US Layoffs — February 2026, Week 4

In-Depth Analysis

The silence at LA Semiconductor LLC in Pocatello tells a story that reverberates far beyond Idaho's industrial corridors. When 342 workers received their layoff notices this week, they joined the smallest cohort of WARN Act filings in recent memory—just 701 workers nationwide, down 94% from the same week last year when over 11,000 Americans faced similar notices.

The Semiconductor Reckoning

The Pocatello facility's closure represents nearly half of this week's total layoffs, a stark reminder that even in historically quiet periods, individual communities can face devastating economic disruption. The semiconductor industry, once riding high on pandemic-era demand and federal CHIPS Act optimism, now confronts a harsh reality of overcapacity and weakening global demand.

Inventory corrections that began in late 2025 continue to ripple through the supply chain, forcing manufacturers to rationalize production capacity. For LA Semiconductor's workers, many of whom likely commanded premium wages in a rural economy, the transition ahead means either relocating to major tech hubs or accepting significant pay cuts in alternative industries. The specialized skills required for semiconductor manufacturing—clean room protocols, precision assembly, quality control systems—don't easily translate to Pocatello's agricultural and logistics sectors.

Pennsylvania's Industrial Retreat

Three hundred miles east, Pennsylvania absorbed four separate layoffs totaling 288 workers, painting a picture of industrial decline across multiple sectors. First Brands Group, operating under the Eagle Castings banner, shuttered operations in two locations simultaneously, eliminating 146 jobs in what appears to be a complete wind-down of the foundry business.

The casting industry has faced relentless pressure from overseas competition and shifting manufacturing patterns. As automakers increasingly embrace lighter materials and electric vehicle components, traditional iron and steel casting operations find themselves squeezed between rising energy costs and diminishing demand. For communities like Hanover, where manufacturing jobs historically provided middle-class stability without requiring college degrees, these closures represent more than employment statistics—they signal the erosion of an economic foundation.

DHL's Bethlehem facility eliminated 66 positions, likely reflecting broader logistics optimization as e-commerce growth normalizes post-pandemic. The shipping giant has been consolidating operations nationwide, favoring larger hub-and-spoke models over distributed facilities.

The Quiet Before

This week's minimal WARN activity—just eight notices compared to nine the previous week—suggests either genuine labor market strength or a temporary lull before larger restructuring announcements. The 62% week-over-week decline in affected workers primarily reflects the absence of any mega-layoffs, those thousand-plus cuts that dominated headlines throughout 2025.

Yet beneath these encouraging headlines lies a more complex reality. Companies may be managing workforce reductions through attrition, voluntary buyouts, and smaller cuts that fall below WARN thresholds rather than dramatic mass layoffs. The Federal Reserve's recent signals about potential rate adjustments have created uncertainty about economic direction, prompting many executives to delay major restructuring decisions until clearer policy signals emerge.

Ripple Effects in Railroad Towns

Railcrew Xpress's South Carolina operations, though affecting only 71 workers across three notices, highlight the transportation sector's ongoing adaptation to changing freight patterns. As manufacturing reshores and supply chains reconfigure, railroad employment faces geographic shifts that leave some regions behind while others benefit from increased traffic.

For displaced rail workers, the specialized certifications and safety training they've accumulated retain value across the industry, but geographic mobility becomes essential. Unlike the semiconductor workers in Pocatello, these employees likely face better prospects for similar work—but potentially hundreds of miles away.

The week's subdued numbers offer little comfort to the 701 families now planning their next moves. In a labor market where aggregate statistics suggest strength, individual communities still confront the stark reality of economic disruption, one facility closure at a time.