3 Occupation Groups Hit Hardest by Mass Layoffs

 Here’s a quick look back at the past. A study of mass layoffs from 1999 to 2008 showed, “the largest number of jobs lost after a layoff were in occupations that involved clerical or nonanalytical labor—including occupational groups such as production (?119,373), office and administrative support (?72,532), and transportation and material moving (?40,043),” the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirmed.

The data reflects the tidal force of the recession compounded with the economic shift that’s been in motion since the U.S. started to become a service economy: less production jobs, more service jobs.

Notice how many service industries actually experienced growth during this period – the largest gains in healthcare and legal services.

As our current economy slowly trudges back to good health, one wonders if the majority of production jobs will ever return. It seems more likely that they’ll inevitably be replaced by service sector openings.

The data is not weighted to represent all layoffs during the 1999–2008 time period. An extended mass layoff is defined as a layoff of at least 31 days in duration and involving 50 or more individuals.