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Economic News Release
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Extended Mass Layoffs (Quarterly) News Release

For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Friday, February 10, 2012                   USDL-12-0217

Technical information: (202) 691-6392  *  mlsinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/mls
Media contact:         (202) 691-5902  *  PressOffice@bls.gov

                                   
              EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS -- FOURTH QUARTER 2011
                         ANNUAL TOTALS -- 2011
                                   

Employers in the private nonfarm sector initiated 1,638 mass layoff
events in the fourth quarter of 2011 that resulted in the separation
of 266,971 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the year, total
extended mass layoff events and associated worker separations were
down from 1,999 and 338,643, respectively. Total events and
separations reached their lowest fourth quarter levels since 2005,
while manufacturing sector events and separations declined to their
lowest fourth quarter levels in program history. (See table A.) Fourth
quarter 2011 layoff data are preliminary and are subject to revision.
(See the Technical Note.)

Permanent worksite closures accounted for only 5 percent of extended
mass layoff events in the fourth quarter of 2011, the lowest proportion
of events due to closure for any quarter in program history (with data
available back to 1995). Sixty-four percent of private nonfarm
employers indicated they anticipated some type of worker recall--the
highest percentage in six years.

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
 
Over the year ending in the fourth quarter of 2011, the number of
private nonfarm extended mass layoff events declined in 13 of the 18
major industry sectors. The construction and the accommodation and
food services sectors experienced the largest declines in the numbers
of worker separations over the year. Fourteen of the 21 manufacturing
subsectors experienced over-the-year decreases in the number of layoff
events. (See table 1.)

Events and separations in the manufacturing sector declined to their
lowest fourth quarter levels in program history. Fifty-three percent
of manufacturing employers with an extended mass layoff event in the
fourth quarter of 2011 anticipated recalling at least some of the
displaced workers.


Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity


     Period                  Layoff events       Separations     Initial claimants

     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 .............          1,756            354,713            339,630
July-September .........          1,581            290,453            304,340
October-December .......          3,582            641,714            766,780
           
     2009                                                               

January-March ..........          3,979            705,141            835,551
April-June .............          3,395            651,318            731,049
July-September .........          2,034            345,531            406,823
October-December .......          2,416            406,212            468,577
           
     2010                                                               

January-March ..........          1,870            314,512            368,664
April-June .............          2,008            381,622            396,441
July-September .........          1,370            222,357            260,077
October-December(r) ....          1,999            338,643            390,584
     
     2011                                                               

January-March(r) .......          1,490            225,456            258,220
April-June(r) ..........          1,810            317,546            342,529
July-September(r) ......          1,393            235,247            289,330
October-December(p) ....          1,638            266,971            249,692
                                                                             
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.


The construction sector had 528 extended mass layoff events and 66,110
separations, primarily due to the ending of seasonal work. This sector
accounted for 32 percent of the layoff events and 25 percent of the
related separations in the fourth quarter of 2011. In these events, 84
percent of the employers anticipated recalling at least some of the
displaced workers.

Reasons for Extended Layoffs

Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 44
percent of the events and 42 percent of related separations in the
private nonfarm sector during the fourth quarter of 2011. Business
demand factors, primarily as a result of contract completion, accounted
for 34 percent of extended mass layoff events and 35 percent of related
separations during the quarter. Over the year, the largest decrease in
worker separations occurred in layoffs attributed to seasonal factors.
(See table 2.)

Movement of Work

In the fourth quarter of 2011, 33 extended mass layoffs involved
movement of work and were associated with 5,910 worker separations, a
series low for both figures in any quarter (with data available back
to 2004).

Sixty-four percent of the events related to movement of work were from
manufacturing industries. Employers cited organizational changes as
the economic reason for layoff in 48 percent of the events involving
movement of work. Among workers affected by the movement of work, the
largest proportions were in the Midwest and West. (See tables 6-9.)
   
The 33 events with movement of work for the fourth quarter involved 53
identifiable relocations of work actions. (See table 9.) Employers
were able to provide information on the specific number of worker
separations for 23 of these actions. Among these actions, 78 percent
were domestic reassignments, and 87 percent involved work moving
within the same company. (See table 10.)


Table B. Metropolitan areas with the largest number of initial claimants associated 
with extended mass layoff events in the fourth quarter 2011, by residency of claimants


                                                 2010 IV (r)             2011 IV (p)
            Metropolitan area                Initial                  Initial
                                            claimants     Rank       claimants    Rank

        Total, 372 metropolitan areas ......  308,431       ...        195,619     ...
						   
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. ....  38,825        1          36,296      1
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. ...  17,640        3          11,927      2
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long                                              
    Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ...................  18,235        2           9,399      3
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. ....   9,945        4           6,204      4
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. .......   9,768        5           6,037      5
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. .......   6,525        6           3,935      6
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington,                                                 
    Minn.-Wis. ..............................   3,183       18           3,167      7
Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, Calif. .   5,710        8           2,928      8
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif. ......   3,575       15           2,877      9
Modesto, Calif. .............................   3,653       14           2,538     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 10-02, December 1, 2009.


Recall Expectations

Sixty-four percent of the private nonfarm employers reporting an
extended mass layoff in the fourth quarter of 2011 indicated they
anticipated some type of recall--the highest fourth quarter percentage
since 2005. Of those employers expecting to recall workers, 32 percent
indicated the offer would be extended to all displaced employees, and
77 percent of employers anticipated extending the offer to at least
half of the workers. Among employers expecting to recall laid-off
workers, 73 percent intend to do so within 6 months. Excluding
extended mass layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period,
in which 94 percent of the employers expected a recall, employers
anticipated recalling laid-off workers in 40 percent of the events.
(See table 11.)


Size of Extended Layoffs

The average size of a layoff (as measured by the number of separations
per layoff event) was 163 workers during the fourth quarter of 2011.
(See table 12.) Events were largely concentrated at the lower end of
the extended layoff-size spectrum, with over two-thirds involving
fewer than 150 workers. Conversely, only 4 percent of layoff events
involved 500 or more workers. (See table 13.)


