First Quarter — 2001-05-17

In the first quarter of 2001, there were 1,664 mass layoff actions by employers that resulted in the separation of 305,227 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. Both the total number of layoff events and the number of separations were the highest for any first quarter on record since the program began in the second quarter of 1995. (See table A.) Layoffs due to internal company restructuring accounted for 24 percent of events and resulted in 100,943 separations, the highest first quarter on record. On the other hand, the completion of seasonal work accounted for 24 percent of all events and resulted in 69,694 separations, the lowest first quarter on record. Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 16 percent of all events and affected 78,838 workers, up from 44,472 workers in the first quarter of 2000, and were concentrated in general merchandise stores.