For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, May 16, 2012 USDL-12-0955
Technical information: (202) 691-6392 * mlsinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/mls
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS -- FIRST QUARTER 2012
Employers in the private nonfarm sector initiated 1,077 mass layoff events in the
first quarter of 2012 that resulted in the separation of 182,101 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 1,490 and 225,456, respectively. (See table A.) Total
events reached their lowest first quarter levels since 2006, while manufacturing
sector events and separations declined to their lowest levels in program history
(with data available back to 1995.) First quarter 2012 layoff data are preliminary
and are subject to revision. (See the Technical Note.)
Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
Over the year ending in the first quarter of 2012, the number of private nonfarm
extended mass layoff events declined in 16 of the 18 major industry sectors. The
manufacturing and the construction 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
levels in program history (210 and 28,393, respectively). Thirty-six percent of
manufacturing employers with an extended mass layoff event in the first quarter of
2012 anticipated recalling at least some of the displaced workers. The construction
sector had 225 extended mass layoff events and 26,795 separations, primarily due to
contract completion. This sector accounted for 21 percent of the layoff events and
15 percent of the related separations during the first quarter of 2012.
Reasons for Extended Layoffs
Business demand factors, primarily contract completion, accounted for 39 percent
of the events and 44 percent of related separations in the private nonfarm sector
during the first quarter of 2012. Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work
accounted for 28 percent of extended mass layoff events and 24 percent of related
separations during the quarter. (See table 2.)
Movement of Work
In the first quarter of 2012, 29 extended mass layoffs involved movement of work
and were associated with 3,726 worker separations, a program low for both figures.
Sixty-two percent of the events related to movement of work were from manufacturing
industries. Employers cited organizational changes as the economic reason for
layoff in 52 percent of the events involving movement of work. Among workers
affected by the movement of work, the largest proportions were in the West. (See
tables 6-8.)
The 29 events with movement of work for the first quarter involved 41 identifiable
relocations of work actions. (See table 9.) Employers were able to provide
information on the specific number of worker separations for 33 of these actions.
Among these actions, most were domestic reassignments and involved work moving
within the same company. (See table 10.)
Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity
Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants
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 ....... 1,999 338,643 390,584
2011
January-March .......... 1,490 225,456 258,220
April-June (r) ......... 1,810 317,546 342,530
July-September (r) ..... 1,393 235,325 290,898
October-December (r) ... 1,904 334,843 401,942
2012
January-March (p) ...... 1,077 182,101 150,990
r = revised.
p = preliminary.
Recall Expectations
Forty-nine percent of the private nonfarm employers reporting an extended mass
layoff in the first quarter of 2012 indicated they anticipated some type of
recall. Of those employers expecting to recall workers, 22 percent indicated
the offer would be extended to all displaced employees and 64 percent
anticipated extending the offer to at least half of the workers. Among employers
expecting to recall laid-off workers, 57 percent intend to do so within six
months. Excluding extended mass layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation
period, in which 86 percent of the employers expected a recall, employers
anticipated recalling laid-off workers in 35 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 169 workers during the first quarter of 2012. (See table 12.) Events
were largely concentrated at the lower end of the extended layoff-size spectrum,
with 69 percent involving fewer than 150 workers. Conversely, only 5 percent of
layoff events involved 500 or more workers. (See table 13.)
Table B. Metropolitan areas with the largest number of initial claimants associated
with extended mass layoff events in the first quarter 2012, by residency of claimants
2011 I (r) 2012 I (p)
Metropolitan area Initial Initial
claimants Rank claimants Rank
Total, 372 metropolitan areas ........... 210,444 ... 126,315 ...
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. ........ 29,144 1 24,286 1
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long
Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ....................... 17,904 2 11,025 2
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. ....... 10,574 3 6,120 3
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. ........... 7,893 5 6,015 4
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. ........ 8,299 4 4,960 5
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. ........... 6,865 6 3,485 6
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.
-N.J.-Del.-Md. .............................. 3,704 9 2,396 7
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich. ................... 1,133 37 2,267 8
Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, Calif. ..... 3,913 8 2,259 9
Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev. ........................ 566 64 2,139 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.
Initial Claimant Characteristics
A total of 150,990 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated
with extended mass layoffs in the first quarter. Of these claimants, 13 percent
were black, 20 percent were Hispanic, 38 percent were women, and 21 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, 16 percent were
Hispanic, 47 percent were women, and 21 percent were 55 years of age or older.
Geographic Distribution
Among the four census regions, the West recorded the highest number of extended
mass layoff events in the first quarter of 2012. Among the nine census divisions,
the highest number of mass layoff events was in the Pacific. All regions and 8
of the 9 divisions registered fewer extended mass layoff events compared with
the first quarter of 2011. (See table 4.)
