Mass Layoffs (Monthly) News Release — 2009-09-23

(NOTE: This release was reissued on Friday, September 25, 2009, to correct the number of initial claims for the temporary help services industry mentioned in the last paragraph of the "Indus- try Distribution" section from 11,533 to 6,721. This correction did not affect any tables in the release.) Employers took 2,690 mass layoff actions in August that resulted in the separa- tion of 259,307 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single employer. The number of mass layoff events in August increased by 533 from the prior month, and the number of associated initial claims increased by 52,516. Over the year, the number of mass layoff events increased by 803, and associated initial claims increased by 70,356. Year-to-date mass layoff events (21,184) and initial claims (2,162,202) both recorded program highs through August.