∙ U.S. Mass Layoffs Declined in May 2012

---

Seasonally Adjusted Data: Employers took 1,380 mass layoff actions in May involving 130,191 workers as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month. Each mass layoff involved at least 50 workers from a single employer. Mass layoff events in May decreased by 8 from April, and the number of associated initial claims decreased by 5,409. Year-to- date mass layoff events (6,768) and initial claims (636,484) both recorded their lowest figures since 2007. In May, 264 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 29,675 initial claims. Not-Seasonally Adusted: The number of mass layoff events in May was 1,201 resulting in 109,259 initial claims for unemployment insurance. Over the year, the number of average weekly mass layoff events decreased by 42 to 300, while associated average weekly initial claims decreased by 2,663 to 27,315. Thirteen of the 19 major industry sectors in the private economy reported over-the-year decreases in average weekly initial claims, with the largest decrease occurring in manufacturing. The industry with the largest number of private nonfarm initial claims was food service contractors.” Source: USDOL

---