Dislocated Workers:
Extent of Business Closures, Layoffs, and the Public and Private Response
HRD-86-116BR: Published: Jul 1, 1986. Publicly Released: Aug 15, 1986.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on: (1) the extent of worker dislocation; and (2) private-sector and government programs to assist dislocated workers.
GAO found that: (1) an average of 2.3 million workers were dislocated annually between 1979 and 1984; (2) in 1983 and 1984, an additional 1.4 million workers were dislocated; (3) the manufacturing sector was most seriously affected, accounting for 66 percent of the dislocated workers; (4) many businesses indicated that competitive reasons, rather than bankruptcy or financial reorganizations, were the major reasons for closures and layoffs; and (5) over 35 percent of the closures and layoffs for establishments with 100 or more employees were in industries that were adversely affected by international trade. GAO also found that: (1) about half of the businesses experiencing layoffs offered workers severance pay, about one-third of the businesses offered placement assistance, and only 3 percent offered occupational training; (2) about 37 percent of the establishments offered dislocated workers both financial and placement assistance, but 36 percent offered neither; (3) assistance the federal government provided to dislocated workers through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program decreased from $1.6 billion in 1980 to $53 million in 1985; and (4) while the Job Training Partnership Act Dislocated Worker Program has provided about $650 million in assistance since 1982, substantial program cuts have been budgeted for 1986 and 1987.
Feb 26, 2021
Servicemember Rights:
Mandatory Arbitration Clauses Have Affected Some Employment and Consumer Claims but the Extent of Their Effects is UnknownGAO-21-221: Published: Feb 26, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 26, 2021.
Feb 18, 2021
-
Workplace Safety and Health:
Actions Needed to Improve Reporting of Summary Injury and Illness DataGAO-21-122: Published: Jan 27, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 18, 2021.
Jan 27, 2021
-
Military Spouse Employment:
DOD Should Continue Assessing State Licensing Practices and Increase Awareness of ResourcesGAO-21-193: Published: Jan 27, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 27, 2021.
Oct 19, 2020
-
Fair Labor Standards Act:
Observations on the Effects of the Home Care RuleGAO-21-72: Published: Oct 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 19, 2020.
Jun 22, 2020
-
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act:
Additional DOL Actions Needed to Help States and Employers Address Substance Use DisorderGAO-20-337: Published: May 21, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 22, 2020.
Apr 14, 2020
-
Job Corps:
DOL Should Provide Greater Transparency in Communicating Its Rationale for Closure DecisionsGAO-20-240R: Published: Apr 14, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 14, 2020.
Feb 14, 2020
-
National Mediation Board:
Additional Actions Needed to Fully Implement Prior GAO Recommendations and Improve Agency Management and OversightGAO-20-236: Published: Feb 14, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 14, 2020.
Feb 10, 2020
-
National Weather Service:
Information on Contractor Selection and Work Performed for Its Operations and Workforce Analysis ProjectGAO-20-271R: Published: Jan 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 10, 2020.
Sep 9, 2019
-
Job Corps:
Actions Needed to Improve Planning for Center Operation ContractsGAO-19-326: Published: Aug 8, 2019. Publicly Released: Sep 9, 2019.
Apr 10, 2019
-
Priority Open Recommendations:
Department of LaborGAO-19-395SP: Published: Apr 3, 2019. Publicly Released: Apr 10, 2019.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here
Explore our Key Issues on Employment
Explore our other Key Issues here