Table C. Selected measures of mass layoff activity, 1996-2011
   
   
   Period              Layoff events       Separations     Initial claimants
   
    1996 ................   4,760             948,122             805,810
    1997 ................   4,671             947,843             879,831
    1998 ................   4,859             991,245           1,056,462
    1999 ................   4,556             901,451             796,917
    2000 ................   4,591             915,962             846,267
    2001 ................   7,375           1,524,832           1,457,512
    2002 ................   6,337           1,272,331           1,218,143
    2003 ................   6,181           1,216,886           1,200,811
    2004 ................   5,010             993,909             903,079
    2005 ................   4,881             884,661             834,533

    2006 ................   4,885             935,969             951,155
    2007 ................   5,363             965,935             978,712
    2008 ................   8,259           1,516,978           1,670,042
    2009 ................  11,824           2,108,202           2,442,000
    2010(r) .............   7,247           1,257,134           1,415,766
    2011(p) .............   6,331           1,045,220           1,139,771

   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.


Initial Claimant Characteristics

A total of 249,692 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with extended mass layoffs in the fourth quarter. Of these
claimants, 11 percent were black, 20 percent were Hispanic, 30 percent
were women, and 19 percent were 55 years of age or older. (See table
3.) In the entire civilian labor force for the same period, 12 percent
of all persons were black, 15 percent were Hispanic, 47 percent were
women, and 20 percent were 55 years of age or older.

Geographic Distribution
  
Among the four census regions, the West recorded the highest number of
separations due to extended mass layoff events in the fourth quarter
of 2011. Among the nine census divisions, the highest number of
displaced workers was in the Pacific. All regions and 8 of the 9
divisions registered fewer laid-off workers compared with the fourth
quarter of 2010. (See table 4.)

California recorded the largest number of worker separations in the
fourth quarter of 2011, followed by Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, and
Minnesota. Over the year, 36 states reported decreased numbers of
separated workers associated with extended mass layoff events during
the fourth quarter, led by Wisconsin, New Jersey, and New York. (See
table 5.)

Seventy-eight percent of the initial claimants for unemployment
insurance associated with extended mass layoff events in the fourth
quarter of 2011 resided within metropolitan areas. Among the 372
metropolitan areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., reported
the highest number of resident initial claimants. (See table B.)

Review of 2011

For all of 2011, employers reported 6,331 extended mass layoff
actions, affecting 1,045,220 workers. Compared to 2010, the number of
events decreased by 13 percent and the number of separations decreased
by 17 percent. (See table C.) Permanent worksite closures accounted
for 8 percent of extended mass layoff events in 2011, the lowest
proportion of events due to closure in program history (with annual
data available back to 1996). The annual average national unemployment
rate decreased from 9.6 percent in 2010 to 8.9 percent in 2011, and
private nonfarm payroll employment increased by 1.7 percent, or
1,869,000.

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

In the private nonfarm economy, manufacturing had the largest number
of separations, despite reaching a program low in 2011. Construction
had the next highest number of separations, followed by administrative
and waste services.

Reasons for Extended Layoffs

Among the seven categories of economic reasons for layoff, layoffs due
to business demand factors accounted for the largest number of events
during 2011, largely due to contract completion. Layoffs attributed to
this reason occurred primarily in construction and in administrative
and waste services, which includes temporary help services.
 
Movement of Work

In 2011, 163 extended mass layoffs involved movement of work and were
associated with 30,532 separated workers. Both measures reached
program lows (with annual data available back to 2004). Fifty-five
percent of events related to movement of work were from manufacturing
industries. Employers cited organizational issues in 41 percent of the
layoffs involving the movement of work, the highest among the reason
categories.

The 163 extended layoff events with movement of work for 2011 involved
230 identifiable relocations of work actions. Employers were able to
provide more complete separations information for 113 of the actions.
Of these, 82 percent involved work moving within the same company, and
77 percent were domestic reassignments.

Recall Expectations

Fifty-five percent of employers reporting an extended mass layoff in
2011 indicated they anticipated some type of recall, up from 50
percent in 2010. Of those employers expecting to recall workers, 34
percent indicated that the offer would be extended to all displaced
employees, and 69 percent intended to do so within 6 months. Excluding
events due to seasonal work and vacation period, employers anticipated
recalling laid-off workers in just 34 percent of the events.

Size of Extended Layoffs
  
In 2011, the average size of a layoff (as measured by separations per
layoff event) was 165, registering the smallest average size for a
calendar year in program history. Extended mass layoffs involving 500
or more workers accounted for only 5 percent of events in 2011 but
resulted in 26 percent of all separations.

Initial Claimant Characteristics

A total of 1,139,771 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with extended mass layoffs in 2011. Of these claimants, 15
percent were black, 20 percent were Hispanic, 41 percent were women,
and 20 percent were 55 years of age or older. Among persons in the
civilian labor force for the same period, 12 percent were black, 15
percent were Hispanic, 47 percent were women, and 20 percent were 55
years of age or older.

Geographic Distribution

Compared to 2010, all census regions, divisions, and 36 states
reported decreased numbers of laid-off workers in 2011. Among the
states, the largest decreases were reported by California, New York,
and Florida.

Among the 372 metropolitan areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana,
Calif., reported the highest number of resident initial claimants
associated with extended mass layoff events in 2011, followed by New
York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., and Chicago-Joliet-
Naperville, Ill.-Ind.-Wis.

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 current quarter are preliminary 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
consecutive quarters should not be used as an indicator of trend. For
additional information about the program, see the Technical Note.

________________
The Mass Layoffs news release for January 2012 is scheduled to be
released on Thursday, February 23, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EST). The
Extended Mass Layoffs news release for the First Quarter of 2012 is
scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).