California recorded the largest number of extended mass layoff events in the
first quarter of 2012, followed by New York, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Over the year, 33 states reported decreased numbers of extended mass layoff
events for the first quarter. The largest declines were in California, Florida,
and Pennsylvania. (See table 5.)
Eighty-four percent of the initial claimants for unemployment insurance
associated with extended mass layoff events in the first quarter of 2012 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.)
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 April is scheduled to be released on Tuesday,
May 22, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
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 in-house 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
associated characteristics of claimants is based on administrative data on covered
employers and unemployment insurance claims, and, therefore, is not subject to
issues associated with sampling error. Nonsampling errors such as typographical
errors may affect the identification of layoff events and associated claimants, but
are not likely to be significant.
With one exception, all employers in the private nonfarm sector identified as
having a mass layoff based on administrative data are asked the interview questions.
These employer responses are also subject to nonsampling error. Nonsampling errors
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.
Beginning with first quarter 2012 data, employers in California identified as
having mass layoff events from the administrative and support services (NAICS 561)
industry subsector are randomly selected to participate in the employer interview.
Sampling weights are applied to data collected from these employer interviews,
which represent responses for those employers not selected for employer contact.
These data are subject to sampling errors which can result from the variation that
occurs by chance because a sample is surveyed rather than the entire universe of
NAICS 561 employers in California identified as having layoff events.
For the first quarter of 2012, outright refusal to participate in the employer
interview accounted for 5.4 percent of all private nonfarm extended mass layoff events.
Although included in the total number of instances involving the movement of work,
employers in eight relocations were unable to provide the number of separations
specifically associated with the movement of work.
Additional information
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals
upon request. Voice phone: (202)691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.
Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2011 and 2012
Initial claimants for
Layoff events Separations unemployment insurance
Industry
I IV I I IV I I IV I
2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p
Total, private nonfarm (1) ................. 1,490 1,904 1,077 225,456 334,843 182,101 258,220 401,942 150,990
Mining ....................................... 11 26 13 952 3,358 1,404 1,229 3,824 1,126
Utilities .................................... 5 (2) 3 502 (2) 416 555 (2) 577
Construction ................................. 348 576 225 38,478 74,008 26,795 49,436 88,232 25,662
Manufacturing ................................ 305 366 210 45,511 67,531 28,393 50,609 71,039 25,309
Food .................................... 72 94 46 13,585 19,028 6,591 13,307 18,497 6,626
Beverage and tobacco products ........... 7 11 3 950 1,829 485 1,195 2,633 189
Textile mills ........................... 3 8 4 248 4,413 380 1,509 4,450 363
Textile product mills ................... (2) 4 3 (2) 1,174 435 (2) 1,562 400
Apparel ................................. 4 6 6 1,911 989 1,330 1,953 1,496 1,273
Leather and allied products ............. (2) (2) - (2) (2) - (2) (2) -
Wood products ........................... 14 14 12 1,771 2,561 1,626 2,357 3,307 1,160
Paper ................................... 13 14 7 1,541 3,039 765 1,357 2,317 648
Printing and related support activities . 10 11 6 1,520 1,406 1,019 1,593 1,919 892
Petroleum and coal products ............. 4 15 4 418 1,868 810 450 2,331 314
Chemicals ............................... 17 8 8 2,527 1,788 1,046 2,424 1,839 886
Plastics and rubber products ............ 9 13 9 924 2,409 905 904 2,341 648
