First Quarter — 1998-07-21

In January through March of 1998, there were 1,276 mass layoff actions by employers, resulting in the separation of 194,834 workers from their jobs for more than 30 days, according to preliminary figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Layoff activity was lower than in the same quarter a year ago when employers reported that they had laid off 252,295 workers in 1,317 extended layoff events. "Seasonal work" accounted for more than one-third of the first quarter 1998 layoff events and separations. "Contract completion," "slack work," and "reorganization within the company" together accounted for about another third of the events and separations. Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 15 percent of all events and affected 36,807 workers. The quarterly series on extended mass layoffs covers layoffs of at least 31 days duration that involve 50 or more individuals from a single establishment filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a consecutive 5-week period.