  __________________________________________________________________   
 |                                  				    |
 |               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.			    |
 |    								    |
 |__________________________________________________________________|




Technical Note

   The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state program which
identifies, describes, and tracks the effects of major job cutbacks, 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 per-
iod 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 separated and the reasons for these separations. Em-
ployers are identified according to industry classification and location, and
unemployment insurance claimants are identified by such demographic factors as
age, race, gender, ethnic group, and place of residence. The program 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 within 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 ofEmployment 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 com-
pensation, or for a subsequent period of unemployment 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 arrange-
ments 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 inhouse by em-
ployees 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.



Revisions to preliminary data

   The latest quarterly data in this news release are considered preliminary.
After the initial publication of quarterly information, more data are collected
as remaining employer interviews for the quarter are completed and additional
initial claimant information 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 veri-
fies 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 asso-
ciated 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 fourth quarter of 2011, outright refusal to participate in
the employer interview accounted for 3.3 percent of all private nonfarm events.
Although included in the total number of instances involving the movement of work,
employers in 30 relocations were unable to provide the number of separations
specifically associated with the movement of work, 10 of which involved 
out-of-country moves.

Additional information

   Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired in-
dividuals 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, 2010 and 2011

                                                                                                            Initial claimants for  
                                                         Layoff events              Separations             unemployment insurance 
                      Industry                                                                                                     
                                                     IV      III     IV        IV       III      IV         IV       III       IV  
                                                    2010    2011r   2011p     2010r    2011r    2011p      2010r    2011r    2011p 
                                                                                                                                   
      Total, private nonfarm(1) ..................  1,999   1,393   1,638    338,643  235,247  266,971    390,584  289,330  249,692

    Mining .......................................     31     (2)      21      3,723      (2)    2,710      4,491      (2)    2,664
    Utilities ....................................    (2)     (2)     (2)        (2)      (2)      (2)        (2)      (2)      (2)
    Construction .................................    685     216     528     89,037   27,496   66,110    108,428   33,806   63,335
    Manufacturing ................................    382     262     320     66,428   45,380   53,843     77,401   49,956   48,727
         Food ....................................     86      70      83     22,752   14,718   16,842     19,628   14,830   14,947
         Beverage and tobacco products ...........     12       9       9      1,830    1,353      812      2,239    1,964      918
         Textile mills ...........................      3       4       8        759      541    1,691      1,031    2,458    1,954
         Textile product mills ...................    (2)       3       3        (2)      368      577        (2)      441      608
         Apparel .................................     12       5       6      2,245    1,246      943      2,617    1,611    1,100
         Leather and allied products .............    (2)       -     (2)        (2)        -      (2)        (2)        -      (2)
         Wood products ...........................     18       9      12      2,181    1,392    2,163      4,708    1,268    2,118
         Paper ...................................     10       4      14      1,434      682    3,004      1,312      518    1,826
         Printing and related support activities .     11      11       9      2,090    1,089      870      1,991    1,401    1,125
         Petroleum and coal products .............     17       -      13      2,463        -    1,603      2,805        -    1,844

         Chemicals ...............................      5       9       5        464      889      549        531    1,008      540
         Plastics and rubber products ............     14       9       9      1,697    2,678    1,940      1,922    1,299    1,830
         Nonmetallic mineral products ............     50       6      39      6,367      811    5,427      7,452      717    4,505
         Primary metals ..........................     13       4      10      2,125      804    1,216      2,125      498    1,147
         Fabricated metal products ...............     19       8      16      2,858    1,341    1,737      3,601    1,471    1,795
         Machinery ...............................     18      16      15      3,023    2,594    3,324      4,800    3,677    2,734
         Computer and electronic products ........     15      15      22      2,029    2,617    4,095      2,524    2,380    2,251
         Electrical equipment and appliances .....      6      11     (2)      1,138    2,445      (2)      2,441    2,483      (2)
         Transportation equipment ................     51      49      26      8,062    7,531    4,772     11,590    9,726    5,005
         Furniture and related products ..........      8      12       7      1,246    1,461      588      1,689    1,441      654
         Miscellaneous manufacturing .............     10       8      10      1,272      820    1,067      1,227      765    1,058

    Wholesale trade ..............................     33      25      22      3,769    2,951    3,177      4,092    2,832    2,384
    Retail trade .................................     88      70      67     22,420   18,136   12,188     26,413   15,050   10,528
    Transportation and warehousing ...............     52     101      31      9,352   13,476    4,473     12,921   14,573    3,138
    Information ..................................     55      98      64     15,753   23,669   19,942     26,220   42,811   24,433
    Finance and insurance ........................     50      43      31      9,827    8,085    6,238      9,831    9,467    5,649
    Real estate and rental and leasing ...........     15       7      10      1,740      904    1,784      1,812    1,686    1,785
    Professional and technical services ..........     69      72      83     11,295   11,799   15,680     14,611   16,190   15,996
    Management of companies and enterprises ......    (2)       6     (2)        (2)      510      (2)        (2)    1,260      (2)
    Administrative and waste services ............    230     221     241     40,868   44,278   42,810     50,010   63,517   39,907
    Educational services .........................      9      22      10      2,655    2,666      771      1,457    2,810    1,050
    Health care and social assistance ............     48      95      35      6,478    9,305    5,748      6,888    9,306    4,494
    Arts, entertainment, and recreation ..........     59      45      61     12,372    8,309   10,027      8,913    7,698    7,644
    Accommodation and food services ..............    161      85      95     38,800   15,860   18,387     31,830   15,486   14,893
    Other services, except public administration .     22      21      15      2,794    2,034    2,097      3,471    2,378    2,252

    Unclassified .................................      -       1       -          -      114        -          -      114        -
                                                                                                                                   
