From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

MASS LAYOFFS IN JANUARY 2004


In January 2004, there were 2,428 mass layoff actions by employers, as
measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the
month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a
single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 239,454.


This marked the most events for a January and the third highest
January level of mass-layoff initial claims since the series began.
Both the number of layoff events and initial claims were higher than a
year ago. January 2004 marked only the third time in the last two years
that initial claims had increased over the year.


-----------------------

Bush fiddles while employment burns