August 29, 2003 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Mass layoffs in July

Employers initiated 2,087 mass layoff actions in July 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 226,435.

[Chart data—TXT]

Compared with July 2002, the number of layoff events increased, while the number of workers involved declined. July 2003 marks the 14th consecutive month in which mass-layoff initial claims declined over the year. 

From January through July 2003, the total number of events, at 11,947, was higher than for the same period a year ago, but the number of initial claims, at 1,183,045, was lower.

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).