    1 For the fourth quarter of 2011, 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, 2010 and 2011

                                                                                                         Initial claimants for
                                             Layoff events                   Separations                 unemployment insurance
         Reason for layoff                                                                                                      
                                       IV        III       IV          IV        III       IV           IV        III       IV   
                                      2010      2011r     2011p       2010r     2011r     2011p        2010r     2011r     2011p
                                                                                                                                
   Total, private nonfarm (1) .....   1,999     1,393     1,638      338,643   235,247   266,971      390,584   289,330   249,692

Business demand ...................     661       629       558      100,547   103,741    94,170      144,801   157,352   100,383
  Contract cancellation ...........      24        36       (2)        4,174     5,138       (2)        5,800     5,916       (2)
  Contract completion .............     377       419       380       62,433    75,760    72,446       91,477   121,177    76,196
  Domestic competition ............     (2)       (2)         -          (2)       (2)         -          (2)       (2)         -
  Excess inventory/saturated 
    market ........................       -         4       (2)            -     2,105       (2)            -       642       (2)
  Import competition ..............     (2)       (2)         -          (2)       (2)         -          (2)       (2)         -
  Slack work/insufficient demand/
    non-seasonal/business slowdown      255       166       164       33,262    20,349    20,243       46,872    28,840    22,347
    
Organizational changes ............      79        76        59       17,864    12,258    11,770       16,707    12,288     8,799
  Business-ownership change .......      18        18        16        9,311     2,309     3,458        2,973     1,395     2,452
  Reorganization or restructuring 
    of company ....................      61        58        43        8,553     9,949     8,312       13,734    10,893     6,347

Financial issues ..................     110       102        62       15,995    19,232    11,398       17,304    17,855     7,784
  Bankruptcy ......................      14        21        16        3,505     7,544     4,550        1,870     5,050     2,022
  Cost control/cost cutting/
    increase profitability ........      65        44        28        7,445     6,572     4,484       11,177     7,707     3,561
  Financial difficulty ............      31        37        18        5,045     5,116     2,364        4,257     5,098     2,201

Production specific ...............      10        17       (2)        1,422     2,074       (2)        2,517     2,363       (2)
  Automation/technological 
    advances ......................     (2)         3       (2)          (2)       253       (2)          (2)       294       (2)
  Energy related ..................     (2)         -         -          (2)         -         -          (2)         -         -
  Governmental regulations/
    intervention ..................       4       (2)       (2)          629       (2)       (2)          660       (2)       (2)
  Labor dispute/contract 
    negotiations/strike ...........     (2)         4       (2)          (2)       731       (2)          (2)       704       (2)
  Material or supply shortage .....       -       (2)         -            -       (2)         -            -       (2)         -
  Model changeover ................       -         4         4            -       467       820            -       618       437
  Plant or machine repair/
    maintenance ...................     (2)         3       (2)          (2)       390       (2)          (2)       504       (2)
  Product line discontinued .......     (2)         -         6          (2)         -     1,654          (2)         -     1,119

Disaster/safety ...................       5         9       (2)          521     1,251       (2)          512     1,127       (2)
  Hazardous work environment ......     (2)       (2)       (2)          (2)       (2)       (2)          (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)

Seasonal ..........................     826       303       721      137,478    50,093   112,248      143,179    51,989    96,526
  Seasonal ........................     819       185       716      136,837    37,153   111,605      142,263    37,963    95,203
  Vacation period-school related 
    or otherwise ..................       7       118         5          641    12,940       643          916    14,026     1,323

Other/miscellaneous ...............     308       257       219       64,816    46,598    31,186       65,564    46,356    32,239
  Other ...........................      19        23        19        2,565     3,812     2,377        3,116     3,549     3,489
  Data not provided: refusal ......      82        54        55       19,083    13,819     8,802       19,081    13,827     8,706
  Data not provided: does not 
    know ..........................     207       180       145       43,168    28,967    20,007       43,367    28,980    20,044

                                                                                                                                
    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, third and fourth quarters, 2011

                                                         Total                              Percent of total
                                                        initial                          Hispanic                    Persons age 55
                                  Layoff events        claimants          Black           origin          Women         and over
              State                                                                                                                
                                   III     IV        III      IV        III     IV      III     IV      III     IV      III     IV
                                  2011r   2011p     2011r    2011p     2011r  2011p    2011r  2011p    2011r  2011p    2011r  2011p
                                
    Total, private nonfarm (1) .  1,393   1,638    289,330  249,692     14.6   10.9     23.0   20.3     39.7   30.2     18.6   18.6

Alabama ........................      6       4      1,817      680     41.0   33.7      1.2    2.2     41.4   36.2     13.6   20.9
Alaska .........................      6      13      2,150    2,228      8.5    5.4     17.6   12.3     33.1   23.6     22.6   20.5
Arizona ........................      9      11      1,346    1,631      7.7   10.3     32.7   25.5     58.5   49.6     18.7   14.7
Arkansas .......................     10       9      1,729    1,755     18.1   36.0      5.8    8.5     45.5   47.1     21.9   17.6
California .....................    548     412    142,733   79,665      8.2    6.6     34.5   35.2     38.5   37.3     15.6   17.1
Colorado .......................      9      16      1,163    1,840      4.0    3.5     24.8   46.6     47.1   12.3     15.7   22.5
Connecticut ....................      6       3        623      349     22.3   12.9     16.5   29.8     58.4   44.1     20.9   29.2
Delaware .......................      3       3        843      340     43.4   20.9     11.3    9.4     35.3   35.9     12.7   26.2
District of Columbia ...........    (2)       3        (2)      380     80.6   73.2      1.3    7.9     64.8   49.7      7.5   15.0
Florida ........................     44      32      7,539    3,748     19.8   22.1     26.7   26.0     38.0   39.5     23.8   23.4
Georgia ........................     26      33      5,779    5,245     45.6   44.0      5.3    4.3     45.9   35.9     19.8   17.6
Hawaii .........................      -       4          -      560        -    1.8        -    9.8        -   40.7        -   15.2
Idaho ..........................      4      13        424    1,730       .2     .2     13.7   12.2     43.4   24.5     16.7   21.1

