Extended Mass Layoffs (Quarterly) News Release — 2008-11-13

In the third quarter of 2008, employers initiated 1,330 mass layoff events that resulted in the separation of 218,158 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Layoff events reached their highest level for the third quarter since 2001, while separations reached their highest level since 2003. The total number of layoff events was 312 higher in the third quarter 2008 than the same period a year earlier, and the number of associated separations increased by 58,134. (See table A.) Third quarter 2008 layoff data are preliminary and are subject to revision. (See the Technical Note.) Both events and separations in the construction industry reached third quarter program highs in 2008. The number of separations in manufacturing rose sharply (+32,175) over the year, largely due to increased layoff activity in the transportation equipment sector (+12,930).