Mass Layoffs In July 2003 — 2003-08-28

Employers initiated 2,087 mass layoff actions in July 2003, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, accord- ing to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 226,435. (See table 1.) Of the 10 indus- tries with highest number of initial claims in July, 6 were automotive-related. (See table A.) Compared with July 2002, the number of layoff events increased, while the number of workers involved declined. July 2003 marks the 14th conse- cutive month in which mass-layoff initial claims declined over the year. From January through July 2003, the total number of events, at 11,947, was higher than for the same period a year ago, but the number of initial claims, at 1,183,045, was lower.