The US labor market showed continued flux as employers filed 121 WARN Act notices in December 2001, impacting roughly 17,488 workers — representing a pullback from November and up 124% versus December 2000. Filings came from 11 states and territories, with an average of 145 workers per notice.
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 16 | 4,315 |
| Texas | 35 | 3,280 |
| Pennsylvania | 17 | 3,262 |
| Georgia | 15 | 2,301 |
| Ohio | 10 | 1,635 |
| Florida | 13 | 1,416 |
| Alabama | 3 | 512 |
| Kansas | 4 | 272 |
| Maryland | 3 | 230 |
| Michigan | 3 | 215 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 50 |
Kentucky led the nation with 4,315 workers affected across 16 notices , followed by Texas (3,280 workers) and Pennsylvania (3,262 workers) .
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 4 | 2,152 |
| Manufacturing | 12 | 2,094 |
| Other | 8 | 1,479 |
| Healthcare | 7 | 1,412 |
| Transportation | 7 | 1,200 |
| Information & Technology | 5 | 294 |
| Agriculture | 1 | 239 |
| Mining & Energy | 2 | 229 |
| Retail | 3 | 220 |
| Finance & Insurance | 2 | 175 |
The Utilities sector led the way in workforce reductions with 2,152 workers across 4 notices. In a parallel development, Manufacturing reported 2,094 workers.
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Layoff | 23 | 4,070 |
| Closure | 13 | 1,898 |
Closures accounted for 11% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc | Kentucky | 926 | |
| Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc | Kentucky | 926 | |
| A. O. Smith | Kentucky | 756 | Layoff |
| Aetna U.S. Healthcare | King of Prussia, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania | 659 | Layoff |
| TRW Automotive | Cleveland, Ohio | 500 | |
| Ames Distribution Center | Columbus, Ohio | 454 | |
| Best Intimates, Inc. (Richland Distribution Center, Sidman Distribution Center) | Pennsylvania | 400 | Layoff |
| Boeing Company | Ridley Park, Pennsylvania | 400 | Layoff |
| Mercy Community Hospital (Mercy Haverford Hospital) | Havertown, Pennsylvania | 370 | Layoff |
| A. O. Smith | Kentucky | 350 | Layoff |
The single largest action involved Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc in Kentucky, reporting 926 affected workers. Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc followed with 926 workers.
The data underscores a mixed picture for the nation's labor market, with activity diverging between monthly and annual comparisons. The Utilities sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This report covers all WARN Act filings with notice dates in December 2001. 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 WARN Firehose. Download the full dataset or explore state-by-state data.
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