Midwest hit hardest by mass layoffs

By Kristin McAllister
Staff Writer
Thursday, March 22, 2007

The Midwest took the greatest hit for mass layoff actions for the month of February, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report issued Thursday.

Mass layoffs entail 50 or more workers beginning in a given month, regardless of the duration of the layoff. They are seasonally adjusted and measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month.

From a state level, Pennsylvania had the largest over-the-year increase in the number of initial claims — 7,919 — mostly due to layoffs in transportation equipment manufacturing.
Next were the states of Michigan (4,219), Wisconsin (3,514), Ohio (1,403) and Illinois (1,299).
The largest over-the-year decreases in claims occurred in Minnesota (-1,685) and Kentucky (-1,320).

Among the four census regions, the highest number of initial claims in February due to mass layoffs was in the Midwest — 26,603.

Transportation equipment manufacturing and specialty trade contractors industries together accounted for 37 percent of all mass layoff initial claims in the Midwest.

The West had the second largest number of initial claims among the regions — 23,971 — followed by the Northeast, (18,272), and the South, (17,850).

The number of initial claimants in mass layoffs increased over the year in all four regions.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-9338 or kmcallister@DaytonDailyNews.com.