Illinois .......................     66     157     14,384   20,296     20.9   11.8     13.1   22.7     32.9   23.8     17.5   15.9
Indiana ........................     19      27      5,662    4,499     11.1    6.9      3.4    4.8     25.5   17.3     18.5   15.8
Iowa ...........................      5      10        745    2,092     10.7    3.4      2.7    8.8     37.0   19.3     15.2   23.8
Kansas .........................      7       9        813    1,101     17.6    9.8      4.2    8.3     52.8   25.8     26.4   19.2
Kentucky .......................     19      30      2,235    2,883     18.9    7.2       .1     .1     42.7   16.8     16.1   19.3
Louisiana ......................     17      22      2,614    2,890     41.1   41.5      4.9    4.7     33.6   22.8     23.5   25.6
Maine ..........................    (2)       8        (2)    1,035      1.4     .8        -     .2     58.3   23.6     36.0   25.7
Maryland .......................     16     (2)      3,020      (2)     50.4   54.4      2.1    2.6     54.4   43.9     18.8   30.3
Massachusetts ..................     17      17      1,986    2,115     12.7   10.4       .4    1.2     60.9   46.1     24.0   22.1
Michigan .......................     26      55      5,625    7,220     11.3    9.4      1.9   10.2     38.2   23.1     16.8   15.8
Minnesota ......................     14      68      1,993    8,545     10.1    4.2      2.6    8.0     24.6   15.2     21.0   19.5
Mississippi ....................     12       9      1,364      772     72.9   54.9      3.0    4.3     44.7   29.7     15.6   14.5
Missouri .......................     22      29      3,449    3,518     29.3   12.5      1.3    1.5     59.1   32.2     27.8   21.9

Montana ........................    (2)      12        (2)    1,192      1.7     .3      4.2    3.9     25.3   13.8     10.1   22.4
Nebraska .......................      4       8        358      829     13.4    3.9      7.3   16.6     51.4   17.4     29.6   24.8
Nevada .........................      8       4      1,804      601      7.3   12.1     20.5   24.3     23.8   51.2     22.8   38.3
New Hampshire ..................      3     (2)        243      (2)      1.2     .7      4.5     .7     63.4    7.6     34.2   31.4
New Jersey .....................     67      26      9,637    2,993     23.0   13.4     11.1   11.8     55.3   27.6     29.0   19.9
New Mexico .....................     12       7      1,356      727      1.6    1.8     45.1   67.5     39.4   33.6     16.9   18.8
New York .......................    120     114     19,424   15,449     15.4   10.7     18.2   14.1     44.6   31.2     20.3   21.3
North Carolina .................     24      25      5,510    2,795     39.9   33.0      9.9    8.1     37.0   35.8     21.4   18.6
North Dakota ...................      -      10          -      963        -     .6        -    4.0        -    7.2        -   22.7
Ohio ...........................     36      92      5,450   11,888      8.7   10.6      2.4    4.2     21.4   18.8     19.6   17.6
Oklahoma .......................    (2)       7        (2)      733     14.2    5.6      2.7    5.9     21.7   28.5     34.5   17.3
Oregon .........................     14      24      2,368    6,566      1.7    1.4     22.6   27.2     58.4   37.5     24.2   19.5
Pennsylvania ...................     61      74      9,641   10,487      9.3    8.4      4.0    3.7     39.9   21.8     27.9   21.1

Rhode Island ...................    (2)       3        (2)      208      5.8    4.8     69.6   10.6     84.1   37.5      7.2   25.0
South Carolina .................     12       5      1,645    1,066     49.9   71.7      6.3    7.8     53.4   43.6     26.3   11.1
South Dakota ...................      -       -          -        -        -      -        -      -        -      -        -      -
Tennessee ......................     19      26      4,777    2,556     45.3   12.7       .1     .2     53.6   31.8     29.5   30.0
Texas ..........................     25      34      4,912    7,343     24.2   15.8     39.3   38.3     30.7   34.7     13.6   20.5
Utah ...........................      3      12        279    1,579       .7    1.3      6.8   15.5     50.2   10.8     12.9   14.6
Vermont ........................      5     (2)        669      (2)       .7    1.8       .3     .8     46.6   62.0     25.7   25.0
Virginia .......................     11      26      1,480    4,183     28.6   47.0      5.3    4.3     35.3   45.6     17.8   18.4
Washington .....................     16      47      3,472    7,082      4.3    4.5     14.0   27.9     35.5   31.1     22.9   18.3
West Virginia ..................    (2)       4        (2)      656        -     .3        -      -      4.0    6.6     21.6   10.1
Wisconsin ......................     32      73      5,121   10,971      8.3    5.5     16.5    6.9     34.7   16.3     21.8   17.3
Wyoming ........................      -     (2)          -      (2)        -    1.7        -    3.4        -   42.8        -   27.1

Puerto Rico ....................     29       4      6,497    1,261       .1      -     99.4   99.4     55.5   57.3     11.3    4.6
                                                                                                                                   
    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, 2010 and 2011

                                                                                                    Initial claimants for
                                         Layoff events                   Separations                unemployment insurance
   Census region and division                                                                                              
                                   IV        III       IV          IV        III       IV           IV       III      IV
                                  2010      2011r     2011p       2010r     2011r     2011p        2010r    2011r    2011p
                                                                                                                           
        United States (1) .....   1,999     1,393     1,638      338,643   235,247   266,971      390,584  289,330  249,692

Northeast .....................     377       282       249       53,599    37,493    28,184       70,116   42,431   33,532

    New England ...............      57        34        35        9,864     4,633     5,683        8,374    3,729    4,603
    Middle Atlantic ...........     320       248       214       43,735    32,860    22,501       61,742   38,702   28,929

South .........................     327       249       274       55,801    41,086    40,800       66,580   45,967   38,253

