profession
Hospital mass layoffs inch up slightly
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 5, 2011
The number of people who lost their jobs at a hospital in a mass layoff went up slightly in July, according to the latest monthly report released on Aug. 23 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Mass layoffs are defined as at least 50 people being put out of work by a single company, and 10 occurred at hospitals in July. A total of 622 of the formerly employed claimed unemployment benefits. This represents an increase from the eight incidents in June, involving at least 441 people.
But the figures are still down from the high numbers of 2009 and 2010, when the recession was at its peak. Fourteen mass layoffs occurred in July 2010, affecting at least 1,357 people. A total of 21 layoffs happened in July 2009, involving 1,716 people.
If mass layoffs continue at the current pace, 123 may occur before the end of 2011, involving at least 7,577 people who work in the hospital setting. A total of 137 mass layoffs took place in hospitals in 2010, leading to at least 10,490 job losses. Another 152 occurred in 2009, affecting more than 11,787 people.
Data from the BLS report are online (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/09/05/prbf0905.htm.
