Mass Layoffs Cause Surge In California Unemployment

“Mass layoff events,” described by the LA Times at cuts of 50 jobs or more, caused California’s job market to take a big hit in January.

54,153 Californians filed for initial unemployment-benefit claims last month due to mass layoffs.  That is a 25 percent increase from December’s claims, said the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday.

Mass layoff-claims for the nation rose 11% to 388,813.  California accounts for nearly 14 percent of that number.  It was far and away the state with the highest number of layoffs, but it is also the state with the largest population.

New York ranked second in mass-layoff claims, at 31,893. Next were Pennsylvania (29,656), Ohio (27,971) and Michigan (26,453).

Find a job in California at Employment Crossing.