    South Atlantic ............     196       140       133       33,231    21,314    19,137       41,053   26,293   18,641
    East South Central ........      68        56        69       11,887    11,196     8,007       11,923   10,193    6,891
    West South Central ........      63        53        72       10,683     8,576    13,656       13,604    9,481   12,721

Midwest .......................     609       231       538      101,849    42,714    83,949      104,825   43,600   71,922

    East North Central ........     457       179       404       74,564    33,298    61,045       79,622   36,242   54,874
    West North Central ........     152        52       134       27,285     9,416    22,904       25,203    7,358   17,048

West ..........................     686       631       577      127,394   113,954   114,038      149,063  157,332  105,985

    Mountain ..................     128        47        77       25,009     7,322    14,965       22,825    6,609    9,884
    Pacific ...................     558       584       500      102,385   106,632    99,073      126,238  150,723   96,101
                                                                                                                           
   
    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, 2010 and 2011

                                                                                                        Initial claimants for
                                           Layoff events                     Separations                unemployment insurance
              State                                                                                                             
                                      IV        III       IV          IV        III       IV           IV        III       IV
                                     2010      2011r     2011p       2010r     2011r     2011p        2010r     2011r     2011p
                                
    Total, private nonfarm (1) .     1,999     1,393     1,638      338,643   235,247   266,971      390,584   289,330   249,692

Alabama ........................         6         6         4        1,929     1,800       621        2,225     1,817       680
Alaska .........................        14         6        13        3,970     3,348     4,515        2,478     2,150     2,228
Arizona ........................        17         9        11        3,250       790     1,655        3,285     1,346     1,631
Arkansas .......................         5        10         9          980     1,743     1,516        2,102     1,729     1,755
California .....................       472       548       412       86,005    98,495    79,886      106,686   142,733    79,665
Colorado .......................        24         9        16        4,835     1,273     2,325        3,075     1,163     1,840
Connecticut ....................        13         6         3        3,110       807       349        2,394       623       349
Delaware .......................         5         3         3          490       251       237          525       843       340
District of Columbia ...........         3       (2)         3          434       (2)       471          434       (2)       380
Florida ........................        46        44        32       11,030     7,962     4,275       10,579     7,539     3,748
Georgia ........................        20        26        33        1,725     2,726     4,700        2,746     5,779     5,245
Hawaii .........................       (2)         -         4          (2)         -       975          (2)         -       560
Idaho ..........................        12         4        13        2,312       453     3,135        2,013       424     1,730

Illinois .......................       155        66       157       25,348    14,338    24,294       26,345    14,384    20,296
Indiana ........................        40        19        27        4,121     2,667     3,225        7,987     5,662     4,499
Iowa ...........................        11         5        10        1,375       725       953        2,559       745     2,092
Kansas .........................        15         7         9        1,836       802     1,067        3,558       813     1,101
Kentucky .......................        26        19        30        3,836     2,660     3,886        3,323     2,235     2,883
Louisiana ......................        23        17        22        4,560     2,905     4,791        4,024     2,614     2,890
Maine ..........................         9       (2)         8        1,336       (2)       972        1,460       (2)     1,035
Maryland .......................        18        16       (2)        3,784     3,562       (2)        2,512     3,020       (2)
Massachusetts ..................        26        17        17        4,207     2,633     3,356        3,339     1,986     2,115
Michigan .......................        67        26        55        8,347     4,310     7,313        9,416     5,625     7,220
Minnesota ......................        66        14        68       11,550     1,980    13,023       10,062     1,993     8,545
Mississippi ....................        11        12         9        1,996     1,409     1,015        1,504     1,364       772
Missouri .......................        41        22        29        9,233     5,367     5,097        6,365     3,449     3,518

Montana ........................        15       (2)        12        2,528       (2)     1,574        1,592       (2)     1,192
Nebraska .......................         9         4         8        2,179       542     1,805        1,108       358       829
Nevada .........................        31         8         4        4,400     1,924       450        7,667     1,804       601
New Hampshire ..................         4         3       (2)          631       335       (2)          616       243       (2)
New Jersey .....................        48        67        26       11,850    11,590     3,645        9,784     9,637     2,993
New Mexico .....................        10        12         7        1,800     1,904     1,530        1,413     1,356       727
New York .......................       138       120       114       18,928    13,919    11,084       27,772    19,424    15,449
North Carolina (3) .............        48        24        25        5,145     3,241     2,065       11,930     5,510     2,795
North Dakota ...................        10         -        10        1,112         -       959        1,551         -       963
Ohio ...........................       105        36        92       15,066     6,452    13,095       18,105     5,450    11,888
Oklahoma .......................         4       (2)         7          503       (2)     1,026        1,245       (2)       733
Oregon .........................        23        14        24        6,148     2,368     6,566        7,773     2,368     6,566
Pennsylvania ...................       134        61        74       12,957     7,351     7,772       24,186     9,641    10,487

Rhode Island ...................         4       (2)         3          320       (2)       209          364       (2)       208
South Carolina .................        20        12         5        3,993     1,470     2,085        4,161     1,645     1,066
South Dakota ...................         -         -         -            -         -         -            -         -         -
Tennessee ......................        25        19        26        4,126     5,327     2,485        4,871     4,777     2,556
Texas ..........................        31        25        34        4,640     3,668     6,323        6,233     4,912     7,343
Utah ...........................        17         3        12        3,284       278     1,876        3,203       279     1,579
Vermont ........................       (2)         5       (2)          (2)       650       (2)          (2)       669       (2)
Virginia .......................        32        11        26        5,272     1,432     4,277        7,081     1,480     4,183
Washington .....................        48        16        47        6,159     2,421     7,131        9,198     3,472     7,082
West Virginia ..................         4       (2)         4        1,358       (2)       764        1,085       (2)       656
Wisconsin ......................        90        32        73       21,682     5,531    13,118       17,769     5,121    10,971
Wyoming ........................       (2)         -       (2)          (2)         -       (2)          (2)         -       (2)

