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Employers took 1,301 mass layoff actions in May involving 127,821 workers as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month. The number of mass layoff events increased by 102 from April, which had 1,199 events. The number of associated initial claims increased by 10,972 from April's 116,849 initial claims.
Month | Mass layoff events | Initial claimants |
---|---|---|
Jan 2009 | 2,256 | 237,182 |
Feb 2009 | 3,079 | 334,171 |
Mar 2009 | 3,022 | 304,175 |
Apr 2009 | 2,537 | 246,938 |
May 2009 | 2,712 | 286,089 |
Jun 2009 | 2,470 | 248,680 |
Jul 2009 | 2,184 | 222,776 |
Aug 2009 | 2,358 | 218,380 |
Sep 2009 | 2,274 | 216,959 |
Oct 2009 | 1,970 | 196,370 |
Nov 2009 | 1,764 | 159,283 |
Dec 2009 | 1,720 | 155,738 |
Jan 2010 | 1,699 | 169,561 |
Feb 2010 | 1,647 | 161,694 |
Mar 2010 | 1,703 | 153,784 |
Apr 2010 | 1,622 | 154,962 |
May 2010 | 1,585 | 150,959 |
Jun 2010 | 1,701 | 152,080 |
Jul 2010 | 1,521 | 137,750 |
Aug 2010 | 1,612 | 162,455 |
Sep 2010 | 1,526 | 137,074 |
Oct 2010 | 1,661 | 149,985 |
Nov 2010 | 1,584 | 153,394 |
Dec 2010 | 1,476 | 136,252 |
Jan 2011 | 1,522 | 150,406 |
Feb 2011 | 1,456 | 137,938 |
Mar 2011 | 1,307 | 119,691 |
Apr 2011 | 1,526 | 145,315 |
May 2011 | 1,573 | 144,824 |
Jun 2011 | 1,522 | 144,060 |
Jul 2011 | 1,566 | 144,543 |
Aug 2011 | 1,585 | 168,266 |
Sep 2011 | 1,463 | 150,165 |
Oct 2011 | 1,349 | 118,135 |
Nov 2011 | 1,312 | 123,078 |
Dec 2011 | 1,392 | 144,661 |
Jan 2012 | 1,435 | 129,169 |
Feb 2012 | 1,275 | 120,199 |
Mar 2012 | 1,290 | 125,195 |
Apr 2012 | 1,403 | 138,164 |
May 2012 | 1,370 | 131,603 |
Jun 2012 | 1,320 | 133,080 |
Jul 2012 | 1,354 | 138,694 |
Aug 2012 | 1,297 | 130,266 |
Sep 2012 | 1,346 | 125,692 |
Oct 2012 | 1,400 | 136,153 |
Nov 2012 | 1,749 | 172,879 |
Dec 2012 | 1,509 | 137,839 |
Jan 2013 | 1,328 | 134,026 |
Feb 2013 | 1,422 | 135,468 |
Mar 2013 | 1,337 | 127,939 |
Apr 2013 | 1,199 | 116,849 |
May 2013 | 1,301 | 127,821 |
A year earlier, in May 2012, the number of mass layoff events was 1,370, and the associated initial claimants numbered 131,603. The numbers of mass layoffs and initial claimants in May 2011 were 1,573 and 144,824, respectively; in May 2010 the numbers were 1,585 and 150,959. In May 2009, the number of mass layoff events was 2,712 and there were 286,089 initial claimants for unemployment insurance benefits.
These data are from the Mass Layoff Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. Each mass layoff involved at least 50 workers from a single employer. To learn more, see "Mass Layoffs — May 2013" (HTML) (PDF), USDL-13-1179. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data. The BLS will eliminate the Mass Layoff Statistics program in order to help achieve savings required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Mass layoffs increase in May at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2013/ted_20130624.htm (visited October 31, 2024).