U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (10/23/12)

Employers took 1,316 mass layoff actions in September involving 122,462 workers as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Data are seasonally adjusted. Mass layoff events in September increased by 49 from August but were down from September 2011. The number of associated initial claims decreased by 4,992. In September, 366 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector resulting in 39,748 initial claims.

The number of mass layoff events in September was 811, not seasonally adjusted, resulting in 70,570 initial claims for unemployment insurance. Over the year, the number of average weekly mass layoff events for September decreased by 35 to 203, and associated average weekly initial claims decreased by 5,803 to 17,643. Thirteen of the 19 major industry sectors in the private economy reported over-the-year decreases in average weekly initial claims. The temporary help services industry experienced the most initial claims due to mass layoff events in September, with 6,131 initial claims, according to numbers that were not seasonally adjusted.