Nonmetallic mineral products ............ 35 41 19 3,248 5,549 1,904 4,125 6,025 1,925
Primary metals .......................... 10 13 (2) 988 2,090 (2) 933 2,658 (2)
Fabricated metal products ............... 16 18 11 1,864 2,064 978 2,245 2,297 862
Machinery ............................... 17 16 10 2,054 3,639 782 2,037 4,025 1,342
Computer and electronic products ........ 13 29 16 1,966 5,255 1,546 2,110 3,672 1,231
Electrical equipment and appliances ..... 4 (2) (2) 1,037 (2) (2) 1,088 (2) (2)
Transportation equipment ................ 36 28 25 6,423 5,837 5,107 8,222 6,526 4,433
Furniture and related products .......... 8 10 8 1,081 905 928 907 1,094 845
Miscellaneous manufacturing ............. 9 9 8 1,183 1,065 1,156 1,004 1,090 871
Wholesale trade .............................. 36 25 22 4,592 3,742 2,391 4,457 3,204 1,933
Retail trade ................................. 153 96 112 29,382 24,237 25,530 35,430 29,866 22,882
Transportation and warehousing ............... 69 37 43 15,530 5,529 7,357 14,187 5,522 4,910
Information .................................. 58 74 51 12,053 24,160 15,617 20,181 44,157 13,505
Finance and insurance ........................ 39 40 28 4,543 7,687 5,667 8,489 8,655 3,876
Real estate and rental and leasing ........... 18 15 3 1,661 2,862 2,974 2,242 2,788 1,016
Professional and technical services .......... 63 95 46 8,772 18,663 8,963 10,989 25,239 6,702
Management of companies and enterprises ...... 6 6 9 713 991 1,320 585 1,194 905
Administrative and waste services ............ 183 275 151 36,733 50,939 34,564 32,182 69,715 24,063
Educational services ......................... 8 13 4 905 1,425 304 1,101 1,933 288
Health care and social assistance ............ 39 38 25 4,460 6,421 3,543 5,035 5,808 2,742
Arts, entertainment, and recreation .......... 53 69 40 6,241 11,944 4,912 7,110 11,186 4,667
Accommodation and food services .............. 83 133 77 12,853 28,046 10,417 12,739 26,050 9,340
Other services, except public administration . 13 17 10 1,575 2,705 1,121 1,664 2,898 1,096
Unclassified ................................. - (2) 5 - (2) 413 - (2) 391
1 For the first quarter of 2012, 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, 2011 and 2012
Initial claimants for
Layoff events Separations unemployment insurance
Reason for layoff
I IV I I IV I I IV I
2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p
Total, private nonfarm (1) ..... 1,490 1,904 1,077 225,456 334,843 182,101 258,220 401,942 150,990
Business demand ................... 564 634 423 77,265 111,350 79,615 102,028 171,283 64,975
Contract cancellation ........... 30 22 17 5,591 3,598 3,502 5,916 4,984 2,167
Contract completion ............. 271 428 273 43,563 80,896 57,682 58,530 132,960 45,717
Domestic competition ............ (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Excess inventory/saturated
market ........................ 4 (2) (2) 434 (2) (2) 329 (2) (2)
Import competition .............. (2) - - (2) - - (2) - -
Slack work/insufficient demand/
non-seasonal business slowdown. 256 181 129 26,926 26,419 16,831 36,544 32,956 15,924
Organizational changes ............ 94 73 62 13,280 14,462 12,584 15,323 13,401 8,368
Business-ownership change ....... 22 18 14 2,679 3,806 3,780 2,015 2,995 1,218
Reorganization or restructuring
of company .................... 72 55 48 10,601 10,656 8,804 13,308 10,406 7,150
Financial issues .................. 120 76 98 27,618 13,631 18,433 23,825 15,760 12,464
Bankruptcy ...................... 14 15 12 4,114 3,975 1,626 2,120 2,199 1,072
Cost control/cost cutting/
increase profitability ........ 73 33 46 11,217 5,630 8,864 15,719 6,733 6,630
Financial difficulty ............ 33 28 40 12,287 4,026 7,943 5,986 6,828 4,762
Production specific ............... 24 (2) 14 3,517 (2) 2,097 3,758 (2) 1,873
Automation/technological
advances ...................... - (2) (2) - (2) (2) - (2) (2)
Energy related .................. (2) - - (2) - - (2) - -
Governmental regulations/
intervention .................. 6 (2) 3 429 (2) 528 538 (2) 388
Labor dispute/contract
negotiations/strike ........... 4 (2) (2) 761 (2) (2) 608 (2) (2)
Material or supply shortage ..... 4 (2) (2) 603 (2) (2) 470 (2) (2)
Model changeover ................ 3 4 (2) 990 820 (2) 1,319 696 (2)
Plant or machine repair/
maintenance ................... 4 4 3 400 2,054 265 523 1,408 329
