MA Coronavirus: More Layoffs At Hotels, Restaurants

BOSTON —The 14 Massachusetts companies filing layoff notices with the state last week were largely in the hotel and restaurant space.

It was the second straight week those industries made massive layoffs in the midst of the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Combined, the companies laid off 1,760 workers, up from the previous week, when 650 workers were laid off.

For the week ending Friday, the biggest cuts came at Earl’s Restaurants USA Inc., which cut 364 workers at its locations at the Prudential Center in Boston and Assembly Row in Somerville. The Ritz-Carlton in Boston cut 244 jobs. Other tourism-dependent businesses, including Avis Car Rental at Logan Airport, Old Town Trolley Tours and Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, also announced layoffs.

Related: Stop And Shop Adding 5,000 Workers To Meet Coronavirus Demand

The report also showed that the economic hardship was spreading to other sectors, including retail. In the first week of a state-ordered shutdown of nonessential businesses, the clothing retailer Destination XL Group cut 245 jobs in its Massachusetts stores.