May 12, 2006 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Extended mass layoffs, first quarter 2006

In the first quarter of 2006, employers took 892 mass layoff actions in the private nonfarm sector that resulted in the separation of 161,686 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days.

Number of separations due to extended mass layoff events in private nonfarm economy in first quarter of each year, 1996-2006
[Chart data—TXT]

Both the total number of layoff events and the number of separations were sharply lower than during January-March 2005, with both events and separations at their lowest levels for any first quarter since data collection began in 1995.

The over-the-year declines were most notable in administrative and support services, nonstore retailers, 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 first quarter of 2006 are preliminary and subject to revision. Additional information is available in "Extended Mass Layoffs in the First Quarter of 2006" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 06-822.

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