Michigan Layoffs — December 2009
Employers in Michigan filed 6 WARN Act notices in December 2009, impacting roughly 950 workers — representing a pullback from November and down 68% versus December 2008. The average filing covered 158 workers, with 6 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2 | 466 |
| Finance & Insurance | 1 | 250 |
| Accommodation & Food | 1 | 103 |
| Transportation | 1 | 81 |
| Professional Services | 1 | 50 |
The Manufacturing sector led the way in workforce reductions with 466 workers across 2 notices. In a parallel development, Finance & Insurance reported 250 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo | 1 | 400 |
| Oakland | 3 | 366 |
| Macomb | 1 | 103 |
| Genesee | 1 | 81 |
Kalamazoo bore the heaviest burden, accounting for 42% of all affected workers with 400 workers across 1 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo | 1 | 400 |
| Troy | 3 | 366 |
| Warren | 1 | 103 |
| Flint | 1 | 81 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 6 | 950 |
The high proportion of closures (100% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in Michigan's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design Ware | Kalamazoo | 400 | Closure | |
| Chrysler Financial (Customer Contact Center) | Troy | 250 | Closure | |
| Big Boy Restaurants International | Warren | 103 | Closure | |
| Allied Systems | Flint | 81 | Closure | |
| Saturn | Troy | 66 | Closure | |
| PHD Detroit | Troy | 50 | Closure |
The single largest action involved Design Ware at its Kalamazoo facility, reporting 400 affected workers. Chrysler Financial (Customer Contact Center) followed with 250 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The data underscores a easing in workforce disruptions across Michigan, with filings falling below both recent and year-ago levels. The Manufacturing sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This analysis is based on official WARN Act filings reported by Michigan. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires employers with 100+ employees to provide 60-day advance notice of mass layoffs and plant closings. Data is updated daily by WARN Firehose. View all Michigan WARN notices, browse layoffs by state, or download the full dataset.