August 12, 2005 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Extended mass layoffs in second quarter 2005

In the second quarter of 2005, 1,056 mass layoff actions were taken by employers that resulted in the separation of 211,009 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days.

Number of separations due to extended mass layoff events in private nonfarm economy in second quarter of each year, 1995-2005
[Chart data—TXT]

Both the total number of layoff events and the number of separations were sharply lower than in April-June 2004. Both figures were at their lowest levels for any second quarter since 2000.

The declines over the year were most notable in administrative and support services, transit and ground passenger transportation, and food manufacturing. 

These data are from the Mass Layoff Statistics program. "Extended mass layoffs" last more than 30 days and involve 50 or more individuals from a single establishment filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a consecutive 5-week period. Data for the second quarter of 2005 are preliminary and subject to revision. Additional information is available in "Extended Mass Layoffs in the Second Quarter of 2005" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 05-1515.