Product line discontinued ....... (2) 6 (2) (2) 1,749 (2) (2) 1,408 (2)
Disaster/safety ................... 7 (2) 3 1,056 (2) 518 1,107 (2) 431
Hazardous work environment ...... - (2) (2) - (2) (2) - (2) (2)
Natural disaster (not weather
related) ...................... (2) (2) - (2) (2) - (2) (2) -
Non-natural disaster ............ - (2) - - (2) - - (2) -
Extreme weather-related event ... (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Seasonal .......................... 391 818 297 55,465 135,811 44,102 65,101 142,458 39,367
Seasonal ........................ 387 811 297 55,201 134,900 44,102 64,587 140,678 39,367
Vacation period-school related
or otherwise .................. 4 7 - 264 911 - 514 1,780 -
Other/miscellaneous ............... 290 279 180 47,255 52,669 24,752 47,078 53,288 23,512
Other ........................... 29 22 18 3,315 2,816 4,064 3,264 3,545 3,281
Data not provided: refusal ...... 72 75 59 12,829 17,887 7,550 12,829 17,806 7,546
Data not provided: does not
know .......................... 189 182 103 31,111 31,966 13,138 30,985 31,937 12,685
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, fourth quarter, 2011 and first quarter, 2012
Total Percent of total
initial Hispanic Persons age 55
Layoff events claimants Black origin Women and over
State
IV I IV I IV I IV I IV I IV I
2011r 2012p 2011r 2012p 2011r 2012p 2011r 2012p 2011r 2012p 2011r 2012p
Total, private nonfarm (1) . 1,904 1,077 401,942 150,990 11.6 13.0 21.0 19.6 32.3 37.6 18.5 20.5
Alabama ........................ 4 (2) 1,975 (2) 41.0 38.2 1.4 8.4 44.9 52.8 15.1 22.1
Alaska ......................... 14 3 2,627 258 4.9 8.1 11.2 4.3 22.3 40.7 20.3 12.0
Arizona ........................ 15 12 3,159 1,108 11.4 7.6 32.2 37.9 45.6 41.2 13.9 18.0
Arkansas ....................... 13 4 2,227 1,168 35.4 17.7 7.5 2.6 43.6 41.2 16.1 26.6
California ..................... 512 308 145,633 55,085 7.1 7.8 34.5 33.5 37.3 39.6 16.2 18.1
Colorado ....................... 19 8 2,326 1,158 4.1 5.9 42.5 47.5 18.0 24.3 21.5 25.3
Connecticut .................... 6 7 689 666 15.5 11.4 19.4 8.3 48.8 31.5 28.0 35.0
Delaware ....................... 4 3 572 339 30.8 36.0 7.0 4.1 39.5 65.2 26.4 25.1
District of Columbia ........... 3 3 543 234 64.1 72.6 11.6 7.3 42.5 61.5 18.0 25.2
Florida ........................ 35 18 4,640 2,199 22.9 24.4 25.8 28.1 42.8 45.2 23.7 25.4
Georgia ........................ 33 17 9,126 2,292 34.5 52.4 8.6 .5 36.8 31.7 19.6 17.8
Hawaii ......................... 4 (2) 842 (2) 1.2 .9 10.1 19.6 49.6 3.4 21.0 7.2
Idaho .......................... 18 5 2,602 501 .2 .2 9.9 13.4 25.7 37.9 19.9 24.4
Illinois ....................... 156 75 25,674 9,632 12.9 20.6 22.1 14.7 24.5 36.0 16.2 17.8
Indiana ........................ 29 18 5,695 2,063 6.9 9.0 4.6 2.6 17.6 30.7 17.2 19.6
Iowa ........................... 12 - 3,313 - 3.4 - 6.4 - 21.8 - 24.0 -
Kansas ......................... 5 5 660 486 3.3 14.8 14.1 1.2 29.7 46.3 23.8 12.1
Kentucky ....................... 31 28 3,326 3,057 6.9 17.4 .1 .1 19.0 35.8 18.5 14.6
Louisiana ...................... 22 10 3,330 1,460 42.0 43.4 5.3 6.2 22.2 42.6 24.4 27.4
Maine .......................... 10 6 1,310 737 .6 5.0 .3 .5 29.7 42.2 25.3 26.5
Maryland ....................... 15 4 2,229 391 41.9 35.8 1.7 2.3 28.9 2.6 30.0 30.4
Massachusetts .................. 17 19 2,201 2,346 11.1 12.2 1.5 .9 42.9 37.7 25.2 18.0
Michigan ....................... 55 29 8,794 4,609 9.2 17.4 9.5 2.5 22.3 38.6 16.0 25.2
Minnesota ...................... 68 18 10,397 1,897 4.4 2.5 8.1 3.7 15.6 28.4 19.1 21.8
Mississippi .................... 9 8 857 787 55.9 61.5 4.0 2.9 28.0 46.0 16.3 29.1
Missouri ....................... 34 21 5,508 1,588 10.9 12.5 1.6 3.0 35.2 39.1 25.9 20.8
Montana ........................ 13 (2) 1,350 (2) .2 - 3.9 4.1 13.6 6.5 21.7 37.4
Nebraska ....................... 7 (2) 805 (2) 4.2 9.2 16.1 18.4 17.0 42.1 26.1 19.7
Nevada ......................... 34 20 7,389 2,653 9.4 9.9 32.3 29.2 45.7 41.7 21.0 21.2
New Hampshire .................. (2) 7 (2) 544 .7 1.1 1.7 13.6 6.6 20.6 28.7 27.2
New Jersey ..................... 54 37 9,838 4,964 16.8 21.3 11.1 4.3 41.0 44.3 22.8 21.7
New Mexico ..................... 10 6 1,154 550 1.5 .5 59.7 55.3 28.4 20.7 17.8 17.8
New York ....................... 133 86 27,228 11,941 11.2 15.0 13.9 19.1 32.9 37.4 21.2 25.0
