Mass layoffs in November 2011

The number of mass layoff events in November was 1,393, not seasonally adjusted, resulting in 127,750 initial claims for unemployment insurance. Thirteen of the 19 major industry sectors in the private economy reported over-the-year decreases in average weekly initial claims, with the largest decreases occurring in information, construction, and administrative and waste services.

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In November 2011, the industry with the largest number of private nonfarm initial claims was highway, street, and bridge construction, 9,355 initial claims. In November 2001, highway, street, and bridge construction had 14,641 claims, the largest number of initial claims in any November for this industry.

There were 8,767 initial claims in temporary help services in November 2011. The November peak number of initial claims in temporary help services was 19,023 initial claims in 2000.

Automobile manufacturing had 3,074 initial claims in Novembe 2011; this industry’s November peak was 8,416 initial claims in 2007.

These data are from the Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program. For more information, see "Mass Layoffs — November 2011" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL-11-1779. Each mass layoff involved at least 50 workers from a single employer.