Extended Mass Layoffs (Quarterly) News Release — 2011-02-11

Employers initiated 1,910 mass layoff events in the fourth quarter of 2010 that resulted in the separation of 295,571 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Sta- tistics. Layoff events and separations declined from fourth quarter 2009 levels. (See table A.) Fourth quarter 2010 layoff data are preliminary and are subject to revision. (See the Technical Note.) Permanent worksite closures accounted for 6 percent of extended mass layoff events in the fourth quarter 2010, the lowest proportion of events due to closure in pro- gram history (with data available back to 1995). Manufacturing firms accounted for 19 percent of private nonfarm extended mass layoff events and 21 percent of separa- tions, the lowest fourth quarter proportions in program history. Sixty percent of employers expected to recall at least some laid-off workers, the highest fourth quarter percentage since 2005 and up from 48 percent a year earlier.