483 |
| Virginia | 7 | 467 |
| Alabama | 3 | 424 |
| New Jersey | 7 | 412 |
| Oregon | 3 | 406 |
| Indiana | 3 | 349 |
| Missouri | 4 | 340 |
| Kansas | 2 | 317 |
| Arizona | 4 | 292 |
| Michigan | 3 | 235 |
| Maryland | 1 | 145 |
| Louisiana | 1 | 110 |
| Alaska | 1 | 75 |
| Iowa | 3 | 70 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 50 |
| South Carolina | 1 | 42 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 3 |
California led the nation with 5,214 workers affected across 66 notices , followed by Florida (1,945 workers) and Kentucky (1,479 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 65 | 6,395 |
| Information & Technology | 27 | 3,287 |
| Transportation | 24 | 2,813 |
| Agriculture | 11 | 1,929 |
| Healthcare | 25 | 1,624 |
| Professional Services | 11 | 1,072 |
| Accommodation & Food | 10 | 950 |
| Education | 8 | 752 |
| Utilities | 14 | 585 |
| Wholesale Trade | 6 | 540 |
The Manufacturing sector saw the heaviest impact with 6,395 workers across 65 notices. On a related front, Information & Technology reported 3,287 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 56 | 5,259 |
| Layoff | 39 | 4,029 |
Closures accounted for 24% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AstraZeneca | Wilmington, Delaware | 1,200 | |
| Northrop Grumman Technical Srvcs (Lss Contract) | Fort Irwin, California | 768 | |
| DynCorp International | Columbus AFB, Mississippi | 490 | Layoff |
| Pvh | Duncansville, Pennsylvania | 422 | |
| House of Raeford Farms | Raeford, North Carolina | 354 | Closure |
| House of Raeford Farms | Raeford, North Carolina | 353 | Closure |
| [Unknown - KY] | Turnpike Louisville, Kentucky | 347 | Closure |
| Epic | Bellevue, Washington | 328 | Layoff |
| Campbells Soup Supply | Sacramento, California | 320 | |
| Airtran Airways, Inc./hartsfield-jackson Alt Int'l Airport | Atlanta, Georgia | 316 |
The largest notice was filed by AstraZeneca in Wilmington, Delaware, reporting 1,200 affected workers. Northrop Grumman Technical Srvcs (Lss Contract) followed with 768 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The trends suggest 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 May 2013. 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.