There were 1,628 mass layoffs in March, down 44.1% from the 2,913 in March 2009 on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

Initial claims for unemployment insurance associated with mass layoffs in March totaled 150,864, down 49.0% from the 295,970 initial claims for unemployment insurance associated with mass layoffs in March 2009.

The food service contractors industry registered the highest number of initial claims related to mass layoffs among all industries in March at 6,677 claims on a non-seasonally adjusted basis. Temporary help services followed with 6,647 initial claims.

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