The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program collects reports on mass layoff actions that result in workers being separated from their jobs. Monthly mass layoff numbers are from establishments which have at least 50 initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) filed against them during a 5-week period. Extended mass layoff numbers (issued quarterly) are from a subset of such establishments—where private sector nonfarm employers indicate that 50 or more workers were separated from their jobs for at least 31 days.

MLS News Releases

Mass Layoffs (Monthly)

January 27, 2010

In December, employers took 1,726 mass layoff actions involving 153,127 workers, each at the lowest level since July 2008. Manufacturing events and initial claims decreased in December to 433 and 44,072, respectively. Annual totals for 2009 events, at 28,030, and initial claims, at 2,796,456, not seasonally adjusted, were at program highs. More...
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Extended Mass Layoffs (Quarterly)

November 10, 2009

Employers initiated 1,776 extended mass layoff events that resulted in 277,924 job separations in the third quarter of 2009. The total number of events reached a record high for any third quarter. Nine major industry sectors had a record high number of events for a third quarter. More...
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  • Mass Layoffs (Monthly) (HTML) (PDF)
  • Extended Mass Layoffs (Quarterly) (HTML) (PDF)

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Tables Created by BLS

  • Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, 2008 and 2009 (TXT) (PDF)
  • Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, 2004 through 2007 (TXT) (PDF)
  • Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by employers, 2008 and 2009 (TXT) (PDF)
  • Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by employers, 2004 through 2007 (TXT) (PDF)
  • Extended mass layoff events and separations in information technology-producing industries, by quarter (TXT) (PDF)

 

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