Extended mass layoff events in manufacturing, first quarter 2012

In the first quarter of 2012, extended mass layoff events and separations in the manufacturing sector declined to their lowest levels in program history (210 and 28,393, respectively). Thirty-six percent of manufacturing employers with an extended mass layoff event in the first quarter of 2012 anticipated recalling at least some of the displaced workers.

[Chart data]

From the first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012, among major industry sectors, the manufacturing sector experienced the largest decline in the numbers of worker separations—a decrease of 17,118 separations. Fourteen of the 21 manufacturing subsectors experienced over-the-year decreases in the number of layoff events—led by food manufacturing.

Of the 29 extended mass layoff events involving movement of work in the first quarter of 2012, 62 percent were from manufacturing industries.

These data are from the Mass Layoff Statistics program. Extended mass layoff data for the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012 are preliminary and subject to revision. For more information, see "Extended Mass Layoffs — First Quarter 2012" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL-12-0955. The series on extended mass layoffs cover layoffs of at least 31-days duration that involve 50 or more individuals from a single employer filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a consecutive 5-week period