Mass-layoff initial claims lower in October 2003

Employers initiated 1,523 mass layoff actions in October 2003, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 158,240.

[Chart data—TXT]

Over the year, the total number of claims fell by 12,860. Fewer mass-layoff initial claims were filed against employers in temporary help services, discount department stores, semiconductors and related devices, and broadwoven fabric mills compared with October 2002.

From January through October 2003, the total number of events, at 15,596, and the number of initial claims, at 1,557,750, were lower than the January-October period a year ago (15,650 events and 1,740,722 initial claims).

These data are from the Mass Layoff Statistics program. Data for October 2003 are preliminary and subject to revision. For more information, see news release, "Mass Layoffs in October 2003" (PDF) (TXT), USDL 03-762.