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2011 begins with high number of hospital mass layoffs

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 7, 2011

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A significant number of mass layoffs occurred at hospitals in January, according to data released Feb. 23 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A mass layoff is defined as at least 50 people claiming unemployment after losing their jobs from a single company. Smaller incidents are not included in the count.

Sixteen mass layoffs involving at least 1,133 people occurred at hospitals in January. These incidents declined in the final months of 2010, with three at hospitals in December 2010. At least 173 people lost their jobs that month. An additional six incidents occurred in November 2010, leading 419 to claim unemployment benefits.

The year 2010 still came close to breaking a record, with 137 mass layoffs affecting at least 10,490 people. Those numbers made 2010 the second-worst year for mass layoffs and the third-worst for number of people affected in the past 15 years.

Some mass layoffs occurred in the ambulatory setting, a category that includes physician offices. Ambulatory medical settings had a total of 12 mass layoffs in January, leading to more than 863 people losing jobs.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/03/07/bibf0307.htm.

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