North Carolina ................. 28 15 5,444 1,406 45.7 22.9 7.0 8.3 36.5 30.1 21.3 23.9
North Dakota ................... 10 (2) 1,384 (2) .7 - 4.0 1.0 7.4 12.9 22.9 33.7
Ohio ........................... 94 62 16,179 7,036 11.0 13.9 4.5 2.9 22.3 31.1 17.4 21.4
Oklahoma ....................... 9 4 995 309 13.3 4.9 6.1 8.7 34.5 33.3 18.2 24.6
Oregon ......................... 33 20 9,257 3,378 1.5 2.5 26.6 16.2 40.3 46.9 19.4 19.4
Pennsylvania ................... 81 60 15,908 6,864 8.6 7.3 3.6 4.3 20.0 31.8 21.2 28.2
Rhode Island ................... 4 - 307 - 3.3 - 11.1 - 29.6 - 25.4 -
South Carolina ................. 8 8 1,988 792 64.7 48.1 4.7 1.8 43.1 51.4 11.6 16.7
South Dakota ................... - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tennessee ...................... 24 12 3,486 1,603 12.0 16.0 .1 .1 30.1 51.7 27.6 21.5
Texas .......................... 35 26 9,662 4,003 16.8 15.0 39.2 45.4 32.5 23.9 19.4 17.4
Utah ........................... 12 5 2,019 479 1.1 2.1 14.3 14.8 10.5 15.4 16.2 10.2
Vermont ........................ 3 (2) 840 (2) 1.4 .7 .7 - 49.2 4.1 24.2 26.2
Virginia ....................... 31 15 8,055 1,678 49.0 38.6 4.7 4.1 45.7 49.8 18.2 26.5
Washington ..................... 48 23 9,510 2,857 4.2 5.1 25.9 7.7 30.8 42.5 18.8 19.2
West Virginia .................. 4 4 710 554 .3 .2 - - 6.3 17.7 10.6 25.5
Wisconsin ...................... 81 28 17,154 4,148 6.7 4.8 7.0 9.8 22.2 36.2 18.7 20.4
Wyoming ........................ (2) (2) (2) (2) 1.6 3.2 3.6 20.6 42.6 23.2 29.2 16.1
Puerto Rico .................... 12 12 5,156 3,381 .1 .1 99.3 99.6 59.4 60.2 8.0 8.8
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, 2011 and 2012
Initial claimants for
Layoff events Separations unemployment insurance
Census region and division
I IV I I IV I I IV I
2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p
United States (1) ..... 1,490 1,904 1,077 225,456 334,843 182,101 258,220 401,942 150,990
Northeast ..................... 341 311 224 46,608 38,569 30,283 56,934 58,729 28,207
New England ............... 53 43 41 10,831 6,209 5,749 7,343 5,755 4,438
Middle Atlantic ........... 288 268 183 35,777 32,360 24,534 49,591 52,974 23,769
South ......................... 304 308 181 46,057 53,842 29,918 51,648 59,165 22,607
South Atlantic ............ 181 161 87 25,162 29,135 10,683 30,163 33,307 9,885
East South Central ........ 65 68 50 10,997 10,089 10,269 10,137 9,644 5,782
West South Central ........ 58 79 44 9,898 14,618 8,966 11,348 16,214 6,940
Midwest ....................... 323 551 258 48,474 94,348 35,889 50,187 95,563 31,636
East North Central ........ 252 415 212 37,567 70,961 30,848 41,330 73,496 27,488
West North Central ........ 71 136 46 10,907 23,387 5,041 8,857 22,067 4,148
West .......................... 522 734 414 84,317 148,084 86,011 99,451 188,485 68,540
Mountain .................. 40 123 59 7,601 24,305 8,254 6,644 20,616 6,727
Pacific ................... 482 611 355 76,716 123,779 77,757 92,807 167,869 61,813
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, 2011 and 2012
Initial claimants for
Layoff events Separations unemployment insurance
State
I IV I I IV I I IV I
2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p
Total, private nonfarm (1) . 1,490 1,904 1,077 225,456 334,843 182,101 258,220 401,942 150,990
Alabama ........................ 10 4 (2) 2,590 1,763 (2) 2,901 1,975 (2)
Alaska ......................... 4 14 3 2,812 4,774 432 1,478 2,627 258
Arizona ........................ 12 15 12 2,291 2,823 1,684 2,783 3,159 1,108
Arkansas ....................... 3 13 4 1,442 1,856 670 392 2,227 1,168
California ..................... 420 512 308 66,824 101,452 70,778 79,215 145,633 55,085
Colorado ....................... 3 19 8 380 2,935 1,419 366 2,326 1,158
Connecticut .................... 10 6 7 3,544 689 666 1,341 689 666
Delaware ....................... 3 4 3 493 398 200 763 572 339
District of Columbia ........... 3 3 3 302 471 234 293 543 234
Florida ........................ 65 35 18 9,834 5,053 2,777 10,029 4,640 2,199
Georgia ........................ 22 33 17 1,770 8,538 2,292 4,129 9,126 2,292
Hawaii ......................... (2) 4 (2) (2) 975 (2) (2) 842 (2)
Idaho .......................... 5 18 5 548 3,570 529 621 2,602 501
Illinois ....................... 99 156 75 15,821 24,908 11,850 15,334 25,674 9,632
