September 03, 2003 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

July mass layoff events by industry sector

The manufacturing sector accounted for 45 percent of all mass layoff events in July 2003, little changed from the year before.

 

[Chart data—TXT]

Within the manufacturing sector, the number of unemployment insurance claimants as a result of mass layoffs was highest in transportation equipment, followed by plastics and rubber products, primary metals, and machinery.

The administrative and waste services sector accounted for 10 percent of mass layoff events in July, with layoffs mostly in temporary help services. Government establishments accounted for 7 percent of events during the month, particularly in educational services, as the school year ended.

Six percent of the events were from agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, largely among farm labor contractors and crew leaders. Retail trade accounted for 5 percent of events during the month, mainly in general merchandise stores. 

Transportation and warehousing accounted for an additional 4 percent of all layoff events, as did the construction sector. Layoffs in transportation and warehousing were primarily in school and employee bus transportation. Layoffs in construction were mostly among specialty trade contractors.

These data are from the Mass Layoff Statistics program. Mass layoffs data for July 2003 are preliminary and subject to revision. For more information, see news release USDL 03-454, "Mass Layoffs in July 2003" (PDF) (TXT). A "mass layoff event" is defined as fifty or more initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits filed against an establishment during a 5-week period, regardless of duration. Industry data reflect the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), 2002.

 

Related TED article:

• Mass layoffs in July