Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Economic News Release
PRINT:Print
MLS MLS Program Links

Extended Mass Layoffs (Quarterly) News Release

Technical information:  (202) 691-6392     USDL 09-0934
               http://www.bls.gov/mls/
                                           For release:  10:00 A.M. (EDT)
Media contact:          (202) 691-5902     Wednesday, August 12, 2009


          EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2009

   Employers initiated 2,994 mass layoff events in the second quarter
of 2009 that resulted in the separation of 534,881 workers from their
jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released
by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Both
the numbers of extended mass layoff events and associated separations
were record highs for a second quarter (with data available back to
1995).  (See table A.)

   Second quarter program highs in the number of separations were re-
corded in 7 of 18 major industry sectors, all four geographic regions, 
and fourteen states.  Separations due to business demand reasons (es-
pecially slack work/insufficient demand) set a second quarter program 
high, while separations for financial reasons reached its highest sec-
ond quarter level since 2001.  Thirty-eight percent of employers re-
porting an extended layoff in the second quarter of 2009 indicated they 
anticipated some type of recall, this was down from 51 percent a year 
earlier, and was the lowest proportion of anticipated recalls for a 
second quarter in program history (with data available back to 1995).  
Second quarter 2009 layoff data are preliminary and are subject to 
revision.  (See the Technical Note.)

   The national unemployment rate averaged 9.1 percent, not seasonally
adjusted, in the second quarter of 2009, up from 5.2 percent a year
earlier.  Private nonfarm payroll employment, not seasonally adjusted,
decreased by 5 percent (-5,607,000) over the year.

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

   Manufacturing firms reported 932 extended mass layoff events involv-
ing 166,240 separations in the second quarter of 2009.  The number of 
events in manufacturing reached a second quarter program high, while 
associated worker separations for this industry sector were at its high-
est second quarter level since 1998 (with data available back to 1995).
Manufacturing industries were responsible for 31 percent of private non-
farm extended layoff events and related separations in the second quarter
of 2009.  A year earlier, manufacturing made up 22 percent of events and 
18 percent of separations.  (See table 1.)  The largest numbers of sep-
arations within manufacturing were associated with transportation equip-
ment manufacturing (57,136, mostly associated with automobile and light
truck manufacturing) and machinery manufacturing (18,096).  Six of the
21 manufacturing industry sub-sectors reached second quarter program
highs in terms of the numbers of separations--printing and related sup-
port activities; plastics and rubber products; nonmetallic mineral pro-
ducts; primary metals; fabricated metal products; and machinery.


     __________________________________________________________
    |                                                          |
    |    Changes to the Extended Mass Layoffs News Release     |
    |                                                          |
    |   Effective with this release, changes have been made to |
    |the tables and Technical Note.  For further information on|
    |these changes, see the note on page 6.                    |
    |__________________________________________________________|


                               - 2 -


Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity


     Period                  Layoff events       Separations     Initial claimants

     2005

January-March ..........          1,142            186,506            185,486
April-June .............          1,203            246,099            212,673
July-September .........          1,136            201,878            190,186
October-December .......          1,400            250,178            246,188

     2006

January-March ..........            963            183,089            193,510
April-June .............          1,353            295,964            264,927
July-September .........            929            160,254            161,764
October-December .......          1,640            296,662            330,954

     2007

January-March ..........          1,110            225,600            199,250
April-June .............          1,421            278,719            259,234
July-September .........          1,018            160,024            173,077
October-December .......          1,814            301,592            347,151

     2008

January-March ..........          1,340            230,098            259,292
April-June (r) .........          1,756            354,713            339,629
July-September (r) .....          1,582            290,900            304,316
October-December (r) ...          3,582            641,578            765,019

     2009

January-March (r) ......          3,979            704,618            830,028
April-June (p) .........          2,994            534,881            506,533


    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.


   In the second quarter of 2009, seven major industry sectors reported
second quarter program highs in terms of the number of worker separa-
tions--mining; construction; wholesale trade; transportation and ware-
housing; real estate and rental and leasing; health care and social 
assistance; and accommodation and food services.

Reasons for Extended Layoffs

   Among the seven categories of economic reasons for extended mass lay-
offs, business demand factors accounted for 45 percent of the events and
38 percent of separations during the second quarter of 2009, this was up
from 32 percent of events and 23 percent of separations in the same per-
iod a year earlier.  (See table 2.)  Separations related to business de-
mand factors more than doubled over the year from 79,925 to 202,151, a sec-
ond quarter program high for this reason category.  Within the business 
demand category, employers citing slack work/insufficient demand/nonsea-
sonal business slowdown had the largest over-the-year increase in separa-
tions (+92,546),largely in transportation equipment manufacturing.

   Extended mass layoffs stemming from financial issues sharply increased
from 120 events associated with 27,999 separations in the second quarter 
of 2008 to 264 events and 68,017 separations in the second quarter of 2009.
Manufacturing accounted for the largest number of separations due to fi-
nancial issues, mostly in transportation equipment manufacturing.


                               - 3 -


Table B. Metropolitan areas with the largest number of initial claimants associated
with extended mass layoff events in the second quarter 2009, by residency of claimants


                                                    2008 II (r)           2009 II (p) 
            
            Metropolitan area                     Initial               Initial        
                                                 claimants    Rank     claimants   Rank

        Total, 372 metropolitan areas ........    276,640               404,966       

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. .....     27,159       1       31,813      1
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. ....     16,908       3       20,922      2
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island,
    N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ............................     17,680       2       19,891      3
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich. ................     15,282       4       19,193      4
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. ........      9,852       6       14,031      5
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. .....     11,868       5       12,492      6
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. ........      6,189       8        8,653      7
Peoria, Ill. .................................        590      90        8,295      8
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-
    N.J.-Del.-Md. ............................      7,198       7        7,903      9
Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev. .....................      2,261      21        7,874     10


   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE:  The geographic boundaries of the metropolitan areas shown in this table are 
defined in Office of Management and Budget Bulletin 09-01, November 20, 2008.


Movement of Work

   Ninety-nine extended mass layoffs involved the movement of work and 
were associated with 18,242 separated workers in the second quarter of
2009.  A year earlier, there were 71 layoff events and 12,317 separations
associated with the movement of work.  Movement of work layoffs accounted
for 4 percent of nonseasonal layoff events in the second quarter of 2009.
(See table 9.)  Sixty percent of movement of work layoff events involved 
the permanent closure of worksites--affecting 11,647 workers--compared to
9 percent of total layoff events.

   Sixty-four percent of extended mass layoff events and 56 percent of 
the laid-off workers related to the movement of work were from manu-
facturing industries.  In comparison, manufacturing accounted for 31 per-
cent of events and separations in the total private nonfarm economy.  
(See table 6.)  Employers cited an organizational change or a business
demand reason in most extended layoff events involving movement of work.
(See table 7.)  Among the regions, the largest proportions of workers
affected by movement of work were in the West (31 percent) and Midwest
(30 percent).  (See table 8.)
  
