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Mass layoffs up 61% in June

July 27, 2009

The number of mass layoffs rose 60.9% in June compared with the same month last year, and the initial claims for unemployment insurance related to mass layoffs rose 59.8%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday.

In June, there were 2,763 mass layoff actions compared with 1,717 in the same month a year ago. There were 279,231 initial claims for unemployment insurance associated with the actions in June compared with 174,748 a year ago.

The industry with the largest number of initial claims for unemployment benefits from mass layoffs was elementary and secondary schools, which registered 28,751 initial claims. The category includes both public and private schools.

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