A Stern Glance

Employers initiated 1,776 mass layoff events in the third quarter of 2009 that resulted in the separation of 277,924 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of extended mass layoff events reached a record high for any third quarter since 1985 when data became available.

Third quarter program highs in the number of events were also recorded in half of the 18 major industry sectors, 2 of the 4 geographic regions, 4 of the 9 divisions, and 15 states.

Separations due to business demand reasons increased by 27 percent from the same period a year ago.

Thirty-three percent of employers reporting an extended mass layoff event in the third quarter of 2009 indicated they anticipated some type of recall, up slightly from 29 percent a year earlier. Third quarter 2009 layoff data are preliminary and are subject to revision.

The national unemployment rate averaged 9.6 percent, not seasonally adjusted, in the third quarter of 2009, up from 6.0 percent a year earlier. Private nonfarm payroll employment, not seasonally adjusted, decreased by 5 percent (-5,765,000) over the year.

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