   The 99 extended layoff events with movement of work for the second 
quarter of 2009 involved 137 identifiable relocation of work actions,
of which employers were able to provide more complete separations infor-
mation for 86 of the actions.  (See table 9.)  In these 86 actions, 91
percent involved work moving within the same company, while 79 percent
were domestic reassignments.  (See table 10.)


                              - 4 -


Recall Expectations

   Thirty-eight percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the 
second quarter of 2009 indicated they anticipated some type of recall, 
down from 51 percent a year earlier and the lowest second quarter pro-
portion in program history (with data available back to 1995).  (See 
table 11.)  Of those employers expecting to recall workers, 41 percent
indicated that the offer would be extended to all displaced employees, 
and 79 percent of employers anticipated extending the offer to at least
half of the workers, the lowest proportions on record for a second quarter.  
Seventy-seven percent of employers expecting to recall laid-off employees
intend to do so within 6 months.  Excluding layoff events due to seasonal
work and vacation period, in which 95 percent of the employers expected a
recall, employers anticipated recalling laid-off workers in 22 percent of
the events.


Size of Extended Layoffs

   The average size of a layoff (as measured by separations per layoff 
event) in the second quarter of 2009 was 179, compared to 202 per layoff
in second quarter 2008.  Three of 18 major industry sectors registered aver-
age layoff sizes of 250 or more workers per event in the second quarter--
accommodation and food services (256 workers), utilities (255 workers), and
professional and technical services (253 workers).  Among the seven cate-
gories of economic reasons for extended mass  layoffs, financial issues re-
corded the largest average size of layoff in the second quarter of 2009, at
258 workers per event.  (See table 12.)

   Layoff events continued to be concentrated at the lower end of the ex-
tended layoff-size spectrum, with 45 percent of events involving between 50
and 99 workers and 68 percent of events with less than 150 workers.  Layoffs
involving between 50 and 99 workers accounted for 18 percent of all separa-
tions during the period, and layoffs with less than 150 separated workers 
accounted for 32 percent.  These proportions are up from 14 and 28 percent 
respectively from a year earlier.  Separations involving 500 or more workers 
accounted for 31 percent of all separations in the second quarter of 2009, 
down from 37 percent a year earlier.  (See table 13.)

Initial Claimant Characteristics

   A total of 506,533 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were 
associated with extended mass layoffs in the second quarter of 2009.  Of 
these claimants, 15 percent were black, 15 percent were Hispanic, 41 percent 
were women, 34 percent were 30 to 44 years of age, and 21 percent were 55 
years of age or older.  (See table 3.)  Among persons in the civilian labor
force for the same period, 11 percent were black, 14 percent were Hispanic, 
47 percent were women, 33 percent were age 30 to 44, and 19 percent were 55 
years of age or older.


                              - 5 -

Geographic Distribution

   Among the 4 census regions, the West (173,840) and the Midwest (171,053) 
recorded the highest numbers of separations due to extended mass layoff 
events in the second quarter of 2009.  All regions reported second quarter 
program highs in terms of the numbers of worker separations (with data avail-
able back to 1995).  (See table 4.)  Among the 9 census divisions, the high-
est numbers of separations during the second quarter of 2009 were in the 
Pacific (141,608) and East North Central (133,588).  (See table 4.)  Five
divisions reported second quarter program highs in terms of the numbers of
separations--the Middle Atlantic, East South Central, West North Central, 
Mountain, and Pacific.
  
   California recorded the largest number of worker separations (116,207), 
followed by Ohio (42,578) and Illinois (42,325).  (See table 5.)  After ex-
cluding the impact of seasonal reasons, California still reported the highest
number of job cuts (104,761).  Fourteen states reported second quarter pro-
gram highs in terms of numbers of separations--Alabama, Arkansas, California, 
Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North 
Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

   Eighty percent of the initial claimants associated with extended mass lay-
off events in the second quarter of 2009 resided within metropolitan areas, 
about the same as a year earlier (81 percent).  Among the 372 metropolitan 
areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., reported the highest number 
of resident initial claimants (31,813) associated with extended mass layoff 
events in the second quarter of 2009.  Next were Chicago-Naperville-Joliet,
Ill.-Ind.-Wis., with 20,922 resident claimants, New York-Northern New Jersey-
Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., with 19,891 resident claimants, and Detroit-Warren-
Livonia, Mich., with 19,193 resident claimants.  In the second quarter of 2009,
Peoria, Ill., and Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev., entered the list of the 10 metro-
politan areas with the most resident initial claimants associated with extended
mass layoffs, replacing Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla., and St. Louis,
Mo.-Ill., which were on the list in the second quarter of 2008.  (See table B.)

Note

   The quarterly series on extended mass layoffs cover layoffs of at least 
31-days duration that involve 50 or more individuals from a single employer 
filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a consecutive 5-week 
period.  Approximately 30 days after a mass layoff is triggered, the employer
is contacted for additional information.  Data for the first quarter are pre-
liminary and subject to revision.  This release also includes revised data for 
previous quarters.  Data are not seasonally adjusted, but survey data suggest 
that there is a seasonal pattern to layoffs.  Thus, comparisons between consec-
utive quarters should not be used as an indicator of trend.

   For additional information about the program, see the Technical
Note.

                     _____________________________


   The report on Mass Layoffs in July 2009 is scheduled to be released
on Friday, August 21.


                              - 6 -
                              

   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  |                                                                      |
  |           Changes to the Extended Mass Layoffs News Release          |
  |                                                                      |
  |    Effective with this release, the following changes have been      |
  | implemented:                                                         |
  |                                                                      |
  |    -- The original tables B-D were dropped, as this information      |
  |       is replicated within tables 2, 10, and 11, respectively.       |
  |                                                                      |
  |    -- Table E has become the new table 11.  This table has been      |
  |       expanded to show the recall expectations of employers dis-     |
  |       aggregated by whether extended layoff events were due to       |
  |       seasonal/vacation factors or nonseasonal factors.              |
  |                                                                      |
  |    -- Table F has become table 13.                                   |
  |                                                                      |
  |    -- Table G has undergone a conceptual change and has become a     |
  |       new table B.  Previously, this table reflected a concept of    |
  |       "worksite location," where the numbers of extended layoff      |
  |       events and associated separated workers were displayed by the  |
  |       metropolitan statistical area where the event occurred.  The   |
  |       concept of "worksite location" has been replaced by a "sepa-   |
  |       rated worker residence" concept, where the number of initial   |
  |       claimants associated with extended layoffs will be displayed   |
  |       by the metropolitan statistical area where the separated       |
  |       workers reside.  This conceptual change will result in more    |
  |       complete information on layoffs in metropolitan areas.         |
  |                                                                      |
  |    -- The original table 6 has been dropped from the news release    |
  |       as there was often only a small amount of layoff activity in   |
  |       the IT-producing industries.  The table will be provided as    |
  |       a supplemental table on the Mass Layoff Statistics Web site    |
  |       at http://www.bls.gov/mls/#tables.  The original tables 7-11   |
  |       have been renumbered as tables 6-10.                           |
  |                                                                      |
  |    -- A new table, table 12, has been added to the release display-  |
  |       ing the average size of layoff events by industry and by rea-  |
  |       son for layoff.                                                |
  |                                                                      |
  |   -- The explanatory language in the body of the news release re-    |
  |      garding movement of work data has been transferred to the       |
  |      Technical Note.                                                 |
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
     



                                  - 7 -


Technical Note

   The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state program
which identifies, describes, and tracks the effects of major job cut-
backs, using data from each state's unemployment insurance database.  
Employers which have at least 50 initial claims filed against them 
during a consecutive 5-week period are contacted by the state agency 
to determine whether these separations are of at least 31 days duration, 
and, if so, information is obtained on the total number of persons sep-
arated and the reasons for these separations.  Employers are identi-
fied according to industry classification and location, and unemploy-
ment insurance claimants are identified by such demographic factors 
as age, race, gender, ethnic group, and place of residence.  The pro-
gram yields information on an individual's entire spell of unemployment, 
to the point when regular unemployment insurance benefits are exhausted.

