Mass Layoff Events Increased in July, Number of Workers Involved Rose, BLS Says

The number of mass layoff events increased in July from June, and more workers lost their jobs in these events than the month before, according to figures released Aug. 23 by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

BLS reported there were 1,579 mass layoff actions in July, 47 more than in June. Meanwhile, the total number of workers involved in these events increased by 1,556 to 145,000 workers. The agency defines mass layoffs as those involving 50 or more workers from a single employer who have filed new claims for unemployment benefits.

Twenty-eight percent of the mass layoff ...