Employers took 1,564 mass layoff actions in April involving 143,927 workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Each mass layoff involved at least 50 workers from a single employer. The number of mass layoff events in April increased by 278 from March, and the number of associated initial claims increased by 25,404. In April, 327 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 35,022 initial claims; both figures increased over the month.

The national unemployment rate was 9.0 percent in April, up from 8.8 percent the prior month but down from 9.8 percent a year earlier. In April, total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 244,000 over the month and by 1,313,000 from a year earlier.

Industry Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

The number of mass layoff events in April was 1,750, not seasonally adjusted, resulting in 189,919 initial claims. The number of mass layoff events was down by 90 from April 2010, and associated initial claims decreased by 9,771. Eleven of the 19 major industry sectors in the private economy reported over-the-year declines in initial claims, with the largest decreases occurring in manufacturing, information, and rofessional and technical services. The six-digit industry with the largest number of initial claims in April 2011 was school and employee bus transportation.

The manufacturing sector accounted for 23 percent of all mass layoff events and 25 percent of initial claims filed in April. A year earlier, manufacturing also made up 23 percent of events but covered 28 percent of all initial claims. Within manufacturing, the number of claimants in April was greatest in the transportation equipment and food subsectors. Thirteen of the 21 manufacturing subsectors experienced over-the-year decreases in initial claims, with the largest declines occurring in transportation equipment and machinery.

Geographic Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

Three of the 4 regions and 6 of the 9 divisions experienced over-the-year decreases in initial claims due to mass layoffs in April. Among the census regions, the West registered the largest over-the-year decrease in initial claims. Of the geographic divisions, the Pacific had the largest over-the-year decline in initial claims. The Middle Atlantic and East South Central divisions registered the largest over-the-year increases in initial claims. The over-the-year increase in the Middle Atlantic followed eight consecutive months of over-the-year decreases in initial claims.

California recorded the highest number of initial claims in April, followed by New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Twenty-nine states experienced over-the-year decreases in initial claims, led by California, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and South Carolina.