The number of initial jobless claims related to mass layoffs rose in December and for full-year 2008 reached their highest levels since 2001 and 2002, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The temporary help services industry registered the largest number of initial unemployment claims related to mass layoffs in both December and full-year 2008, while California was the state with the most such claims.

Mass layoffs brought 226,117 initial claims for unemployment in December, an increase of 55.0% compared with December 2007 on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Temporary help services was the industry with the most initial claims related to mass layoffs in December at 15,246.

California posted the largest number of initial claims due to mass layoffs in December at 43,265 — on a non-seasonally adjusted basis.

For full-year 2008, initial claims associated with mass layoffs numbered more than 2.1 million, the highest level since 2001 and 2002 on a non-seasonally adjusted basis.

Temporary help services posted the highest number of initial claims due to mass layoffs among all industries at 134,699. In addition, California posted the largest number of related initial claims among states at 446,480.

A mass layoff action involves at least 50 workers from a single workplace.