For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, January 25, 2012 USDL-12-0093
Technical information: (202) 691-6392 * mlsinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/mls
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
MASS LAYOFFS -- DECEMBER 2011
ANNUAL TOTALS -- 2011
Employers took 1,384 mass layoff actions in December involving 145,648
workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for
unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics reported today. Each mass layoff involved at least 50
workers from a single employer. Mass layoff events in December increased
by 52 from November, and associated initial claims increased by 14,021.
In December, 351 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing
sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 39,081 initial claims.
(See table 1.)
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| |
| |
| Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Mass Layoff Data |
| |
| Seasonally adjusted mass layoff data have been revised using |
| updated seasonal adjustment factors that incorporate 2011 |
| data. Seasonally adjusted estimates back to January 2007 |
| were subject to revision. Revised seasonally adjusted data |
| from January 2008 forward are shown in table 1. The |
| originally published and revised figures for January 2007- |
| November 2011 will be available at |
| www.bls.gov/mls/mlssarevision.htm, along with additional |
| information about the revisions. |
| |
|__________________________________________________________________|
The national unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in December, down from
8.7 percent the prior month and from 9.4 percent a year earlier. Total
nonfarm payroll employment increased by 200,000 over the month and by
1,640,000 over the year.
Industry Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
The number of mass layoff events in December was 2,433, not seasonally
adjusted, resulting in 263,665 initial claims for unemployment insurance.
(See table 2.) Over the year, average weekly mass layoff events increased
by 4 to 487, and associated average weekly initial claims increased by
6,700 to 52,733. Ten of the 19 major industry sectors in the private
economy reported over-the-year increases in average weekly initial claims,
with the largest increases occurring in information, administrative and
waste services, and manufacturing. (See table 3.) The six-digit industry
with the largest number of private nonfarm initial claims in December
2011 was temporary help services. (See table A.)
Table A. Six-digit NAICS industries with the largest number of mass layoff initial claims
in December 2011, private nonfarm, not seasonally adjusted
Industry December peak
Initial Claims Year Initial claims
Temporary help services (1) ............... 19,987 2011 19,987
Food service contractors .................. 19,639 2011 19,639
Highway, street, and bridge construction .. 15,919 2005 20,030
School and employee bus transportation .... 15,849 2011 15,849
Motion picture and video production ....... 11,109 1998 16,192
Payroll services .......................... 4,588 2000 6,268
Landscaping services ...................... 3,146 2011 3,146
Hotels and motels, except casino hotels ... 3,045 2008 3,528
Casino hotels ............................. 2,831 2011 2,831
Professional employer organizations (1) ... 2,668 2008 6,101
1 See the Technical Note for more information on these industries.
In December, the manufacturing sector accounted for 28 percent of mass
layoff events and 30 percent of associated initial claims in the private
economy. A year earlier, manufacturing made up 25 percent of events and
30 percent of initial claims. Within manufacturing, the numbers of mass
layoff claimants in December 2011 were greatest in transportation equipment,
food, and textile mills. Twelve of the 21 manufacturing subsectors
experienced over-the-year increases in average weekly initial claims, with
the largest increases occurring in food and in textile mills. (See table 3.)
Geographic Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Among the census regions, the Midwest registered the greatest number
of initial claims in December. All four regions experienced over-the-
year increases in average weekly initial claims, with the largest
increase occurring in the West. (See table 4.)
Among the states, California recorded the highest number of mass
layoff initial claims in December, followed by Pennsylvania, Illinois,
Michigan, Ohio, and New York. Twenty-nine states experienced over-the-
year increases in average weekly initial claims, led by California and
Pennsylvania. (See table 4.)
