On the separation of 138,484 workers from their jobs for 31 days in U.S.

Employers in the private nonfarm sector initiated 885 mass layoff events in the third quarter of 2012 that resulted in the separation of 138,484 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the year, total extended mass layoff events and associated worker separations were down from 1,393 and 235,325, respectively.

Permanent worksite closures accounted for 11 percent of all events and 14 percent of all separations during the third quarter of 2012, primarily in the manufacturing sector. Third quarter 2012 layoff data are preliminary and are subject to revision.

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

Manufacturing industries reported 196 extended mass layoff events and 29,350 separations in the third quarter of 2012, largely due to slack work/insufficient demand. This sector accounted for 22 percent of layoff events and 21 percent of related separations during the quarter.

The administrative and waste services sector had 137 events and 22,869 separations, primarily due to contract completion, in the third quarter of 2012. The industry accounted for 15 percent of layoff events and 17 percent of separations. The construction sector reported 122 layoff events and 13,001 separations, also primarily due to contract completion.

Reasons for Extended Layoffs

Business demand factors, primarily contract completion, accounted for 44 percent of both extended mass layoff events and related separations in the private nonfarm sector during the third quarter of 2012. Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 20 percent of the events and 19 percent of related separations during the quarter.

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