Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.
Alabama: Sears Holdings confirmed that the Prattville Kmart will shutdown in April, 70 jobs lost.
California: What did you get when you got laid off? It’s been revealed that Newark based StemCells Incorporated gave its recently ‘resigned’ CEO a $1-million USD severance package! Pier 1 Imports shutting down their El Cerrito Plaza store by the end of February. Local news reports say a retailer from Japan will move into the vacated Pier 1 location.
Florida: Orlando based Total Sleep Management now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Administrators blame ObamaCare: “The sleep industry ran into trouble around 2013. Pre-authorizations became a requirement for most private insurers. We lost about 40% of our revenue.”
Georgia: Sears Holdings confirmed that the Dublin Kmart will shutdown in April, 71 jobs lost.
Hawaii: Simply Organized shutting down their Ewa Beach store in February.
Idaho: More proof poverty is skyrocketing in The Gem State; the only form of housing assistance comes from federally funded Section 8 and private donations (unlike most densely populated states that have a state level tax payer funded match to the federal Section 8 funding). Housing assistance is managed by Idaho Housing and Finance (IHFA, “a self-supporting corporation”) and starting in 2011 was forced by increasing homelessness in Idaho to start a new charity fund raising operation called Home Partnership Foundation-Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge. In 2015 they raised $317-thousand USD to supplement what they already have to work with. Almost half of that has just been given to 32 non-profit organizations through out the state. 
It’s been revealed by the state Office of Performance Evaluations that Psychosocial Rehabilitation Counselor (aka PSR or Psycho Social Rehabilitation workers) jacked up costs to Idaho Medicaid nine times over a ten years period. In 2001 PSR costs were $8-million USD, by 2012 costs hit $76-million! In 2013 the state tried to counter by pushing for more “managed” inpatient care, however that is backfiring because many providers are confused by the regulations which are causing problems with care.
Illinois: Baker Mondelez told 277 Chicago workers they will become unemployed starting in March, as part of the company’s plan to move to Mexico! Also in Chicago, the Blue Buddha Boutique shutting down after 13 years because the owner’s doctor told her to reduce her “stress levels”. You mean Buddha, meditation and the stress of running a business don’t jive?
Indiana: The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art laid off five people due to crashing revenues. Marsh shutting down their Bloomington grocery store because it’s not worth it to renew the lease.
Iowa: In Ames, after 30 years restaurant Valentino’s shutdown, the owners saying “Recent circumstances beyond our control, coupled with changing demographics in our current location and declining sales made this very difficult decision necessary.”
Louisiana: Noranda shutting down its alumina factory in Gramercy, blaming a bauxite tax imposed by the government of Jamaica, and crashing sales, 444 jobs lost over the next two months! Texas based National Oilwell Varco shutting down its Houma ops, 80 jobs lost in March.
Maine: (Ripple Effect layoffs) Chipotle Mexican Grill killing off Hutamaki. The paper product maker said it had to layoff 30 employees due to crashing packaging orders from the troubled chain restaurant.
Maryland: After 18 years restaurant Donna’s shutting down by the end of the month. The owners admitted they were losing money and they could not renew the lease.
Michigan: Oregon based expensive clothier Pendleton Woolen Mills shutting down three stores in The Wolverine State blaming lack of “sales and profitability”!
Missouri: (Ripple Effect Layoffs) In Lamar, the 117 years old Thorco Industries announced it will layoff 93 people starting in Spring. The company makes point of sales (aka point of purchase or POP) displays for retailers. Administrators blamed the layoffs on “…retail industry changes, including the growth of e-commerce and the opening of fewer brick-and-mortar stores, has resulted in a continued decline in demand for store fixtures, such as the wire-based merchandising displays and accessories…”
Nebraska: Food giant ConAgra eliminating more jobs due to an expected drop in sales. News reports say several hundreds of ConAgra employees in Omaha will lose there jobs to cheaper contractors as ConAgra attempts to cut operating costs! The reports are based on a video leaked last week, but what’s really interesting is that ConAgra execs are also killing 40 sales positions (maybe that’s why they expect sales to go down?).
New Mexico: In Los Lunas, Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples shutting down in February, 22 jobs lost.
New York: Qatar based news source Al Jazeera made it official and issued a shutdown WARN for its NYC ops, 197 jobs lost by the end of April! Internet fantasy sports site FanFuel revealed they’ve begun laying off employees, no numbers given. It’s connected to legal threats challenging FanDuel’s claim that it’s not a gambling site. The movie theater Ziegfeld Theater is shutting down after 47 years to be re-purposed as ‘a high-end event center’ for corporate elites. Months after announcing plans to hire 125 people, Dial America now shutting down its 28 years old Amherst call center, 120 jobs lost by the beginning of March! Administrators blamed it on a major client deciding to do business with a foreign call center operator! Sears Holdings confirms the Staten Island Mall Sears Auto Center will shutdown in February, 20 jobs lost. After laying off 20 employees in October, Watertown’s New York Air Brake eliminating another 30 jobs blaming declining sales to the railroad industry. This is a prime example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs; New York Air Brake’s job losses caused by railroad industry which in turn is losing jobs caused by the oil and coal industries which in turn are losing jobs due to crashing commodity prices.
Oklahoma: Oil company Devon Energy warned more “…layoffs will be a necessary part of the company’s near-term cost-management efforts. The company has not determined the extent of the reduction but expects the majority of layoffs to occur by the end of the first quarter.”
Pennsylvania: Lehigh Valley Health Network warning that it must shutdown five offices across two counties! LVHN rep Brian Downs said they didn’t know when the shutdowns would take place, or how many people will lose their jobs, but warned “This is health care today. This is an ongoing thing.”
Texas: (Ripple Effect Layoffs) In Longview, after already laying off employees in 2015, US Steel now says it might shutdown its Lone Star Tubular Operations starting in March, 677 remaining jobs threatened by the crashing oil industry! (Ripple Effect Layoffs) Raymondville city leaders are warning of citywide layoffs due to the shutdown of the local Walmart store. Last year the Willacy County Correctional Center shutdown, which generated money for the city through water sales, now the Walmart is the only major source of revenue for the city and it’s shutting down!
Utah: Sears Holdings confirmed that the 35 years old Richfield Kmart will shutdown in April, 63 jobs lost.
Virginia: Richmond’s four years old Carytown Dixie Donuts shutting down by the end of the month. In Pulaski, Food Lion shutting down its Memorial Drive grocery store by February because it’s not worth it to renew the lease.
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”