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December Mass Layoffs total 1,726 actions, 153,127 workers
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Employers took 1,726 mass layoff actions in December that resulted in the separation of 153,127 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single employer. The number of mass layoff events in December decreased by 87 from the prior month, and the number of associated initial claims decreased by 10,696. Both figures reached their lowest level since July 2008. In December, 433 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 44,072 initial claims. Both figures decreased over the month to their lowest levels since November and August 2007, respectively.
During the 25 months from December 2007 through December 2009, the total number of mass layoff events (seasonally adjusted) was 51,978, and the associated number of initial claims was 5,242,840. (December 2007 was the start of a recession as designated by the National Bureau of Economic Research.)
In 2009, on a not seasonally adjusted basis, the total numbers of mass layoff events, at 28,030, and initial claims, at 2,796,456, reached their highest annual levels on record. (Annual data began in 1996. See table B.) Among the 19 major industry sectors in the private economy, 12 registered annual program highs for both mass layoff events and initial claims. All 4 regions, all 9 divisions, and 43 states and the District of Columbia experienced increases in total annual initial claims from 2008 to 2009. In addition, 3 of the 4 regions, 6 of the 9 divisions, and 26 states recorded program highs in terms of initial claims activity in 2009.
The national unemployment rate was 10.0 percent in December 2009, seasonally adjusted, unchanged from the prior month but up from 7.4 percent a year earlier. In December, nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 85,000 over the month and by 4,164,000 from a year earlier.
Posted: January 27, 2010 Wednesday 10:00 AM