Michigan Layoffs — March 2019
Employers in Michigan filed 8 WARN Act notices in March 2019, impacting roughly 844 workers — representing a pullback from February and up 183% versus March 2018. The average filing covered 106 workers, with 5 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 4 | 411 |
| Utilities | 1 | 166 |
| Retail | 1 | 91 |
| Healthcare | 1 | 89 |
| Finance & Insurance | 1 | 87 |
The Manufacturing sector led the way in workforce reductions with 411 workers across 4 notices. In a parallel development, Utilities reported 166 workers.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne | 3 | 351 |
| Washtenaw | 2 | 167 |
| Lapeer | 1 | 160 |
| Isabella | 1 | 91 |
| Calhoun | 1 | 75 |
Wayne saw the most concentrated activity, accounting for 42% of all affected workers with 351 workers across 3 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 1 | 166 |
| Lapeer | 1 | 160 |
| Livonia | 1 | 96 |
| Mount Pleasant | 1 | 91 |
| Lincoln Park | 1 | 89 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 5 | 517 |
| Layoff | 3 | 327 |
The high proportion of closures (61% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in Michigan's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Renewable Power | Detroit | 166 | Closure | |
| Lapeer Industries | Lapeer | 160 | Layoff | |
| AMI Livonia | Livonia | 96 | Closure | |
| Kroger | Mount Pleasant | 91 | Closure | |
| Vibra Hospital | Lincoln Park | 89 | Closure | |
| Fifth Third Bank | Ann Arbor | 87 | Layoff | |
| Thomson Shore | Dexter | 80 | Layoff | |
| TreeHouse Private Brands | Battle Creek | 75 | Closure |
The single largest action involved Detroit Renewable Power at its Detroit facility, reporting 166 affected workers. Lapeer Industries followed with 160 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The data underscores a mixed picture for Michigan's labor market, with activity diverging between monthly and annual comparisons. 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.