Definitions

   Domestic relocation.  A movement of work from an establishment with-
in the U.S. to a location also inside the U.S., either within the same 
company or to a different company altogether (domestic outsourcing).

   Employer.  A firm covered by state unemployment insurance laws.
Information on employers is obtained from the Quarterly Census of
Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, which is administered by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

   Extended mass layoff event.  A layoff defined by the filing of 50
or more initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits from an
employer during a 5-week period, with at least 50 workers separated
for more than 30 days.  Such layoffs involve both persons subject to
recall and those who are terminated.
   
   Initial claimant.  A person who files any notice of unemployment to
initiate a request either for a determination of entitlement to and
eligibility for compensation, or for a subsequent period of unemploy-
ment within a benefit year or period of eligibility.

   Movement of work.  The reassignment of work activities previously
performed at the worksite by the company experiencing the layoff (1)
to another worksite within the company; (2) to another company under
formal contractual arrangements at the same worksite; or (3) to
another company under formal contractual arrangements at another
worksite either within or outside of the U.S.

   Outsourcing.  A movement of work that was formerly conducted in-
house by employees paid directly by a company to a different company
under a contractual arrangement.

   Overseas relocation.  A movement of work from an establishment
within the U.S. to a location outside of the U.S. (offshoring), either
within the same company or to a different company altogether (offshore
outsourcing).

   Relocation of work action.  A movement-of-work action where the
employer provides information on the new location of work and/or the
number of workers affected by the movement.  Events may involve more
than one action per employer if work is moved to more than one
location.

   Separations.  The number of individuals who have become displaced
during an extended mass layoff event as provided by the employer,
regardless of whether they file for unemployment insurance or not.

   Worksite closure.  The complete closure of an employer or the
partial closure of an employer with multiple locations where entire
worksites affected by layoffs are closed.
 
 
                                   - 8 -
 
 
Revisions to preliminary data

   The latest quarterly data in this news release are considered
preliminary.  After the initial publication of quarterly informa-
tion, more data are collected as remaining employer interviews for 
the quarter are completed and additional initial claimant informa-
tion associated with extended layoff events is received.

Movement of work concepts and questions

   Beginning in 2004, the economic reasons "domestic relocation" and
"overseas relocation" were replaced by the movement of work concept.
The movement of work data are not collected in the same way as the
relocation reasons in releases prior to 2004; therefore, the movement
of work data are not comparable to the data for those discontinued
reasons.
   Questions on movement of work and location are asked for all layoff
events when the reason for separation is other than "seasonal work" or
"vacation period," as these are unlikely.  Movement of work questions
are asked after the analyst verifies that a layoff in fact occurred
and lasted more than 30 days.  If the reason for layoff is other than
seasonal or vacation, the employer was asked the following:
 
   (1) "Did this layoff include your company moving work from this
location(s) to a different geographic location(s) within your
company?"
 
   (2) "Did this layoff include your company moving work that was
performed in-house by your employees to a different company, through
contractual arrangements?"
 
   A "yes" response to either question is followed by:
 
   "Is the location inside or outside of the U.S.?" and "How many of
the layoffs were a result of this relocation?"
 
   Layoff actions are classified as "domestic relocation" if the
employer responds "yes" to questions 1 and/or 2 and indicates the
location(s) was inside the U.S.; "overseas relocation" indicates that
the location(s) was outside the U.S.

Reliability of the data

   The identification of employers and layoff events in the MLS
program and associated characteristics of claimants is based on
administrative data on covered employers and unemployment insurance
claims, and, therefore, is not subject to issues associated with
sampling error.  Nonsampling errors such as typographical errors may
occur but are not likely to be significant.  While the MLS employers
and layoff events are not subject to sampling error, and all such
employers are asked the interview questions, the employer responses
are subject to nonsampling error.  Nonsampling error can occur for
many reasons, including the inability to obtain information for all
respondents, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide
correct information, and errors made in the collection or processing
of the data.  For the second quarter of 2009, outright refusal to
participate in the employer interview accounted for 4.9 percent of all
private nonfarm events.  Although included in the total number of
instances involving the movement of work, for the second quarter,
employers in 51 relocations were unable to provide the number of
separations specifically associated with the movement of work, 7 of
which involved out-of-country moves.

Additional information

   Information in this release will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  (202)691-5200;
Federal Relay Service:  (800) 877-8339.




Table 1. Industry distribution:  Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2008 and 2009 

                                                                                                            Initial claimants for  
                                                         Layoff events              Separations             unemployment insurance 
                      Industry                                                                                                     
                                                     II       I      II        II       I        II         II       I        II   
                                                    2008r   2009r   2009p     2008r    2009r    2009p      2008r    2009r    2009p 
                                                                                                                                   
      Total, private nonfarm (1) .................  1,756   3,979   2,994    354,713  704,618  534,881    339,629  830,028  506,533

    Mining .......................................      3      82      48        627   14,408    7,782        357   15,112    6,547
    Utilities ....................................      4       3       3        758      480      765        738      799      764
    Construction .................................    243     526     352     27,477   63,072   39,800     35,492   76,153   42,751
    Manufacturing ................................    382   1,597     932     65,293  276,536  166,240     87,835  376,289  186,241
         Food ....................................     61      85      76     11,597   13,924   14,633      9,020   16,214   13,557
         Beverage and tobacco products ...........    (2)      14     (2)        (2)    2,141      (2)        (2)    3,020      (2)
         Textile mills ...........................    (2)      27      12        (2)    3,137    2,050        (2)    6,188    4,040
         Textile product mills ...................      6       9       6        728    1,315      659        805    2,356      737
         Apparel .................................     11      24      22      1,589    3,250    3,113      1,544    3,280    2,501
         Leather and allied products .............    (2)       5       -        (2)      680        -        (2)      679        -
         Wood products ...........................     37      91      34      5,003   11,039    3,556      5,571   14,604    3,742
         Paper ...................................     12      41      27      1,426    5,309    3,103      1,284    6,045    2,927
         Printing and related support activities .     12      43      27      1,548    5,580    2,747      1,954    6,232    4,221
         Petroleum and coal products .............      3       6     (2)        378      809      (2)        218      631      (2)

