Third Quarter — 1997-02-06

In July through September of 1996, there were 947 mass layoff events lasting more than 30 days, resulting in the separation of 198,398 workers from their jobs, the U.S. Department of Labor�s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A year earlier, employers reported that they had laid off 173,827 workers in 902 extended layoff events. "Seasonal work" was the major reason cited for the third quarter 1996 layoffs and accounted for 27 percent of the events and 31 percent of the separations. "Slack work," "reorganization within the company," and "contract completion" were cited next most often and together accounted for 40 percent of the events and 32 percent of the separations. Closure of worksites occurred in 24 percent of all events and directly affected over 56,000 workers.