Indiana ........................ 26 29 18 2,607 3,344 2,201 3,822 5,695 2,063
Iowa ........................... 7 12 - 1,421 1,071 - 1,296 3,313 -
Kansas ......................... 12 5 5 2,202 662 627 1,607 660 486
Kentucky ....................... 20 31 28 4,063 4,037 6,685 2,651 3,326 3,057
Louisiana ...................... 16 22 10 2,681 4,802 2,314 2,956 3,330 1,460
Maine .......................... 5 10 6 1,528 1,271 1,655 751 1,310 737
Maryland ....................... 26 15 4 3,182 1,728 410 2,829 2,229 391
Massachusetts .................. 25 17 19 4,431 2,844 2,477 4,200 2,201 2,346
Michigan ....................... 29 55 29 3,351 7,415 4,779 3,916 8,794 4,609
Minnesota ...................... 21 68 18 3,105 13,023 2,495 2,844 10,397 1,897
Mississippi .................... 13 9 8 1,569 1,015 1,189 1,735 857 787
Missouri ....................... 23 34 21 3,322 6,044 1,773 2,202 5,508 1,588
Montana ........................ (2) 13 (2) (2) 1,674 (2) (2) 1,350 (2)
Nebraska ....................... 6 7 (2) 587 1,628 (2) 628 805 (2)
Nevada ......................... 5 34 20 1,650 6,546 2,641 876 7,389 2,653
New Hampshire .................. 4 (2) 7 382 (2) 807 322 (2) 544
New Jersey ..................... 64 54 37 10,283 9,819 6,474 10,058 9,838 4,964
New Mexico ..................... 5 10 6 740 2,461 1,165 729 1,154 550
New York ....................... 122 133 86 14,498 13,400 12,008 21,178 27,228 11,941
North Carolina ................. 22 28 15 2,509 3,062 1,253 4,958 5,444 1,406
North Dakota ................... (2) 10 (2) (2) 959 (2) (2) 1,384 (2)
Ohio ........................... 66 94 62 10,086 17,100 7,949 12,151 16,179 7,036
Oklahoma ....................... 3 9 4 359 1,247 553 273 995 309
Oregon ......................... 19 33 20 3,754 9,257 4,070 4,932 9,257 3,378
Pennsylvania ................... 102 81 60 10,996 9,141 6,052 18,355 15,908 6,864
Rhode Island ................... 6 4 - 555 306 - 504 307 -
South Carolina ................. 6 8 8 1,056 2,902 876 1,018 1,988 792
South Dakota ................... - - - - - - - - -
Tennessee ...................... 22 24 12 2,775 3,274 1,955 2,850 3,486 1,603
Texas .......................... 36 35 26 5,416 6,713 5,429 7,727 9,662 4,003
Utah ........................... 8 12 5 1,311 1,876 487 1,095 2,019 479
Vermont ........................ 3 3 (2) 391 804 (2) 225 840 (2)
Virginia ....................... 27 31 15 4,987 6,193 1,782 5,117 8,055 1,678
Washington ..................... 37 48 23 3,015 7,321 2,422 6,888 9,510 2,857
West Virginia .................. 7 4 4 1,029 790 859 1,027 710 554
Wisconsin ...................... 32 81 28 5,702 18,194 4,069 6,107 17,154 4,148
Wyoming ........................ (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Puerto Rico .................... 10 12 12 1,395 2,370 1,953 4,194 5,156 3,381
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
r = revised.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
Table 6. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2011 and 2012
Layoff events Separations
Industry
I IV I I IV I
2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p
Total, private nonfarm (1) ................ 50 36 29 10,789 6,513 3,726
Mining ...................................... - - - - - -
Utilities ................................... - - - - - -
Construction ................................ - (2) - - (2) -
Manufacturing ............................... 29 23 18 6,334 4,187 2,476
Food ................................... (2) 3 (2) (2) 431 (2)
Beverage and tobacco products .......... - - - - - -
Textile mills .......................... - - - - - -
Textile product mills .................. (2) - - (2) - -
Apparel ................................ - (2) - - (2) -
Leather and allied products ............ - (2) - - (2) -
Wood products .......................... (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Paper .................................. (2) - (2) (2) - (2)
Printing and related support activities (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Petroleum and coal products ............ - - - - - -
Chemicals .............................. 4 - (2) 345 - (2)
Plastics and rubber products ........... (2) (2) 4 (2) (2) 529
Nonmetallic mineral products ........... (2) - - (2) - -
Primary metals ......................... - (2) (2) - (2) (2)
Fabricated metal products .............. (2) 3 - (2) 487 -
