July 25, 2003 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Mass layoffs in June

Employers initiated 1,691 mass layoff actions in June 2003, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 157,595.

[Chart data—TXT]

Compared with June 2002, the number of layoff events increased, while the number of workers involved declined. June 2003 marks the 13th consecutive month in which mass-layoff initial claims declined over the year. 

Through the first half of 2003, the total number of mass layoff events, at 9,850, was higher than for the same period a year ago; in contrast, the number of related initial claims, at 955,780, was lower. 

These data are from the Mass Layoff Statistics program. Mass layoffs data for June 2003 are preliminary and subject to revision. For more information, see news release USDL 03-394, "Mass Layoffs in June 2003" (PDF) (TXT).