         Chemicals ...............................     13      30      20      1,817    4,795    2,304      1,573    4,791    2,449
         Plastics and rubber products ............     20      82      52      3,272    8,913    6,765      3,290   10,226    6,446
         Nonmetallic mineral products ............     13      82      38      1,846    8,476    4,594      1,499   11,235    4,088
         Primary metals ..........................      8     106      73        728   16,205   13,382      1,360   21,410   13,696
         Fabricated metal products ...............     19     159      90      2,178   18,176   11,282      3,294   27,093   10,212
         Machinery ...............................     25     157      92      4,356   28,061   18,096      5,998   38,182   28,691
         Computer and electronic products ........     20     147      79      2,783   25,482   11,289      2,712   30,494   10,795
         Electrical equipment and appliances .....      9      66      31      1,739    9,001    5,069      1,481   12,588    4,829
         Transportation equipment ................     84     322     197     19,381   95,238   57,136     40,401  142,052   64,665
         Furniture and related products ..........     17      63      31      3,366   10,182    3,381      4,024   14,297    5,381
         Miscellaneous manufacturing .............      8      38      20        895    4,823    2,633      1,100    4,672    2,817

    Wholesale trade ..............................     32     131      77      5,050   16,945   10,484      4,038   17,749    9,968
    Retail trade .................................     81     382     163     15,044   90,379   31,653     19,704   82,415   32,347
    Transportation and warehousing ...............    191     157     233     44,637   28,741   45,612     44,000   28,355   37,320
    Information ..................................     50      98      81      9,815   14,688   14,058     10,651   21,254   11,875
    Finance and insurance ........................     89     175     108     31,417   36,478   23,730     20,909   37,299   18,159
    Real estate and rental and leasing ...........      8      39      18        723    4,325    3,010        883    4,445    2,303
    Professional and technical services ..........     80     154     122     38,374   21,862   30,884     21,451   24,142   21,546
    Management of companies and enterprises ......      6      21      10        658    2,753    1,343        529    2,641    1,260
    Administrative and waste services ............    114     327     278     21,435   85,362   51,409     23,526   91,258   51,442
    Educational services .........................     16      10      24      1,644    1,288    3,059      1,986    1,194    2,314
    Health care and social assistance ............    186      44     187     23,803    6,937   24,923     21,613    7,478   19,813
    Arts, entertainment, and recreation ..........     57      45      76     23,768    7,147   16,402      5,830    7,183    8,766
    Accommodation and food services ..............    158     158     215     36,853   29,854   55,013     32,980   32,421   45,338
    Other services, except public administration .     54      29      67      6,819    3,294    8,714      6,816    3,772    7,779

    Unclassified .................................      2       1       -        518       69        -        291       69        -
                                                                                                                                   
    1 For the second quarter of 2009, data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia. 
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.    
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE:  Dash represents zero.
    
    
    

Table 2. Reason for layoff:  Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2008 and 2009 

                                                                                                         Initial claimants for  
                                             Layoff events                   Separations                 unemployment insurance 
         Reason for layoff                                                                                                      
                                        II        I        II          II        I         II           II        I         II   
                                      2008r     2009r     2009p       2008r     2009r     2009p        2008r     2009r     2009p 
                                                                                                                                 
   Total, private nonfarm (1) .....   1,756     3,979     2,994      354,713   704,618   534,881      339,629   830,028   506,533

Business demand ...................     566     2,160     1,342       79,925   334,971   202,151      108,157   457,706   234,409
  Contract cancellation ...........      22        87        71        2,854    12,783    10,799        3,245    16,953    11,415
  Contract completion .............     211       327       292       27,716    64,033    44,317       35,666    78,142    44,896
  Domestic competition ............     (2)         6         -          (2)       822         -          (2)       988         -
  Excess inventory/saturated 
    market ........................     (2)        32        25          (2)     4,096     7,263          (2)     6,750    16,851
  Import competition ..............      13         6         6        1,831     1,016     1,081        1,800     1,022       908
  Slack work/insufficient demand/
    non-seasonal business slowdown.     311     1,702       948       46,145   252,221   138,691       66,082   353,851   160,339

Organizational changes ............     122       201       149       37,097    46,365    32,069       33,583    54,161    26,531
  Business-ownership change .......      20        31        26       17,922     9,313    11,211        4,311     6,070     5,863
  Reorganization or restructuring 
    of company ....................     102       170       123       19,175    37,052    20,858       29,272    48,091    20,668

Financial issues ..................     120       428       264       27,999    98,770    68,017       21,355    90,914    48,951
  Bankruptcy ......................      23        87        48        9,011    28,675    31,625        5,246    16,831    16,571
  Cost control/cost cutting/
    increase profitability ........      55       234       147       10,267    36,859    19,678        8,165    51,811    20,066
  Financial difficulty ............      42       107        69        8,721    33,236    16,714        7,944    22,272    12,314

Production specific ...............      24        17         8        4,716     4,394     1,362        5,766     3,015     1,082
  Automation/technological 
    advances ......................       3       (2)       (2)          264       (2)       (2)          545       (2)       (2)
  Energy related ..................     (2)       (2)         -          (2)       (2)         -          (2)       (2)         -
  Governmental regulations/
    intervention ..................       4         3       (2)        1,067     1,043       (2)          436       998       (2)
  Labor dispute/contract 
    negotiations/strike ...........       5       (2)         -        1,430       (2)         -        1,421       (2)         -
  Material or supply shortage .....       5       (2)       (2)          624       (2)       (2)          614       (2)       (2)
  Model changeover ................     (2)       (2)       (2)          (2)       (2)       (2)          (2)       (2)       (2)
  Plant or machine repair/
    maintenance ...................       3       (2)         -          802       (2)         -          733       (2)         -
  Product line discontinued .......     (2)         6       (2)          (2)     1,165       (2)          (2)       804       (2)

Disaster/safety ...................       6         6         3          852       686       508          989       646       226
  Hazardous work environment ......       -       (2)         -            -       (2)         -            -       (2)         -
  Natural disaster (not weather 
    related) ......................     (2)         -         -          (2)         -         -          (2)         -         -
  Non-natural disaster ............       -       (2)       (2)            -       (2)       (2)            -       (2)       (2)
  Extreme weather-related event ...     (2)       (2)       (2)          (2)       (2)       (2)          (2)       (2)       (2)

Seasonal ..........................     651       340       671      156,324    56,225   139,231      122,035    61,252   102,623
  Seasonal ........................     364       (2)       363      107,485       (2)    81,541       70,302       (2)    57,685
  Vacation period-school related 
    or otherwise ..................     287       (2)       308       48,839       (2)    57,690       51,733       (2)    44,938

Other/miscellaneous ...............     267       827       557       47,800   163,207    91,543       47,744   162,334    92,711
  Other ..................... .....      18        35        31        3,176     6,207     4,938        3,183     5,332     6,583
  Data not provided: refusal ... ..      54       162       147       12,775    38,270    25,175       12,543    38,200    25,077
  Data not provided: does not 
    know..................... .....     195       630       379       31,849   118,730    61,430       32,018   118,802    61,051


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE:  Dash represents zero.
    
