US Layoffs — March 2019

The US labor market showed continued flux as employers logged 367 WARN Act notices in March 2019, involving roughly 35,127 workers — falling below February and up 22% versus March 2018. Filings came from 38 states and territories, with an average of 96 workers per notice.

Top States by Workers Affected

California led the nation with 6,544 workers affected across 76 notices , followed by Ohio (2,748 workers) and Wisconsin (2,697 workers) .

Industry Breakdown

The Manufacturing sector dominated layoff filings with 9,930 workers across 74 notices. Meanwhile, Information & Technology reported 5,702 workers.

Layoff Type Analysis

Closures accounted for 35% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.

Largest Layoffs

The biggest impact was at Shopko in Abbotsford, Wisconsin, reporting 1,715 affected workers. GM Lordstown Complex followed with 1,607 workers.

Trend & Outlook

This data points to 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 March 2019. 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.