‘Mass Layoffs’ Down in Hawaii

The U.S. Department of Labor reports there were five “mass layoffs” in Hawaii during the fourth quarter of 2009, which resulted in the loss of 467 private nonagricultural jobs.

A mass layoff, as defined by the Department of Labor, is when there are 50 or more initial claims for unemployment benefit insurance made from one employer during a five-week period.

The number of mass layoffs last quarter was down from the previous quarter when there were seven mass layoffs that resulted in the loss of 888 jobs. During the fourth quarter of 2008, there were 10 mass layoffs that resulted in the loss of 1,233 jobs.