Table B. Number of mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
1996-2011, not seasonally adjusted
Year Layoff events Initial claimants for
unemployment insurance
1996 ............. 14,111 1,437,628
1997 ............. 14,960 1,542,543
1998 ............. 15,904 1,771,069
1999 ............. 14,909 1,572,399
2000 ............. 15,738 1,835,592
2001 ............. 21,467 2,514,862
2002 ............. 20,277 2,245,051
2003 ............. 18,963 1,888,926
2004 ............. 15,980 1,607,158
2005 ............. 16,466 1,795,341
2006 ............. 13,998 1,484,391
2007 ............. 15,493 1,598,875
2008 ............. 21,137 2,130,220
2009 ............. 28,030 2,796,456
2010 ............. 19,564 1,854,596
2011 ............. 18,521 1,808,451
Review of 2011
For all of 2011, the total numbers of mass layoff events, at 18,521,
and initial claims, at 1,808,451, declined to their lowest levels
since 2007. (See table B.) Twelve of the 19 major industry sectors in
the private economy reported over-the-year decreases in initial
claims, led by manufacturing, construction, and retail trade. In 2011,
total initial claims in the manufacturing sector declined to a series
low 481,702.
The manufacturing sector accounted for 26 percent of mass layoff events
and 29 percent of associated initial claims in the private economy in
2011, about the same percentages as in 2010. The number of manufacturing
claimants in 2011 was highest in transportation equipment and in food.
Total initial claims in 14 of the 21 manufacturing subsectors decreased
between 2010 and 2011, with transportation equipment and machinery
experiencing the largest declines.
Table C. Six-digit NAICS industries with the largest number of mass layoff initial claims
in 2011, private nonfarm, not seasonally adjusted
2010 2011
Industry
Initial Rank Initial Rank
claims claims
Temporary help services (1) .................. 117,391 1 143,938 1
School and employee bus transportation ....... 90,887 2 95,287 2
Food service contractors ..................... 74,873 3 75,006 3
Motion picture and video production .......... 45,856 4 47,988 4
Highway, street, and bridge construction ..... 41,662 5 40,349 5
Professional employer organizations (1) ...... 40,396 6 31,916 6
Discount department stores ................... 29,986 8 29,807 7
Child day care services ...................... 19,141 12 23,237 8
Supermarkets and other grocery stores ........ 24,534 9 19,781 9
Wired telecommunications carriers ............ 8,236 37 19,116 10
1 See the Technical Note for more information on these industries.
The six-digit industry in the private nonfarm sector with the greatest
number of initial claims in 2011 was temporary help services. Child
day care services and wired telecommunications carriers entered the
list of 10 industries with the highest initial claims for the entire
year. (See table C.) Four industries among these 10 reached program
highs in 2011--school and employee bus transportation, food service
contractors, child day care centers, and wired telecommunications
carriers. (Annual data began in 1996.)
Two of the 4 census regions reported over-the-year decreases in
initial claims from 2010 to 2011, with the largest decline occurring
in the West. Among the states, California recorded the highest number
of mass layoff initial claims in 2011, followed by Pennsylvania, New
York, Florida, and Wisconsin. Twenty-nine states experienced over-the-
year decreases in total initial claims for the year, led by California,
Illinois, and Florida.
Note
The monthly data series in this release cover mass layoffs of 50 or
more workers beginning in a given month, regardless of the duration of
the layoffs. For private nonfarm establishments, information on the
length of the layoff is obtained later and issued in a quarterly
release that reports on mass layoffs lasting more than 30 days
(referred to as "extended mass layoffs"). The quarterly release
provides more information on the industry classification and location
of the establishment and on the demographics of the laid-off workers.
The monthly data series in this release are subjected to average
weekly analysis, which mitigates the effect of differing lengths of
months. See the Technical Note for more detailed definitions and for a
description of average weekly analysis.
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The Extended Mass Layoffs news release for the Fourth Quarter 2011 and
Annual Totals for 2011 is scheduled to be released on Friday, February
10, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
The Mass Layoffs news release for January 2012 is scheduled to be
released on Thursday, February 23, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
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| |
| Upcoming Changes to Mass Layoff Data |
| |
| With the release of January 2012 data on February 23, 2012, |
| the Mass Layoff Statistics program will update the basis for |
| industry classification from the 2007 North American |
| Industry Classification System (NAICS) to the 2012 NAICS. |
| The new conversion reflects definitional changes within the |
| utilities, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and |
| retail trade sectors. Several industry titles and |
| descriptions will also be updated. For more information on |
| the 2012 NAICS update, visit |
| www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html. |
| |
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