May 25, 2004 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Fewer information technology layoffs in first quarter

Information technology-producing industries accounted for 6 percent of extended mass layoff events and 10,556 worker separations in the first quarter, down from 11 percent of layoff events and 28,582 separations a year earlier.

[Chart data—TXT]

This was the lowest number of separations in the industry grouping since the first quarter of 2000.

Layoffs in the information technology-producing industries were most numerous in communications services and computer hardware.

These data are products of the Mass Layoff Statistics program. The information technology-producing industries are communication equipment, communications services, computer hardware, and software and computer services. "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. For more information, see "Extended Mass Layoffs in the First Quarter of 2004" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 04-895.