Puerto Rico ....................         5        29         4          482     3,808       757        1,400     6,497     1,261
                                                                                                                                
    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    3 Data starting in November 2010 may not be comparable to prior data due to a change in MLS unemployment insurance 
input procedures.
    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, 2010 and 2011

                                                               Layoff events                            Separations           
                     Industry
                                                        IV          III          IV           IV            III           IV
                                                       2010        2011r        2011p        2010          2011r         2011p
                                                       
      Total, private nonfarm(1) .................       50           38           33         9,073         6,911         5,910

    Mining ......................................        -            -            -             -             -             -
    Utilities ...................................        -            -            -             -             -             -
    Construction ................................      (2)            -          (2)           (2)             -           (2)
    Manufacturing ...............................       30           21           21         5,219         4,351         3,803
         Food ...................................        3            5          (2)           195           549           (2)
         Beverage and tobacco products ..........      (2)            -            -           (2)             -             -
         Textile mills ..........................        -            -            -             -             -             -
         Textile product mills ..................        -          (2)            -             -           (2)             -
         Apparel ................................        -            -          (2)             -             -           (2)
         Leather and allied products ............        -            -          (2)             -             -           (2)
         Wood products ..........................        -          (2)          (2)             -           (2)           (2)
         Paper ..................................        3          (2)            -           390           (2)             -
         Printing and related support activities       (2)          (2)          (2)           (2)           (2)           (2)
         Petroleum and coal products ............        -            -            -             -             -             -
         
         Chemicals ..............................      (2)            -            -           (2)             -             -
         Plastics and rubber products ...........        4          (2)          (2)           462           (2)           (2)
         Nonmetallic mineral products ...........      (2)          (2)            -           (2)           (2)             -
         Primary metals .........................      (2)            -          (2)           (2)             -           (2)
         Fabricated metal products ..............      (2)            -            3           (2)             -           487
         Machinery ..............................        3          (2)          (2)           281           (2)           (2)
         Computer and electronic products .......      (2)          (2)          (2)           (2)           (2)           (2)
         Electrical equipment and appliances ....      (2)          (2)          (2)           (2)           (2)           (2)
         Transportation equipment ...............        4          (2)          (2)         1,101           (2)           (2)
         Furniture and related products .........      (2)          (2)          (2)           (2)           (2)           (2)
         Miscellaneous manufacturing ............      (2)          (2)          (2)           (2)           (2)           (2)
         
    Wholesale trade .............................      (2)          (2)          (2)           (2)           (2)           (2)
    Retail trade ................................        3          (2)          (2)           203           (2)           (2)
    Transportation and warehousing ..............        -          (2)          (2)             -           (2)           (2)
    Information .................................      (2)            3            3           (2)           435           613
    Finance and insurance .......................        5          (2)          (2)         1,635           (2)           (2)
    Real estate and rental and leasing ..........        -            -            -             -             -             -
    Professional and technical services .........      (2)          (2)            -           (2)           (2)             -
    Management of companies and enterprises .....      (2)            -            -           (2)             -             -
    Administrative and waste services ...........        3            4            3           617           858           198
    Educational services ........................        -            -            -             -             -             -
    Health care and social assistance ...........        -          (2)            -             -           (2)             -
    Arts, entertainment, and recreation .........        -            -            -             -             -             -
    Accommodation and food services .............      (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, 2010 and 2011

                                               Layoff events                                  Separations


         Reason for layoff               IV         III         IV               IV               III              IV 
                                        2010       2011r       2011p            2010             2011r            2011p
                                                 
   Total, private nonfarm (1) ....       50          38          33             9,073            6,911            5,910

Business demand ..................        8          11         (2)             1,663            3,140              (2)
  Contract cancellation ..........      (2)           4           -               (2)              712                -
  Contract completion ............      (2)           -         (2)               (2)                -              (2)
  Domestic competition ...........        -         (2)           -                 -              (2)                -
  Excess inventory/saturated
    market .......................        -         (2)           -                 -              (2)                -
  Import competition .............      (2)         (2)           -               (2)              (2)                -
  Slack work/insufficient demand/
    non-seasonal business slowdown        4         (2)         (2)             1,101              (2)              (2)
  
Organizational changes ...........       24          13          16             4,873            1,824            3,537
  Business-ownership change ......        3         (2)           3             1,413              (2)              998
  Reorganization or restructuring
    of company ...................       21         (2)          13             3,460              (2)            2,539
  
Financial issues .................       18         (2)           7             2,537              (2)              886
  Bankruptcy .....................        -           -           -                 -               -                 -
  Cost control/cost cutting/
    increase profitability .......       14         (2)         (2)             1,733              (2)              (2)
  Financial difficulty ...........        4         (2)         (2)               804              (2)              (2)
  
Production specific ..............        -         (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)
  
Disaster/safety ..................        -         (2)           -                 -              (2)                -
  Hazardous work environment .....        -           -           -                 -                -                -
  Natural disaster (not weather 
    related) .....................        -           -           -                 -                -                -
  Non-natural disaster ...........        -           -           -                 -                -                -
  Extreme weather-related event ..        -         (2)           -                 -              (2)                -
  
Other/miscellaneous ..............        -         (2)           6                 -              (2)              867
  Other ..........................        -         (2)         (2)                 -              (2)              (2)
  Data not provided: refusal .....        -         (2)         (2)                 -              (2)              (2)
  Data not provided: does not 
    know .........................        -           -           3                 -                -              436

    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, 2010 and 2011
 
                                       Layoff events                             Separations
 Census region and division
                                IV          III         IV            IV             III            IV
                               2010        2011r       2011p         2010           2011r          2011p

        United States (1) .     50           38          33          9,073          6,911          5,910
        
Northeast .................     12           12           5          1,622          1,693            646

