August 27, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

More layoffs in West, more laid off in Midwest in July

Among the four regions, the highest number of mass layoff events in July 2002 was in the West at 667. The Midwest was next highest at 574.

[Chart data—TXT]

In contrast, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance due to mass layoffs was highest in the Midwest in July 2002, at 89,068. The number of claims was second highest in the West region at 64,961. 

This pattern differed slightly from that of July 2001. Then, the Midwest had both the most layoffs—763—and the largest number of layoff-related initial claims for unemployment benefits at 116,117. 

These data are products of the Mass Layoff Statistics program. Mass layoffs data for July 2002 are preliminary and subject to revision. For more information, see news release USDL 02-493, Mass Layoffs in July 2002 (PDF) (TXT).