March 01, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

January 2002 layoff figures based on new industry classification

Data on mass layoffs by industry in January 2002 are based on the new North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Among industries, manufacturing had the highest number of layoffs in January, 892 (42 percent of the total).

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The administrative and waste services sector accounted for 237 layoff events during January, with layoffs concentrated in administrative and support services, particularly temporary help services. There were 199 events in construction, primarily in businesses engaged in heavy and civil engineering construction and among specialty trade contractors.

Retail trade accounted for 185 events, mostly in general merchandise stores, especially discount department stores. 

Totally, employers initiated 2,146 mass layoff actions in January 2002, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single establishment. 

These data are products of the Mass Layoff Statistics program. Mass layoffs data for January 2002 are preliminary and subject to revision. For more information on mass layoffs, see news release USDL 02-106, Mass Layoffs in January 2002. NAICS is gradually replacing the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system at BLS and other statistical agencies. For more information on NAICS, including an implementation schedule for BLS, see NAICS at BLS.