June 02, 2004 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Fewer separated in mass layoffs in most regions

Seven of the nine geographic regional divisions had over-the-year decreases in the number of initial unemployment insurance claims associated with mass layoffs.

[Chart data—TXT]

The largest percent decreases were in the West North Central and East South Central divisions, while the Middle Atlantic division had the largest over-the-year increase. 

Among the States, Ohio reported the largest over-the-year decrease in the number of initial claims, followed by Indiana, Minnesota, and Georgia. The largest over-the-year increases occurred in New York and California. The latter two States are parts of the Middle Atlantic division and the Pacific division, respectively.

These data are from the Mass Layoff Statistics program. Mass layoffs data for April 2004 are preliminary and subject to revision. See the full release, "Mass Layoffs in April 2004" (PDF) (TXT), USDL 04-964, for more information. A mass layoff event is defined as 50 or more initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits filed against an establishment during a 5-week period, regardless of duration.