US Layoffs — October 2015
The US labor market showed signs of rising strain as employers filed 290 WARN Act notices in October 2015, impacting roughly 30,976 workers — representing a notable rise over September and down 4% versus October 2014. Filings came from 33 states and territories, with an average of 107 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | 68 | 5,957 |
| West Virginia | 29 | 3,603 |
| Texas | 26 | 2,254 |
| Kentucky | 7 | 2,000 |
| New York | 26 | 1,910 |
| Indiana | 5 | 1,451 |
| Nebraska | 21 | 1,443 |
| Ohio | 9 | 1,321 |
| Arizona | 4 | 1,172 |
| Illinois | 13 | 1,161 |
| Tennessee | 9 | 957 |
| Michigan | 5 | 885 |
| Georgia | 7 | 771 |
| Connecticut | 4 | 738 |
| Florida | 6 | 676 |
| North Carolina | 5 | 665 |
| Mississippi | 10 | 560 |
| Alabama | 3 | 493 |
| Louisiana | 2 | 410 |
| Virginia | 3 | 404 |
| New Jersey | 2 | 351 |
| Missouri | 3 | 332 |
| Washington | 3 | 318 |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | 272 |
| Oregon | 2 | 226 |
| Maryland | 1 | 191 |
| South Carolina | 2 | 151 |
| Idaho | 1 | 148 |
| Vermont | 5 | 85 |
| Iowa | 1 | 71 |
| Maine | 1 | 0 |
| Colorado | 1 | 0 |
| Kansas | 1 | 0 |
California led the nation with 5,957 workers affected across 68 notices , followed by West Virginia (3,603 workers) and Texas (2,254 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 85 | 8,987 |
| Mining & Energy | 28 | 3,608 |
| Transportation | 18 | 2,791 |
| Retail | 19 | 2,756 |
| Healthcare | 22 | 2,172 |
| Information & Technology | 22 | 2,073 |
| Accommodation & Food | 31 | 1,516 |
| Wholesale Trade | 5 | 1,367 |
| Finance & Insurance | 17 | 1,054 |
| Utilities | 12 | 895 |
The Manufacturing sector led the way in workforce reductions with 8,987 workers across 85 notices. In a parallel development, Mining & Energy reported 3,608 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Layoff | 123 | 10,350 |
| Closure | 71 | 8,517 |
| Temporary Layoff | 1 | 163 |
| Temporary Closure | 1 | 115 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pcm | Laguna Woods, California | 968 | Layoff |
| Fresh & Easy | Riverside, California | 806 | Closure |
| Indiana Marujun | Winchester, Indiana | 734 | |
| AK Steel Corporation -Ashland Works | Ashland, Kentucky | 733 | Layoff |
| AK Steel Holding | Boyd, Kentucky | 733 | |
| American Airlines | Fort Worth, Texas | 595 | |
| Freeport-McMoRan Sierrita | Phoenix, Arizona | 580 | |
| Hallmark Cards, Inc. and Hallmark Marketing | Enfield, Connecticut | 564 | Closure |
| GMOrion Assembly | Lake Orion, Michigan | 538 | Layoff |
| Patriot Coal Corporation, Eastern Associated | Fairview, West Virginia | 489 | Layoff |
The single largest action involved Pcm in Laguna Woods, California, reporting 968 affected workers. Fresh & Easy followed with 806 workers.
Trend & Outlook
After a dip last month, layoff activity has ticked back up.
The data underscores 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 2015. 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.