    New England ...........      8          (2)         (2)          1,272            (2)            (2)
    Middle Atlantic .......      4          (2)         (2)            350            (2)            (2)
    
South .....................     14           13           7          2,511          3,505            988

    South Atlantic ........      7          (2)           3          1,039            (2)            343
    East South Central ....    (2)            6         (2)            (2)          2,282            (2)
    West South Central ....    (2)          (2)         (2)            (2)            (2)            (2)
    
Midwest ...................     11            7          11          2,328            873          2,201

    East North Central ....      8            3           8          1,890            525          1,876
    West North Central ....      3            4           3            438            348            325
    
West ......................     13            6          10          2,612            840          2,075

    Mountain ..............      5          (2)           -            865            (2)              -
    Pacific ...............      8          (2)          10          1,747            (2)          2,075


    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, 2010 and 2011

                                                  Layoff events                                Separations              
                Action
                                          IV           III          IV             IV              III             IV
                                         2010         2011r        2011p          2010            2011r           2011p
                           
Total, private nonfarm (1) .........     1,999        1,393        1,638         338,643         235,247         266,971

    Total, excluding seasonal 
        and vacation events (2) ....     1,173        1,090          917         201,165         185,154         154,723
                                                                                                        
                                                                                                         
        Total, movement of work (3)         50           38           33           9,073           6,911           5,910
                                                                                                        
                                                                                                        
             Movement of work 
               actions .............        68           53           53             (4)             (4)             (4)
                  With separations
                    reported .......        46           31           23           4,422           3,443           1,630
                  With separations
                    unknown ........        22           22           30             (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, 2010 and 2011
                
                                              Actions (1)                        Separations
           Activities                             
                                       IV        III         IV            IV         III        IV
                                      2010      2011r       2011p         2010       2011r      2011p

With separations reported (2) .        46         31         23           4,422      3,443      1,630

           By location
           
  Out-of-country relocations ..        13          3          5           1,915        185        316
      Within company ..........        11          -          5           1,115          -        316
      Different company .......         2          3          -             800        185          -
      
  Domestic relocations ........        33         28         18           2,507      3,258      1,314
      Within company ..........        28         24         15           2,294      2,520        712
      Different company .......         5          4          3             213        738        602
      
  Unable to assign place of
     relocation ...............         -          -          -               -          -          -
     
           By company
           
  Within company ..............        39         24         20           3,409      2,520      1,028
      Domestic ................        28         24         15           2,294      2,520        712
      Out of country ..........        11          -          5           1,115          -        316
      Unable to assign ........         -          -          -               -          -          -
      
  Different company ...........         7          7          3           1,013        923        602
      Domestic ................         5          4          3             213        738        602
      Out of country ..........         2          3          -             800        185          -
      Unable to assign ........         -          -          -               -          -          -



    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, 2010 and 2011

                                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 

                                  IV         III           IV             IV         III        IV             IV          III         IV
                                 2010       2011r         2011p          2010       2011r      2011p          2010        2011r       2011p
                                 
Anticipate a recall .....        58.5        48.3          63.6          94.6        97.4       93.9          33.2         34.7        39.8

         Timeframe       
         
Within 6 months .........        72.9        54.8          73.4          87.2        83.7       88.9          44.2         32.3        44.7
      Within 3 months ...        28.7        45.0          29.7          26.9        67.1       27.3          32.4         27.8        34.0
      
         Size of recall       
         
At least half ...........        75.0        58.1          77.0          91.7        88.1       93.8          41.6         34.7        45.8
      All workers .......        32.3        28.1          32.3          41.7        45.4       43.9          13.4         14.6        11.0


    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, 2010 and 2011

                                                        Average number of separations        
          Measure                                                                            
                                                  IV                  III                 IV
                                                 2010r               2011r               2011p

      Total, private nonfarm (1) .....            169                 169                 163
      
           Industry
           
Mining ...............................            120                  78                 129
Utilities ............................             80                 120                 400
Construction .........................            130                 127                 125
Manufacturing ........................            174                 173                 168
Wholesale trade ......................            114                 118                 144
Retail trade .........................            255                 259                 182
Transportation and warehousing .......            180                 133                 144
Information ..........................            286                 242                 312
Finance and insurance ................            197                 188                 201
Real estate and rental and leasing ...            116                 129                 178
Professional and 
  technical services .................            164                 164                 189
Management of companies
  and enterprises ....................            147                  85                 195
Administrative and waste services ....            178                 200                 178
Educational services .................            295                 121                  77
Health care and social assistance ....            135                  98                 164
Arts, entertainment, and recreation ..            210                 185                 164
Accommodation and food services ......            241                 187                 194
Other services, except 
  public administration ..............            127                  97                 140
Unclassified establishments ..........              -                 114                   -

           Reason for layoff groupings                                                
       
Business demand ......................            152                 165                 169
Organizational changes ...............            226                 161                 199
Financial issues .....................            145                 189                 184
Production specific ..................            142                 122                 349
Disaster/Safety ......................            104                 139                 203
Seasonal .............................            166                 165                 156
Other/miscellaneous ..................            210                 181                 142
                                                                                    
                                                                                    
    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.
    
    
    

Table 13. Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff, private nonfarm
sector, fourth quarter 2011 (p)


                                      Layoff events                Separations
     Size
                                   Number      Percent         Number       Percent
   
 Total .....................        1,638       100.0          266,971       100.0
 
   50-99 ...................          732        44.7           52,165        19.5
   100-149 .................          385        23.5           44,666        16.7
   150-199 .................          175        10.7           29,076        10.9
   200-299 .................          165        10.1           37,690        14.1
   300-499 .................          108         6.6           39,858        14.9
   500-999 .................           50         3.1           33,788        12.7
   1,000 or more ...........           23         1.4           29,728        11.1
                                                                                   
   p = preliminary.




Last Modified Date: February 10, 2012