Extended Mass Layoffs In The Fourth Quarter Of 2005 — 2006-02-09

In the fourth quarter of 2005, there were 1,299 mass layoff events that resulted in the separation of 217,803 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. Both the total number of layoff events and the number of separations were sharply lower than during the October-December 2004 time period, with separations at their lowest level for any fourth quarter since data collection began in 1995. (See table A.) The declines over the year were most notable in food manufacturing, general merchandise stores, and electrical equipment and appliance manufacturing. Seventy percent of all employers reporting an extended layoff in the fourth quarter of 2005 indicated that they would recall some number of workers, the highest proportion for any fourth quarter.