Mass Layoffs Hit High

Mass layoffs in the U.S. rose to their highest level since 2003 during the second quarter of this year, leaving almost 300,000 people without jobs. The national unemployment rate hit 5.2% during the same period, up from 4.4% a year earlier. The sectors hardest hit by the mass layoffs, where more than 50 people are fired the same employer, were professional and technical services, finance, and insurance.