    
    

Table 3. State and selected claimant characteristics:  Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 
private nonfarm sector, first and second quarters, 2009 

                                                         Total                              Percent of total                       
                                                        initial                          Hispanic                    Persons age 55
                                  Layoff events        claimants          Black           origin          Women         and over   
              State                                                                                                                
                                    I      II         I       II         I      II       I      II       I      II       I      II 
                                  2009r   2009p     2009r    2009p     2009r   2009p   2009r   2009p   2009r  2009p    2009r  2009p
                                                                                                                                   
    Total, private nonfarm (1) .  3,979   2,994    830,028  506,533     13.1   14.8     14.7   14.9     33.4   41.4     18.2   20.9

Alabama ........................     21      34      6,114    9,206     42.2   42.1      1.9    2.4     38.8   38.2     14.1   15.2
Alaska .........................      8      13      1,523    2,462      2.5    5.0     10.5   11.2     22.4   34.6     23.6   24.9
Arizona ........................     45      30      7,250    4,745      5.4    4.8     37.4   45.9     36.5   51.1     15.6   17.9
Arkansas .......................     12      16      3,526    2,647     27.4   38.4      5.3    3.5     38.1   44.0     13.4   21.2
California .....................    879     729    157,595  105,901      8.0    9.2     35.6   35.4     36.8   42.1     15.6   16.4
Colorado .......................     36      32      5,102    4,266      5.8    4.6     17.4   18.8     33.5   45.6     18.3   18.6
Connecticut ....................     30      27      4,702    3,404     13.8   14.1     15.1   14.5     47.5   62.6     22.4   28.0
Delaware .......................      7      10      1,385    1,148     12.1   28.4      1.5    4.8     14.9   50.1     11.9   25.3
District of Columbia ...........    (2)       3        (2)      270     37.0   73.0     14.0    5.6     56.8   64.8      5.8   25.2
Florida ........................    243     124     49,348   23,993     16.5   18.1     27.8   29.5     37.5   45.2     18.7   20.6
Georgia ........................     59      34     13,015    7,939     43.0   46.6      4.6    5.6     45.0   47.2     16.7   16.4
Hawaii .........................     12       9      1,181    1,149      3.6     .9     11.9   11.3     28.1   39.7     13.9   15.4
Idaho ..........................     24       7      4,115      659       .3     .2     10.5    3.0     36.7   37.3     18.5   19.6

Illinois .......................    240     197     47,072   45,907     17.4   14.6     13.5    9.4     33.5   38.3     17.3   21.1
Indiana ........................    112      85     21,064   13,635      8.0    7.9      2.1    3.0     31.1   32.4     17.6   19.1
Iowa ...........................     37      24     10,985    4,511      2.4    2.5      1.9    1.4     30.4   29.0     16.8   19.5
Kansas .........................     26      25      8,691    5,596      8.6    8.3      7.9    3.7     32.1   30.6     14.9   20.0
Kentucky .......................     88      41     19,789    4,829      6.6    3.8       .5     .1     17.6   20.9     14.6   18.2
Louisiana ......................     29      47      4,626    6,666     36.0   67.1      4.2    2.0     18.6   58.6     21.9   17.3
Maine ..........................     13       9      2,092    1,499      1.1     .8       .3     .3     24.8   37.8     21.4   27.1
Maryland .......................     40       9      4,938      947     38.0   44.4      3.1    2.3     35.8   41.2     19.5   28.3
Massachusetts ..................     63      29     11,337    4,541      7.9   12.1       .9    1.7     44.0   58.3     20.9   28.7
Michigan .......................    183     121     78,489   34,858     20.0   19.0      2.7    2.6     29.1   31.4     18.9   19.2
Minnesota ......................     73      73     11,243   10,149      4.9    4.9      3.6    2.4     26.6   31.9     19.0   21.5
Mississippi ....................     19      13      1,740    1,369     60.1   75.3       .5     .9     39.5   50.7     19.6   22.0
Missouri .......................     78      74     13,996   10,919     13.3   19.5       .7     .8     37.1   59.8     19.7   29.3

Montana ........................      9       4      1,300      531       .1     .4      2.6    3.2     13.5   28.1     23.3   17.3
Nebraska .......................      5       9        844    1,502      1.2    3.8     10.3    7.9     36.8   44.1     26.5   30.8
Nevada .........................     74      51     14,416    9,164      8.4    9.0     31.6   30.8     38.3   36.1     17.2   19.8
New Hampshire ..................      8       5      1,433      678       .4    1.2      4.0    4.7     41.2   40.4     25.5   27.3
New Jersey .....................    110      92     18,121   17,191     18.6   18.1      9.7    8.2     45.9   68.0     21.5   34.9
New Mexico .....................     14      26      3,158    2,387      2.1    1.9     36.8   53.7     18.9   48.7     15.4   21.5
New York .......................    213      99     39,320   15,291     12.2   13.3     11.2   11.3     40.5   41.5     21.5   21.4
North Carolina .................     86      46     19,994    9,400     38.5   34.2      7.4    6.2     40.9   40.5     16.8   19.5
North Dakota ...................      9      10      1,010    1,346      1.2    2.9      1.9    1.9      6.4   20.4      9.2   19.3
Ohio ...........................    212     184     56,283   33,596     12.4   12.5      3.2    3.7     28.0   33.4     21.3   24.1
Oklahoma .......................     31      16      6,768    2,165      7.6   11.6      6.9    7.3     21.2   31.3     15.7   18.0
Oregon .........................     73      52     18,237   10,930      1.5    1.8     13.2   14.3     29.4   49.0     19.5   23.2
Pennsylvania ...................    244     217     50,375   34,444      4.3    5.6      3.6    3.1     26.1   42.3     24.3   28.0

Rhode Island ...................     11       8      1,090      627      3.3   10.2     14.1   13.2     50.2   74.0     30.6   35.2
South Carolina .................     50      19      9,183    2,276     43.8   61.2      1.1    1.9     40.0   53.8      7.6   14.2
South Dakota ...................      6     (2)        546      (2)      5.1    1.7      1.8    3.4     25.3   22.4     17.6    8.6
Tennessee ......................     86      41     13,230    5,706     15.8   27.5       .1      -     39.4   47.0     17.7   24.4
Texas ..........................    140      82     33,513   12,343     16.4   16.4     35.5   45.9     27.9   36.8     13.9   16.3
Utah ...........................     27      14      4,510    2,036      1.8    1.3     15.2    7.5     33.9   36.6     12.1   11.5
Vermont ........................     10      12      1,906    1,609       .3     .7       .2     .4     30.2   36.0     29.9   19.4
Virginia .......................     14      47      3,261    8,480     25.2   39.7      2.1    4.3     31.4   47.0     19.3   22.3
Washington .....................     59      54     13,668    7,484      5.9    6.3      9.1    8.6     37.3   38.4     15.7   17.1
West Virginia ..................     14      17      2,589    2,259       .5     .1       .1     .1     23.3   10.4     16.1   17.8
Wisconsin ......................     91      71     23,796   11,449      3.2   12.6      4.1    5.4     29.0   44.9     21.6   23.5
Wyoming ........................    (2)     (2)        (2)      (2)      2.2    1.4      8.2    4.6     13.0   20.2      8.2   10.4

Puerto Rico ....................     20       6      4,712    1,381       .1      -     99.4   99.4     54.6   42.7     11.4   13.5
                                                                                                                                   
    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised.           
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE:  Dash represents zero. 
    
