Mass Layoffs In June 2003 — 2003-07-24

Employers initiated 1,691 mass layoff actions in June 2003, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, accord- ing to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 157,595. (See table 1.) Elementary and secondary schools, with 17,369 claims, accounted for over 11 percent of all initial claims in June. (See table A.) Compared with June 2002, the number of layoff events increased, while the number of workers involved declined. June 2003 marks the 13th consecutive month in which mass-layoff initial claims declined over the year. Through the first half of 2003, the total number of events, at 9,850, was higher than for the same period a year ago; in contrast, the number of initial claims, at 955,780, was lower.