For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, February 26, 2013 USDL-13-0286
Technical information: (202) 691-6392 * mlsinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/mls
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
MASS LAYOFFS -- JANUARY 2013
Employers took 1,328 mass layoff actions in January involving 134,026
workers as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits
during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
(Data are seasonally adjusted.) Each mass layoff involved at least 50
workers from a single employer. Mass layoff events decreased by 181 from
December, and the number of associated initial claims decreased by 3,813.
In January, 357 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing
sector resulting in 43,068 initial claims. Monthly mass layoff data are
identified using administrative data sources without regard to layoff
duration. (See table 1 and the note at the end of this release.)
The national unemployment rate was 7.9 percent in January, essentially
unchanged from the prior month and down from 8.3 percent a year earlier.
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 157,000 over the month and
by 2,016,000 over the year.
Industry Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
The number of mass layoff events in January was 1,528, not seasonally
adjusted, resulting in 144,517 initial claims for unemployment insurance.
(See table 2.) Over the year, the number of average weekly mass layoff
events for January decreased by 44 to 382, while associated average
weekly initial claims increased by 703 to 36,129. Eight of the 19 major
industry sectors in the private economy reported over-the-year increases
in average weekly initial claims, with the largest increase occurring in
manufacturing. (See table 3.) The six-digit industry with the largest
number of private nonfarm initial claims due to mass layoffs in January
was temporary help services. (See table A.)
In January, the manufacturing sector accounted for 31 percent of mass
layoff events and 37 percent of associated initial claims in the private
economy. Within manufacturing, the numbers of mass layoff claimants were
highest in transportation equipment and in food. Eleven of the 21
manufacturing subsectors experienced over-the-year increases in average
weekly initial claims. (See table 3.)
Table A. Six-digit NAICS industries with the largest number of mass layoff initial claims
in January 2013, private nonfarm, not seasonally adjusted
Industry January peak
Initial claims Year Initial claims
Temporary help services (1) ............... 14,937 1998 26,224
Highway, street, and bridge construction .. 3,772 2000 9,680
Discount department stores ................ 3,440 2010 8,065
Professional employer organizations (1) ... 3,274 2009 11,345
Motion picture and video production ....... 3,242 1998 12,038
School and employee bus transportation .... 2,520 2010 15,131
Food service contractors .................. 2,316 2011 3,439
Payroll services .......................... 2,266 2002 8,686
Poultry processing ........................ 2,046 2013 2,046
Warehouse clubs and supercenters .......... 2,009 2011 3,508
1 See the Technical Note for more information on these industries.
Geographic Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Among the census regions, the South had the largest number of initial
claims due to mass layoffs in January. Three of the 4 regions experienced
over-the-year increases in average weekly initial claims, with the largest
increase occurring in the South. (See table 4.)
Among the states, California had the highest number of mass layoff initial
claims in January, followed by North Carolina, Alabama, and New York.
Twenty-five states experienced over-the-year increases in average weekly
initial claims, led by California and North Carolina. (See table 4.)
Note
The monthly data series in this release cover mass layoffs of 50 or more
workers beginning in a given month, regardless of the duration of the
layoffs. For private nonfarm establishments, information on the length
of the layoff is obtained later and issued in a quarterly release that
reports on mass layoffs lasting more than 30 days (referred to as
"extended mass layoffs"). The quarterly release provides more information
on the industry classification and location of the establishment and on
the demographics of the laid-off workers. The monthly data series in this
release are subjected to average weekly analysis, which mitigates the
effect of differing lengths of months. See the Technical Note for more
detailed definitions and for a description of average weekly analysis.
____________
The Mass Layoffs new release for February 2013 is scheduled to be
released on Friday, March 22, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