    
    

Table 4. Census region and division:  Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2008 and 2009 

                                                                                                    Initial claimants for  
                                         Layoff events                   Separations                unemployment insurance 
   Census region and division                                                                                              
                                    II        I        II          II        I         II           II       I        II   
                                  2008r     2009r     2009p       2008r     2009r     2009p        2008r    2009r    2009p 
                                                                                                                           
        United States (1) .....   1,756     3,979     2,994      354,713   704,618   534,881      339,629  830,028  506,533

Northeast .....................     317       702       498       62,131   121,167    83,390       64,001  130,376   79,284

    New England ...............      73       135        90       15,480    22,121    15,221       12,480   22,560   12,358
    Middle Atlantic ...........     244       567       408       46,651    99,046    68,169       51,521  107,816   66,926

South .........................     358       941       599       63,062   176,631   106,598       60,125  193,262  101,643

    South Atlantic ............     192       515       309       35,724    88,266    54,789       33,506  103,956   56,712
    East South Central ........      73       214       129       10,863    38,118    22,511       11,089   40,873   21,110
    West South Central ........      93       212       161       16,475    50,247    29,298       15,530   48,433   23,821

Midwest .......................     455     1,072       874       92,768   202,887   171,053      106,019  274,019  173,526

    East North Central ........     355       838       658       75,631   167,882   133,588       90,292  226,704  139,445
    West North Central ........     100       234       216       17,137    35,005    37,465       15,727   47,315   34,081

West ..........................     626     1,264     1,023      136,752   203,933   173,840      109,484  232,371  152,080

    Mountain ..................      94       233       166       30,318    39,469    32,232       12,413   40,167   24,154
    Pacific ...................     532     1,031       857      106,434   164,464   141,608       97,071  192,204  127,926
                                                                                                                           
 
    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE:  The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the census divisions are:  New England:
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic:  New Jersey,  New York, and
Pennsylvania; South Atlantic:  Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia, and  West Virginia; East South Central:  Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central:
Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; East North Central:  Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West
North Central:  Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain:  Arizona, Colorado,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific:  Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. 




Table 5. State distribution:  Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2008 and 2009 

                                                                                                        Initial claimants for   
                                           Layoff events                     Separations                unemployment insurance  
              State                                                                                                             
                                       II        I         II         II         I        II           II         I        II   
                                     2008r     2009r     2009p       2008r     2009r     2009p        2008r     2009r     2009p 
                                                                                                                                
    Total, private nonfarm (1) .     1,756     3,979     2,994      354,713   704,618   534,881      339,629   830,028   506,533

Alabama ........................        21        21        34        3,200     5,822     9,375        3,703     6,114     9,206
Alaska .........................         6         8        13        3,707     2,437     3,467        1,207     1,523     2,462
Arizona ........................        20        45        30        3,484     7,287     5,377        2,741     7,250     4,745
Arkansas .......................        11        12        16        1,381     3,144     3,444        1,278     3,526     2,647
California .....................       464       879       729       88,740   134,681   116,207       82,770   157,595   105,901
Colorado .......................        12        36        32       14,369     5,919     8,514        1,576     5,102     4,266
Connecticut ....................        22        30        27        5,256     4,862     4,638        4,470     4,702     3,404
Delaware .......................       (2)         7        10          (2)     1,548     1,232          (2)     1,385     1,148
District of Columbia ...........         4       (2)         3          566       (2)       270          566       (2)       270
Florida ........................       113       243       124       21,648    49,572    26,189       20,439    49,348    23,993
Georgia ........................        14        59        34        1,384     7,180     6,137        1,612    13,015     7,939
Hawaii .........................         9        12         9        4,333     1,086     1,241        2,522     1,181     1,149
Idaho ..........................        20        24         7        2,219     3,378     1,447        2,135     4,115       659

Illinois .......................       110       240       197       26,735    43,738    42,325       26,197    47,072    45,907
Indiana ........................        52       112        85        9,504    14,323    16,121       13,556    21,064    13,635
Iowa ...........................        14        37        24        1,702     4,347     3,011        2,280    10,985     4,511
Kansas .........................        15        26        25        2,086     5,773     7,335        1,577     8,691     5,596
Kentucky .......................        20        88        41        2,320    19,234     4,442        2,058    19,789     4,829
Louisiana ......................        26        29        47        4,022     5,789     7,854        3,300     4,626     6,666
Maine ..........................         5        13         9        1,953     3,630     2,380          788     2,092     1,499
Maryland .......................        10        40         9        1,445     4,699       981        1,406     4,938       947
Massachusetts ..................        25        63        29        5,123     9,336     5,256        4,320    11,337     4,541
Michigan .......................        75       183       121       13,357    47,872    21,155       29,235    78,489    34,858
Minnesota ......................        22        73        73        3,399    10,220    10,102        2,803    11,243    10,149
Mississippi ....................        12        19        13        1,296     1,855     2,341        1,548     1,740     1,369
Missouri .......................        43        78        74        8,992    12,587    13,459        8,252    13,996    10,919

Montana ........................         9         9         4          671     1,241     1,275          683     1,300       531
Nebraska .......................         5         5         9          750       362     2,117          715       844     1,502
Nevada .........................        15        74        51        3,359    12,772     8,292        2,550    14,416     9,164
New Hampshire ..................         7         8         5        1,172     1,292       427          897     1,433       678
New Jersey .....................        77       110        92       21,546    18,709    23,302       17,656    18,121    17,191
New Mexico .....................         8        14        26          853     3,704     3,667          853     3,158     2,387
New York .......................        70       213        99       14,492    41,333    15,669       12,901    39,320    15,291
North Carolina .................        10        86        46        4,384    10,804     8,088        2,822    19,994     9,400
North Dakota ...................         -         9        10            -     1,010     1,346            -     1,010     1,346
Ohio ...........................        83       212       184       20,134    41,636    42,578       15,110    56,283    33,596
Oklahoma .......................         5        31        16        1,134     6,192     2,711          786     6,768     2,165
Oregon .........................        27        73        52        6,541    12,897    10,332        6,775    18,237    10,930
Pennsylvania ...................        97       244       217       10,613    39,004    29,198       20,964    50,375    34,444

Rhode Island ...................         9        11         8        1,239     1,068       911        1,274     1,090       627
South Carolina .................        16        50        19        3,077     7,152     2,147        3,678     9,183     2,276
South Dakota ...................       (2)         6       (2)          (2)       706       (2)          (2)       546       (2)
Tennessee ......................        20        86        41        4,047    11,207     6,353        3,780    13,230     5,706
Texas ..........................        51       140        82        9,938    35,122    15,289       10,166    33,513    12,343
Utah ...........................         9        27        14        4,563     4,582     2,725        1,801     4,510     2,036
Vermont ........................         5        10        12          737     1,933     1,609          731     1,906     1,609
Virginia .......................        14        14        47        1,997     3,141     6,559        1,861     3,261     8,480
Washington .....................        26        59        54        3,113    13,363    10,361        3,797    13,668     7,484
West Virginia ..................         7        14        17          894     3,927     3,186          763     2,589     2,259
Wisconsin ......................        35        91        71        5,901    20,313    11,409        6,194    23,796    11,449
Wyoming ........................       (2)       (2)       (2)          (2)       (2)       (2)          (2)       (2)       (2)

Puerto Rico ....................        13        20         6        1,310     2,623       597        3,469     4,712     1,381
                                                                                                                                
    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised.           
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero. 




