The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released data yesterday indicating that mass layoffs (50 employees or more) in Missouri and Illinois were down in February from January, but up significantly from last year. In Missouri, new unemployment claim numbers also decreased from January, but remain more than three times higher than numbers from last year. The state has borrowed $15 million from the U.S. government in order to fund its unemployment trust. New claims in Illinois actually increased in February, and are also more than three times numbers from February of 2008. The U.S. as a whole had 2,262 mass layoffs in February.
See "Mass layoffs fall in Missouri, Illinois", St. Louis Business Journal, March 23, 2009