Mass layoffs in Ohio drop in 1st quarter

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Mass layoffs in the state decreased significantly in the first quarter, according to statistics released Monday by Ohio’s Bureau of Labor Market Information.

There were 64 mass layoffs in Ohio from January through April 2011, 26 fewer than during the same period in 2010. A total of 9,615 separations occurred, down from 16,231 in 2010, a 40 percent dip.

A mass layoff is when at least 50 initial unemployment claims are filed against an employer within a five-week period. The employer then must verify that the layoff lasted longer than 30 days.

Separation is when an employee leaves an establishment, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.

The number of mass layoffs declined 70 percent compared with the first quarter of 2009, when there were 212. Separations declined 61 percent over the two-year period.

The construction industry made up 31 percent of the mass layoffs; the manufacturing industry made up 30 percent.

The Ohio Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification system, which posts advance notices of mass layoffs online, reported one mass layoff in the Mahoning Valley during the first quarter.

WellPoint, Inc., 2405 Market St., laid off 51 employees (most were customer-care representatives) beginning April 15, according to the WARN website.