Table 6. Industry distribution:  Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009

                                                               Layoff events                            Separations           
                     Industry                                                                                                 
                                                        II           I           II           II             I            II 
                                                       2008        2009r        2009p        2008r         2009r         2009p
                                                                                                                              
      Total, private nonfarm (1) ................       71           92           99        12,317        15,501        18,242

    Mining ......................................        -            3          (2)             -           543           (2)
    Utilities ...................................        -            -            -             -             -             -
    Construction ................................      (2)            -          (2)           (2)             -           (2)
    Manufacturing ...............................       49           65           63         7,699        11,138        10,296
         Food ...................................        5          (2)           10         1,025           (2)         2,000
         Beverage and tobacco products ..........        -            -            -             -             -             -
         Textile mills ..........................        -            -            -             -             -             -
         Textile product mills ..................      (2)          (2)          (2)           (2)           (2)           (2)
         Apparel ................................        3          (2)            4           599           (2)           565
         Leather and allied products ............        -          (2)            -             -           (2)             -
         Wood products ..........................        -            3            -             -           577             -
         Paper ..................................        3            3          (2)           256           312           (2)
         Printing and related support activities       (2)          (2)            4           (2)           (2)           594
         Petroleum and coal products ............        -            -            -             -             -             -

         Chemicals ..............................      (2)          (2)          (2)           (2)           (2)           (2)
         Plastics and rubber products ...........      (2)          (2)            5           (2)           (2)           623
         Nonmetallic mineral products ...........      (2)          (2)            -           (2)           (2)             -
         Primary metals .........................      (2)            4            3           (2)           603           257
         Fabricated metal products ..............        3            6            8           338           629           924
         Machinery ..............................        4            4            5           541           464         1,138
         Computer and electronic products .......        4           12           10           408         2,930         1,265
         Electrical equipment and appliances ....        5            6            -         1,432           987             -
         Transportation equipment ...............        9           11            5         1,125         2,036         1,058
         Furniture and related products .........      (2)            3          (2)           (2)           647           (2)
         Miscellaneous manufacturing ............      (2)            3            3           (2)           460           876

    Wholesale trade .............................        4          (2)            6           578           (2)           459
    Retail trade ................................        5            4            5           454           828         2,361
    Transportation and warehousing ..............        3            5            3         1,589           761           315
    Information .................................      (2)            5            3           (2)           906           464
    Finance and insurance .......................      (2)          (2)            3           (2)           (2)           822
    Real estate and rental and leasing ..........        -            -          (2)             -             -           (2)
    Professional and technical services .........      (2)          (2)          (2)           (2)           (2)           (2)
    Management of companies and enterprises .....        -          (2)          (2)             -           (2)           (2)
    Administrative and waste services ...........        5          (2)            6         1,206           (2)           822
    Educational services ........................        -           -           (2)             -             -           (2)
    Health care and social assistance ...........        -           -           (2)             -             -           (2)
    Arts, entertainment, and recreation .........        -           -             -             -             -             -
    Accommodation and food services .............        -          (2)          (2)             -           (2)           (2)
    Other services, except public administration         -          (2)            -             -           (2)             -

    Unclassified ................................        -            -            -             -             -             -
                                                                                                                              

    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised. 
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE:  Dash represents zero. 
    
    
    

Table 7. Reason for layoff:  Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work, 
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009 

                                               Layoff events                                  Separations        


         Reason for layoff               II          I           II              II                I               II  
                                        2008       2009r        2009p           2008r            2009r            2009p 

   Total, private nonfarm (1) ....       71          92          99            12,317           15,501           18,242

Business demand ..................       19          44          33             4,560            6,374            4,927
  Contract cancellation ..........        -         (2)           3                 -              (2)              555
  Contract completion ............        -         (2)           -                 -              (2)                -
  Domestic competition ...........      (2)         (2)           -               (2)              (2)                -
  Excess inventory/saturated 
    market .......................      (2)         (2)           -               (2)              (2)                -
  Import competition .............      (2)           5           4               (2)              868              651
  Slack work/insufficient demand/
    non-seasonal business slowdown        9          33          26             2,810            4,385            3,721

Organizational changes ...........       34          24          41             5,154            3,564            6,824
  Business-ownership change ......        3         (2)         (2)               634              (2)              (2)
  Reorganization or restructuring  
    of company ...................       31         (2)          (2)            4,520              (2)              (2)

Financial issues .................       12          18          20             1,691            4,514            5,496
  Bankruptcy .....................        -           -           4                 -                -            1,254
  Cost control/cost cutting/
    increase profitability .......      (2)         (2)          10               (2)              (2)            1,586
  Financial difficulty ...........      (2)         (2)           6               (2)              (2)            2,656

Production specific ..............      (2)         (2)         (2)               (2)              (2)              (2)
  Automation/technological 
    advances .....................        -           -         (2)                 -                -              (2)
  Energy related .................        -           -           -                 -                -                -
  Governmental regulations/
    intervention .................        -           -           -                 -                -                -
  Labor dispute/contract 
    negotiations/strike ..........        -           -           -                 -                -                -
  Material or supply shortage ....        -           -           -                 -                -                -
  Model changeover ...............        -           -           -                 -                -                -
  Plant or machine repair/
    maintenance ..................        -           -           -                 -                -                -
  Product line discontinued ......      (2)         (2)         (2)                (2)             (2)              (2)

Disaster/safety ..................      (2)           -           -                (2)               -                -
  Hazardous work environment .....        -           -           -                 -                -                -
  Natural disaster (not weather 
    related) .....................        -           -           -                 -                -                -
  Non-natural disaster ...........        -           -           -                 -                -                -
  Extreme weather-related event ..      (2)           -           -               (2)                -                -

Other/miscellaneous ..............      (2)         (2)         (2)               (2)              (2)              (2)
  Other ..........................      (2)         (2)         (2)               (2)              (2)              (2)
  Data not provided: refusal .....      (2)           -           -               (2)                -                -
  Data not provided: does not 
    know .........................        -           -         (2)                 -                -              (2)

    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE:  Dash represents zero.  




