10K More Layoffs In NJ As Coronavirus Economic Impact Continues

NEW JERSEY – Nearly 10,000 more layoffs are planned in New Jersey as the state continues to deal with the fallout from the coronavirus crisis and resulting economic shutdowns.

NJ Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said unemployment claims are falling now that much of New Jersey is reopening, but the state's is "keenly aware of how many employees and small business owners remain unemployed, often for the first time in their lives."

"It’s these workers – who have depleted their savings, had to borrow money, or have fallen behind on their bills – we are laser focused on getting the most money, as quickly as possible,” Asaro-Angelo said.

The layoffs were announced via WARN notices filed with the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development. WARN notices are required, by law, to be filed by companies planning mass layoff or facility closings.

They come as 1.58 million people in New Jersey have applied for unemployment since mid-March, with 1.38 million meeting the monetary requirements for benefits. Of those, 96 percent have received payment, with an average benefit of more than $11,300 per claimant (see numbers below).

The bulk of the layoffs were announced by United Airlines at Newark Liberty International Airport. The airline announced in July that nearly 36,000 of its frontline employees will be notified about job cuts by Oct. 1. More than 7,000 job cuts, as a result, were announced at Newark, and more than 6,000 at San Francisco International Airport. Read more: United Airlines May Lay Off 36K Despite $5 Billion In Federal Aid

"We expect to offset these numbers through increased participation in new and existing voluntary programs as well as continued discussions with our union partners about creative ways to help reduce furloughs," the company announced.

The company said they had expected July's scheduled capacity to be down 75 percent compared to last year and August scheduled capacity to drop by 65 percent compared to last year.

Given the recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the country, it's "increasingly likely that travel demand will not return to normal until there is a widely available treatment or vaccine," United said in a statement

"The reality is that United simply cannot continue at our current payroll level past October 1 in an environment where travel demand is so depressed," the airline said.

United Airlines received roughly $5 billion in emergency aid from the federal government through the payroll support program of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

However, the layoffs at United Airlines comply with the restrictions of the CARES Act because they won't become effective until Oct. 1, a spokesperson told Patch.

A number of layoffs will also impact HMSHost, which manages food services and other operations at New Jersey rest areas and also at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Here is the list of layoffs and their scheduled dates:

• Park Hotels and Resorts, Piscataway. Sept. 21: 99
• Golden Touch Transportation of NY, Inc., Newark. Sept. 30: 150
• European Gourmet Foods Inc., Woodland Park. Sept. 30: 29
• Wyndham Hotel, Florham Park. Sept. 30: 154
• Aramark at Drew University, Madison. Sept. 30: 48
• Spirit Airlines Inc., Egg Harbor Township. Oct. 1: 59
• United Airlines, Inc., Newark. Oct. 1: 7,264
• Frontier Airlines, Inc., Denver. Oct. 1: 138
• Airport Management Services and Hudson Group, East Rutherford. Oct. 1: 114
• Prime EFS LLC, Bellmawr. Oct. 3: 115
• Prime EFS LLC Elizabeth. Oft. 3: 96
• Prime EFS LLC Monachie. Oct. 3: 63
• HMSHost - Elwood, Elwood. Oct. 15: 2
• HMSHost - Galloway, Galloway. Oct 15: 36
• HMSHost - Milltown, Milltown. Oct. 15: 4
• HMSHost - Mt. Laurel, Mt. Laurel. Oct. 15: 10
• HMSHost - Pennsgrove, Pennsgrove. Oct. 15: 4
• HMSHost - Penssgrove, Pennsgrove. Oct. 15: 7
• HMSHost - Pomona, Pomona. Oct. 15: 36
• HMSHost - Secaucus, Secaucus. Oct. 15: 2
• HMSHost - South Amboy, South Amboy. Oct. 15: 53
• HMSHost - Trenton, Trenton. Oct. 15: 4
• HMSHost - Wall Township, Wall Township. Oct. 15: 8
• HMSHost - Woodbridge, Woodbridge. Oct. 15: 15
• HMSHost - Woodbridge, Woodbridge. Oct. 15: 24
• HMSHost -Cranbury, Cranbury. Oct. 15: 55
• HMSHost -Ridgefield, Ridgefield. Oct. 15: 3
• HMSHost -Starbucks Terminal C, Newark. Oct. 15: 223
• HMSHost Corporation - Elizabeth, Elizabeth. Oct. 15: 169
• HMSHost Corporation -Starbucks, Newark. Oct. 15: 223
• HMSHost- Cherry Hill, Cherry Hill. Oct. 15: 14
• HMSHost- Montvale, Montvale. Oct. 15: 33
• Phelps Dodge Industries, Elizabeth.Oct. 16: 48
• GBT US LLC., Jersey City. Oct. 23: 90
• United Airlines, Inc., Newark. Oct. 30: 141
• Spirit Airlines, Inc, Miramar. Oct 31: 1
• Dave & Busters, Wayne Nov. 8: 107
• Briad Lodging Group Branchburg II, LLC, Branchburg. Nov 10: 11
• Safran, Wall Township. Dec. 31: 27
• Certech, Inc. ,Wood-Ridge. Dec. 31: 267

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, meanwhile, received 19,636 initial unemployment claims last week, a nearly 14 percent decline over the prior week and the fewest new applications since the week ending Aug. 8.

NJDOL paid out $310 million to eligible claimants for the week ending Sept. 12. A total of $15.4 billion in federal and state unemployment benefits has been distributed to unemployed New Jersey workers since mid-March.

Since mid-March, 1.58 million people have applied for unemployment, with 1.38 million meeting the monetary requirements for benefits. Of those, 96 percent have received payment, with an average benefit of more than $11,300 per claimant.

“We have always remained steadfast in our mission to get every eligible worker every penny they deserve,” Asaro-Angelo said.

Here is a look at the number of new unemployment claims received by the department each week: