Number of mass layoff events, 1996-2008 1996 14,111 1997 14,960 1998 15,904 1999 14,909 2000 15,738 2001 21,467 2002 20,277 2003 18,963 2004 15,980 2005 16,466 2006 13,998 2007 15,493 2008 21,137