Machinery .............................. (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Computer and electronic products ....... (2) 3 (2) (2) 610 (2)
Electrical equipment and appliances .... (2) (2) - (2) (2) -
Transportation equipment ............... 5 (2) 3 1,653 (2) 607
Furniture and related products ......... (2) (2) - (2) (2) -
Miscellaneous manufacturing ............ (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Wholesale trade ............................. 3 (2) (2) 1,422 (2) (2)
Retail trade ................................ 6 (2) (2) 1,327 (2) (2)
Transportation and warehousing .............. (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Information ................................. 3 3 (2) 510 613 (2)
Finance and insurance ....................... - (2) 5 - (2) 593
Real estate and rental and leasing .......... - (2) - - (2) -
Professional and technical services ......... (2) - - (2) - -
Management of companies and enterprises ..... - - - - - -
Administrative and waste services ........... 4 3 - 447 198 -
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, 2011 and 2012
Layoff events Separations
Reason for layoff I IV I I IV I
2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p
Total, private nonfarm (1) .... 50 36 29 10,789 6,513 3,726
Business demand .................. 10 (2) (2) 3,654 (2) (2)
Contract cancellation .......... (2) - - (2) - -
Contract completion ............ (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Domestic competition ........... - - - - - -
Excess inventory/saturated
market ....................... - - - - - -
Import competition ............. (2) - - (2) - -
Slack work/insufficient demand/
non-seasonal business slowdown 5 (2) (2) 1,341 (2) (2)
Organizational changes ........... 21 18 15 3,112 3,940 1,973
Business-ownership change ...... 3 3 3 250 998 388
Reorganization or restructuring
of company ................... 18 15 12 2,862 2,942 1,585
Financial issues ................. 12 8 9 2,890 952 1,279
Bankruptcy ..................... (2) - - (2) - -
Cost control/cost cutting/
increase profitability ....... (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Financial difficulty ........... (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Production specific .............. (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Automation/technological
advances ..................... - - (2) - - (2)
Energy related ................. - - - - - -
Governmental regulations/
intervention ................. - - - - - -
Labor dispute/contract
negotiations/strike .......... (2) - - (2) - -
Material or supply shortage .... (2) - - (2) - -
Model changeover ............... - - - - - -
Plant or machine repair/
maintenance .................. - (2) - - (2) -
Product line discontinued ...... (2) (2) - (2) (2) -
Disaster/safety .................. - - - - - -
Hazardous work environment ..... - - - - - -
Natural disaster (not weather
related) ..................... - - - - - -
Non-natural disaster ........... - - - - - -
Extreme weather-related event .. - - - - - -
Other/miscellaneous .............. (2) 5 - (2) 801 -
Other .......................... (2) (2) - (2) (2) -
Data not provided: refusal ..... - (2) - - (2) -
Data not provided: does not
know ......................... (2) (2) - (2) (2) -
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
r = revised.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
Table 8. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2011 and 2012
Layoff events Separations
Census region and division
I IV I I IV I
2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p
United States (1) . 50 36 29 10,789 6,513 3,726
Northeast ................. 15 6 7 4,332 830 764
New England ........... 7 (2) - 2,421 (2) -
Middle Atlantic ....... 8 (2) 7 1,911 (2) 764
South ..................... 14 8 7 1,610 1,207 750
South Atlantic ........ 8 (2) (2) 1,046 (2) (2)
East South Central .... (2) (2) 4 (2) (2) 433
West South Central .... (2) 3 (2) (2) 706 (2)
Midwest ................... 13 11 6 3,022 2,201 829
East North Central .... 9 8 (2) 1,782 1,876 (2)
West North Central .... 4 3 (2) 1,240 325 (2)
West ...................... 8 11 9 1,825 2,275 1,383
Mountain .............. (2) - 3 (2) - 479
Pacific ............... (2) 11 6 (2) 2,275 904
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, 2011 and 2012