Table 8. Census region and division:  Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009

                                       Layoff events                             Separations            
 Census region and division                                                                             
                                II           I          II            II              I             II 
                               2008        2009r       2009p         2008r          2009r          2009p
                                                                                                        
        United States (1) .     71           92          99         12,317         15,501         18,242

Northeast .................     15            9          14          1,839          1,729          2,340

    New England ...........    (2)            4           7            (2)            721          1,179
    Middle Atlantic .......    (2)            5           7            (2)          1,008          1,161

South .....................     20           25          31          3,406          4,786          4,738

    South Atlantic ........     12           10          14          1,899          1,667          2,534
    East South Central ....      5            9          11            734          1,276            868
    West South Central ....      3            6           6            773          1,843          1,336

Midwest ...................     22           40          34          3,569          6,009          5,469

    East North Central ....     17           30          23          2,959          4,708          3,892
    West North Central ....      5           10          11            610          1,301          1,577

West ......................     14           18          20          3,503          2,977          5,695

    Mountain ..............    (2)            3         (2)            (2)            669            (2)
    Pacific ...............    (2)           15         (2)            (2)          2,308            (2)
                                                                                                        
 
    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE:  The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the census divisions are:  New
England:  Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic:
New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic:  Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida,
Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; East South Central:
Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central:  Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and
Texas; East North Central:  Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West North Central:  Iowa,
Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: Arizona, Colorado,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific:  Alaska, California, Hawaii,
Oregon, and Washington. 




Table 9.  Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, selected quarters, 2008 and 2009

                                                  Layoff events                                Separations              
                Action                                                                                                  
                                          II            I           II             II               I              II   
                                         2008         2009r        2009p          2008r           2009r           2009p 
                                                                                                                        
Total, private nonfarm (1) .........     1,756        3,979        2,994         354,713         704,618         534,881

    Total, excluding seasonal                                                                                           
        and vacation events (2) ....     1,105        3,639        2,323         198,389         648,393         395,650

                                                                                                                        
        Total, movement of work (3)         71           92           99          12,317          15,501          18,242

                                                                                                                        
             Movement of work 
               actions .............       100          124          137             (4)             (4)             (4)
                  With separations 
                    reported .......        78           87           86           7,346           9,089           9,790
                  With separations 
                    unknown ........        22           37           51             (4)             (4)             (4)

    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers when the reason for layoff was either seasonal work
 or vacation period.
    3 Movement of work can involve more than one action. 
    4 Data are not available.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary. 
    
    
    

Table 10. Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by employers,
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009

                                              Actions (1)                        Separations         
           Activities                                                                                
                                       II         I         II             II          I         II  
                                      2008      2009r      2009p          2008       2009r      2009p
                                                                                                     
With separations reported (2) .        78         87         86           7,346      9,089      9,790

           By location                                                                               

  Out-of-country relocations ..        25         25         18           3,159      3,967      2,355
      Within company ..........        23         23         17           2,935      3,794      2,265
      Different company .......         2          2          1             224        173         90

  Domestic relocations ........        52         62         68           3,912      5,122      7,435
      Within company ..........        47         57         61           3,694      4,776      6,212
      Different company .......         5          5          7             218        346      1,223

  Unable to assign place of    
     relocation ...............         1          -          -             275          -          -

           By company                                                                                

  Within company ..............        70         80         78           6,629      8,570      8,477
      Domestic ................        47         57         61           3,694      4,776      6,212
      Out of country ..........        23         23         17           2,935      3,794      2,265
      Unable to assign ........         -          -          -               -          -          -

  Different company ...........         8          7          8             717        519      1,313
      Domestic ................         5          5          7             218        346      1,223
      Out of country ..........         2          2          1             224        173         90
      Unable to assign ........         1          -          -             275          -          -

                                                                                                     
 
    1 Only actions for which separations associated with the movement of work were reported are
shown.
    2 See footnote 1, table 1. 
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    Note: Dash represents zero.



    

Table 11. Summary of employer expectations of a recall from extended mass layoffs, private nonfarm sector, 
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009 

                                 Percent of total layoff events (1)      Percent of layoff events             Percent of layoff events,    
                                                                          due to seasonal work                 excluding those due to      
    Nature of recall                                                       and vacation period               seasonal and vacation period  

                                 II           I            II            II          I           II            II          I           II
                                2008r       2009r         2009p         2008r       2009r      2009p         2008r        2009r       2009p

Anticipate a recall .....        51.1        25.2          38.3          97.4        87.6       95.1          23.8         19.3        21.9

         Timeframe

Within 6 months .........        84.5        61.5          77.1          90.5        77.9       90.4          70.0         54.6        60.3
      Within 3 months ...        59.1        39.2          55.9          60.4        43.6       64.3          55.9         37.3        45.4

         Size of recall

At least half ...........        88.3        62.6          78.7          96.1        80.2       94.7          69.6         55.2        58.7
      All workers .......        51.7        19.8          41.2          62.1        30.5       57.7          26.6         15.2        20.4


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.




Table 12. Average number of separations in extended mass layoff events by selected measures, 
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2008 and 2009

                                                        Average number of separations        
          Measure                                                                            
                                                   II                 I                   II 
                                                  2008r             2009r               2009p

      Total, private nonfarm (1) .....            202                177                  179

             Industry                                                                        

Mining ...............................            209                176                  162
Utilities ............................            190                160                  255
Construction .........................            113                120                  113
Manufacturing ........................            171                173                  178
Wholesale trade ......................            158                129                  136
Retail trade .........................            186                237                  194
Transportation and warehousing .......            234                183                  196
Information ..........................            196                150                  174
Finance and insurance ................            353                208                  220
Real estate and rental and leasing ...             90                111                  167
Professional and 
  technical services .................            480                142                  253
Management of companies
  and enterprises ....................            110                131                  134
Administrative and waste services ....            188                261                  185
Educational services .................            103                129                  127
Health care and social assistance ....            128                158                  133
Arts, entertainment, and recreation ..            417                159                  216
Accommodation and food services ......            233                189                  256
Other services, except 
  public administration ..............            126                114                  130
Unclassified establishments ..........            259                 69                    -

             Reason for layoff                                                               

Business demand ......................            141                 155                 151
Organizational changes ...............            304                 231                 215
Financial issues .....................            233                 231                 258
Production specific ..................            197                 258                 170
Disaster/Safety ......................            142                 114                 169
Seasonal .............................            240                 165                 207
Other/miscellaneous ..................            179                 197                 164


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    p = preliminary.
    r = revised.
    NOTE:  Dash represents zero.




Table 13. Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff, private nonfarm 
sector, second quarter 2009 (p)


                                      Layoff events                Separations    
     Size
                                   Number      Percent         Number       Percent

 Total .....................        2,994       100.0          534,881       100.0

   50-99 ...................        1,360        45.4           95,540        17.9
   100-149 .................          671        22.4           78,131        14.6
   150-199 .................          306        10.2           51,010         9.5
   200-299 .................          298        10.0           69,544        13.0
   300-499 .................          200         6.7           72,961        13.6
   500-999 .................          114         3.8           75,286        14.1
   1,000 or more ...........           45         1.5           92,409        17.3

   p = preliminary.




Last Modified Date: August 12, 2009