West Virginia Layoffs — May 2019
Employers in West Virginia reported 2 WARN Act notices in May 2019, displacing an estimated 797 workers — signaling a deceleration from April and up 450% versus May 2018. The average filing covered 398 workers, with 2 closures among the notices.
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2 | 797 |
The Manufacturing sector topped the list of affected industries with 797 workers across 2 notices.
Geographic Hotspots
| County | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Randolph | 1 | 657 |
| Jefferson | 1 | 140 |
Randolph absorbed the greatest share of layoffs, accounting for 82% of all affected workers with 657 workers across 1 notices.
| City | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Beverly | 1 | 657 |
| Kearneysville | 1 | 140 |
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 2 | 797 |
The high proportion of closures (100% of affected workers) suggests structural shifts rather than temporary cutbacks in West Virginia's labor market.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | City | Workers | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verso | Beverly | 657 | Closure | |
| Royal Vendors | Kearneysville | 140 | Closure |
The most significant filing came from Verso at its Beverly facility, reporting 657 affected workers. Royal Vendors followed with 140 workers.
Trend & Outlook
The numbers illustrate a mixed picture for West Virginia'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 West Virginia. 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 West Virginia WARN notices, browse layoffs by state, or download the full dataset.