Layoff events Separations
Action
I IV I I IV I
2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p
Total, private nonfarm (1) ......... 1,490 1,904 1,077 225,456 334,843 182,101
Total, excluding seasonal
and vacation events (2) .... 1,099 1,086 780 169,991 199,032 137,999
Total, movement of work (3) 50 36 29 10,789 6,513 3,726
Movement of work
actions ............. 74 56 41 (4) (4) (4)
With separations
reported ....... 34 26 33 5,951 2,183 2,219
With separations
unknown ........ 40 30 8 (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, 2011 and 2012
Actions (1) Separations
Activities
I IV I I IV I
2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p
With separations reported (2) . 34 26 33 5,951 2,183 2,219
By location
Out-of-country relocations .. 11 5 2 2,409 316 147
Within company .......... 10 5 2 2,309 316 147
Different company ....... 1 - - 100 - -
Domestic relocations ........ 22 21 31 3,395 1,867 2,072
Within company .......... 17 16 29 3,186 896 1,872
Different company ....... 5 5 2 209 971 200
Unable to assign place of
relocation ............... 1 - - 147 - -
By company
Within company .............. 28 21 31 5,642 1,212 2,019
Domestic ................ 17 16 29 3,186 896 1,872
Out of country .......... 10 5 2 2,309 316 147
Unable to assign ........ 1 - - 147 - -
Different company ........... 6 5 2 309 971 200
Domestic ................ 5 5 2 209 971 200
Out of country .......... 1 - - 100 - -
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, 2011 and 2012
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
I IV I I IV I I IV I
2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p
Anticipate a recall ..... 46.6 62.3 49.0 90.0 93.9 85.9 31.1 38.6 35.0
Timeframe
Within 6 months ......... 60.1 71.3 57.0 81.3 87.6 76.1 38.3 41.3 39.2
Within 3 months ... 42.1 30.0 40.7 52.3 29.0 49.0 31.6 31.7 33.0
Size of recall
At least half ........... 63.1 75.3 63.6 88.4 92.8 89.4 37.1 43.2 39.6
All workers ....... 24.8 31.7 21.8 37.8 42.7 36.1 11.4 11.5 8.4
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
r = revised.
p = preliminary.
Table 12. Average number of separations in extended mass layoff events by selected measures,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2011 and 2012
Average number of separations
Measure
I IV I
2011 2011r 2012p
Total, private nonfarm (1) ..... 151 176 169
Industry
Mining ............................... 87 129 108
Utilities ............................ 100 263 139
Construction ......................... 111 128 119
Manufacturing ........................ 149 185 135
Wholesale trade ...................... 128 150 109
Retail trade ......................... 192 252 228
Transportation and warehousing ....... 225 149 171
Information .......................... 208 326 306
Finance and insurance ................ 116 192 202
Real estate and rental and leasing ... 92 191 991
Professional and
technical services ................. 139 196 195
Management of companies
and enterprises .................... 119 165 147
Administrative and waste services .... 201 185 229
Educational services ................. 113 110 76
Health care and social assistance .... 114 169 142
Arts, entertainment, and recreation .. 118 173 123
Accommodation and food services ...... 155 211 135
Other services, except
public administration .............. 121 159 112
Unclassified establishments .......... - 70 83
Reason for layoff groupings
Business demand ...................... 137 176 188
Organizational changes ............... 141 198 203
Financial issues ..................... 230 179 188
Production specific .................. 147 311 150
Disaster/Safety ...................... 151 175 173
Seasonal ............................. 142 166 148
Other/miscellaneous .................. 163 189 138
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, first quarter 2012(p)
Layoff events Separations
Size
Number Percent Number Percent
Total ..................... 1,077 100.0 182,101 100.0
50-99 ................... 481 44.7 34,426 18.9
100-149 ................. 265 24.6 31,011 17.0
150-199 ................. 117 10.9 19,574 10.7
200-299 ................. 107 9.9 25,142 13.8
300-499 ................. 51 4.7 18,924 10.4
500-999 ................. 39 3.6 24,682 13.6
1,000 or more ........... 17 1.6 28,342 15.6
p = preliminary.
United States Department of Labor
