Third Quarter — 1999-12-08

In July through September of 1999, there were 1,072 mass layoff actions by employers that resulted in the separation of 237,777 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 number of layoff events and the number of separations were lower than in July- September 1998, when there were strike-related plant shutdowns in the transportation equipment and electronic equipment industries. (See table A.) The completion of seasonal work was the major reason cited for layoffs and accounted for 32 percent of all third-quarter 1999 events and 34 percent of all separations. Layoffs due to internal company restructuring resulted in 68,251 separations. Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 17 percent of all events and affected 55,820 workers, up from 41,321 workers in the same period a year earlier.