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)

August 22, 2008

In July, employers took 1,512 mass layoff actions, resulting in 151,171 unemployment insurance filings, seasonally adjusted. Mass layoff events decreased by 131 and associated initial claims decreased by 14,526 from the prior month. Year-to-date layoff figures in 2008 were the highest January-July totals since 2003. More...
(HTML) (PDF)

Extended Mass Layoffs (Quarterly)

August 15, 2008

In the second quarter of 2008, 1,534 extended mass layoff events resulted in the separation of 299,886 workers. Both layoff events and separations reached their highest second quarter levels since 2003. Layoffs due to slack work more than doubled over the year to 40,300 separations, and changes in business ownership more than quadrupled to 16,852. More...
(HTML) (PDF)

Current

  • Mass Layoffs (Monthly) (HTML) (PDF)
  • Extended Mass Layoffs (Quarterly) (HTML) (PDF)

Archived

 

MLS Databases

Databases

Database Name Special
Notice
Top
Picks
One
Screen
Multi-
Screen
Tables Text Files
Tutorials:
For help, try these tutorials
  Most Requested Statistics Tutorial Create Customized Tables (one screen) Tutorial Create Customized Tables (multi screen) Tutorial    
Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS)
  Top Picks One Screen Data Search Multi Screen Data Search Tables Text Files

 

More Tools

  • Series Report —Already know the series identifier for the statistic you want? Use this shortcut to retrieve your data.
  • Flat files FTP Site —For those who want it all. Download a flat file of the entire database or large subset of the database.

 

Tables Created by BLS

  • Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, 2007 and 2008 (TXT) (PDF)
  • Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, 2004, 2005, and 2006 (TXT) (PDF)
  • Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by employers, 2007 and 2008 (TXT) (PDF)
  • Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by employers, 2004, 2005, and 2006 (TXT) (PDF)

 

Featured MLS Publications

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

MLS Special Notices

 

 

Spacer