Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: After 38 years the Robert Moore & Co. Christmas Town in Mobile shutdown.  Back in August 2014 the co-owners said their health was not so good and they better quit while they’re ahead.

Alaska: The U.S. Census Bureau reports 10,137 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!

California: The U.S. Census Bureau reports a net of 32,090 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!  In Turlock, MedicAlert laid off 31 employees, blaming crashing sales.  In Santa Ana, ITT Cannon issued a WARN saying at least 12 people will be laid off in March.  Southern California Edison continues job culling, this time their latest WARN says they will shutdown their San Clemente office, rendering 45 people jobless in March.   RadioShack issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Woodland distribution center, 57 jobs lost in March.  Also in Woodland, it’s been revealed that Mitt Romney’s wunderkind Staples shutdown.

Connecticut: In New Haven, the Anchor Bar shutdown without notice, local reports say employees were ordered not to say anything to the news media.   The U.S. Census Bureau reports at least 2,664 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!  Fairfield based GE (General Electric) canceled Obama Care health insurance for any retired employee who is younger than 65 years!   A judge recently allowed GE to kick all its 65-thousand retirees off of company health insurance and onto expensive private Obama Care insurance!  Obama Care being blamed for the demise of Waterbury Hospital.  Administrators say they are losing $9.7-million USD because of Obama Care, layoffs are imminent and they are now trying to sell the hospital!  Four other non-profit hospitals are up for sale as well!

Hawaii: The U.S. Census Bureau reports a net of 5,141 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!  Kayak tour company Kohala Ditch Adventures shutdown, blaming damage to flumes caused by bad weather, and citing the expiration of their operating lease.

Idaho: Virginia based Obama Care call center operator Maximus confirmed they will shutdown their Boise call center beginning in February, rendering 1500 people jobless!  According to state WARN records, Maximus was planning to shutdown back in April 2014.

Illinois: The U.S. Census Bureau reports a net of 94,956 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!

Indiana: CVS Pharmacy issued a WARN saying they will shutdown the Coram Enteral Nutrition Center in February, at least 124 jobs lost!

Iowa: What automotive industry recovery? Tire maker Bridgestone laid off 65 employees at their Des Moines factory, blaming crashing sales.

Kentucky: In Louisville, Cunningham’s Restaurant shutdown without warning, 30 jobs lost.  The property is for sale, but the current lease is good until 2022.  Gatti’s Pizza shutdown their Westport Village Gattiland restaurant, the owners blamed the greedy landlord: “The lease is expiring, and after months of attempting to negotiate with the landlord, a satisfactory agreement has not been reached.” 

Maine: Group Home Foundation’s Little River Apparel division laid off 60 people.

Michigan: After only five years Just Baked cupcake shop shutdown ten of its Detroit metro area stores!  Wayne County announced a 5% salary reduction for new ‘appointees’.  The county is trying to cut $1.2-million from their budget.  In Dexter, after more than 40 years Huron Camera shutdown, about nine jobs lost.  In Grand Rapids, after 14 years Louis Benton Steakhouse shutdown with a one day notice, 35 jobs lost.  It sounds like the landlords have other plans for the property.

Minnesota: Obama Care taxes forcing medical device maker Greatbatch to move 175 jobs from their Plymouth factory to Mexico!   In Wrenshall, family owned One Stop Market shutdown. The owner blames a new unAmerican corporate America competitor for costing him big losses, just in December: “Their advertising, their marketing, free milk, and 99 cent butter….It just kills these little businesses, little towns…..we’re losing everything that we have as a family…”-Chad Pfau, now legally bankrupt

New Jersey: After 14 years the Granville Millinery Company shutdown.  The owner said she was starting a new career.

New Mexico: The U.S. Census Bureau reports a net of 14,154 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!

New York: The U.S. Census Bureau reports 153,921 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!  This puts New York in the number one spot for mass exodus.  In Long Island, advertising tracking company Market Track issued a WARN saying they will shutdown by September 2015, at least 225 jobs are being moved out of state!  Yet another women’s clothing store going down as C.Wonder issued a late WARN saying they already shutdown their NYC store, 75 jobs lost with no warning. C. Wonder administrators also admitted “Due to the highly competitive nature of the current retail environment, C. Wonder will be closing its remaining stores.”  The clothing retailer will operate on the internet from now on.  You know the economy is bad when Walmart starts shutting down!  Walmart issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their huge two story Massapequa store in March, at least 295 jobs lost! The WARN blames the bad economy.  In Brooklyn, upscale The Guild for Exceptional Children preschool shutdown, 81 jobs affected.  In Queensbury, RadioShack shutdown their Aviation Mall store without warning, the closure was discovered by loyal customer Don Lehman who is now pissed off. In Albany, Taste (formerly Dale Miller) restaurant is being sold off.  Local news reports say it was never financially stable.  Too Big to Jail investment company NSB Advisors now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and being sold off.  After 58 years the Cheektowaga AMF Thruway Lanes bowling alley shutdown.  The property was sold to a car dealer.

Ohio:  After eight years The Greene’s Adobe Gila’s restaurant shutdown without notice, 40 jobs lost.  Local news reported that restaurant mangers/owners would not answer their phones.  Hyde Park restaurant Ash American Fare shutdown.  The owner said he is focusing on his other businesses.  In Lorain, U.S. Steel announced they will layoff 614 people between March and May, blaming crashing orders from the oil industry!

Texas:  Switzerland based deep water oil drilling company Transocean scrapped seven of their drilling ships! Company administrators say “As the company continues to evaluate the long-term competitiveness of its fleet, additional rigs may be identified as candidates for scrapping.”   They also plan massive layoffs of employees.  The decision to start scrapping deep water rigs was made back in November, before the oil price drop.  Company administrators warned their investor back then that there was a too much oil on the market.  In Houston, U.S. Steel announced they will layoff 142 people by May, blaming crashing orders from the oil industry!  Houston based oil industry company Civeo (who is supposedly relocating to Canada) laid off between 30% and 45% of employees in Canada and United States!  However, they are not blaming the drop in oil prices, they blame the declining value of the Canadian (CAD) and Australian (AUD) dollars!  Company administrators say things started getting bad before the oil price drop: “As it became evident during the fourth quarter that capital spending budgets among the major oil companies were going to be cut, we began taking steps to reduce marketed room capacity, control costs and curtail discretionary capital expenditures.”-Bradley Dodson, President and CEO

Utah: The U.S. Census Bureau reports 1,235 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!

West Virginia: The U.S. Census Bureau reports 3,269 people left the state from July 2013 to July 2014!  Oil drilling contractor Antero Resources laying off 250 land brokers (industrial real estate agents), and focusing on drilling for oil only!  Company administrators blame crashing natural gas prices.

01-03-January-2015: Chick fil-A kills Macaroni Grill in secret deal!

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.