Extended Mass Layoffs (Quarterly) News Release — 2011-05-11

(NOTE: This release and associated database were corrected on May 27, 2011. The number of layoff events in California has been corrected to include an additional 4 events which occurred during the reference quarter, increasing the number of separated workers in California by 506. The West region and national totals were also updated.) Employers initiated 1,397 mass layoff events in the first quarter of 2011 that resulted in the separation of 190,895 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Extended mass layoff events and separations have decreased over the year for six consecutive quarters. (See table A.) First quarter 2011 layoff data are preliminary and are subject to revision. (See the Technical Note.) Forty-nine percent of employers expected to recall at least some laid-off workers, the highest first quarter percentage since 2005 and up from 38 percent in 2010.