business
Mass layoffs in health care flatten out
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 1, 2012
After a spike in June, mass layoffs at hospitals and ambulatory care centers held steady in July and August, according to a monthly report issued Sept. 21 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Mass layoffs are defined as at least 50 people losing their jobs from one company at the same time.
Seven mass layoffs occurred in August in the ambulatory care setting, a category that includes physicians offices, leading 400 employees to claim unemployment benefits. Nine happened at hospitals, with at least 603 workers losing their jobs.
In July, seven mass layoffs took place in the ambulatory care setting, affecting at least 511 employees. Eight happened at hospitals and involved at least 590 workers.
This is in stark contrast to the June numbers, which were the highest thus far for 2012. That month ambulatory care settings had 13 mass layoffs, with 1,172 jobs lost. Twenty occurred at hospitals, with 1,497 positions cut.
Administrative staff are usually most affected by layoffs.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/10/01/bibf1001.htm.
