U.S. mass layoffs increased in June

Employers took 1,647 mass layoff actions in June that resulted in the separation of 145,538 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

The number of mass layoff events in June increased by 235 from the prior month, and the number of associated initial claims increased by 9,749.

In June, 298 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 29,384 initial claims.

During the 31 months from Dec. 2007 through June 2010, the total number of mass layoff events (seasonally adjusted) was 61,852, and the associated number of initial claims was 6,213,880. (Dec. 2007 was the start of a recession as designated by the National Bureau of Economic Research.)