Technical information: (202) 691-6392 USDL 08-1146
http://www.bls.gov/mls/
For release: 10:00 A.M. (EDT)
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Friday, August 15, 2008
EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2008
In the second quarter of 2008, employers initiated 1,534 mass
layoff events that resulted in the separation of 299,886 workers from
their jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures
released by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Both layoff events and separations reached their highest levels for
the second quarter since 2003. The total number of layoff events was
113 higher in the second quarter of 2008 than the same period a year
earlier, and the number of associated separations increased by 21,167.
(See table A.) Second quarter 2008 layoff data are preliminary and
are subject to revision. (See the Technical Note.)
Mass layoff activity in professional and technical services and in
finance and insurance reached second quarter program highs in 2008.
Layoffs in professional and technical services were due largely to
seasonal job cuts in tax preparation services. Finance and insurance
layoffs continued to be concentrated in credit intermediation and
related activities, largely in the real estate credit industry.
Among the 7 categories of economic reasons for layoff, seasonal
reasons accounted for the highest share of events (38 percent) and
number of separations (141,562) in April-June 2008. (See table B.)
These seasonal layoffs were due, in part, to the end of the school
year. The largest over-the-year increases in the number of separations
occurred in layoff events attributed to business demand factors (+18,868)
and organizational changes (+18,356). Within these 2 categories, layoffs
because of slack work more than doubled over the year to 40,300 separa-
tions, and changes in business ownership more than quadrupled to 16,852.
Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 10 percent of all
extended mass layoff events and affected 33,695 workers during the
second quarter of 2008. Fifty-three percent of employers reporting a
layoff indicated they anticipate some type of recall, down from 57
percent a year earlier and the lowest second quarter proportion since
2003.
The national unemployment rate averaged 5.2 percent, not seasonally
adjusted, in the second quarter of 2008, up from 4.4 percent a year
earlier. Private nonfarm payroll employment, not seasonally adjusted,
decreased by 0.1 percent (-124,000) over the year.
- 2 -
Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| | |
Period | Layoff events | Separations | Initial claimants
| | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| | |
2004 | | |
| | |
January-March ........| 1,339 | 276,503 | 238,392
April-June ...........| 1,358 | 278,831 | 254,063
July-September .......| 886 | 164,608 | 148,575
October-December .....| 1,427 | 273,967 | 262,049
| | |
2005 | | |
| | |
January-March ........| 1,142 | 186,506 | 185,486
April-June ...........| 1,203 | 246,099 | 212,673
July-September........| 1,136 | 201,878 | 190,186
October-December .....| 1,400 | 250,178 | 246,188
| | |
2006 | | |
| | |
January-March ........| 963 | 183,089 | 193,510
April-June ... .......| 1,353 | 295,964 | 264,927
July-September .......| 929 | 160,254 | 161,764
October-December (r)..| 1,640 | 296,662 | 330,954
| | |
2007 | | |
| | |
January-March ........| 1,110 | 225,600 | 199,250
April-June (r) .......| 1,421 | 278,719 | 259,234
July-September (r)....| 1,018 | 160,024 | 173,077
October-December (r) .| 1,814 | 301,592 | 347,146
| | |
2008 | | |
| | |
January-March (r) ....| 1,340 | 229,870 | 256,697
April-June (p) .......| 1,534 | 299,886 | 215,808
| | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
r = revised.
p = preliminary.
Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
Manufacturing industries accounted for 22 percent of private
nonfarm extended layoff events and 19 percent of related separations
in the second quarter of 2008; a year earlier, manufacturing made up
20 percent of events and 17 percent of separations. (See table 1.)
Manufacturing had 334 extended layoff events in the second quarter
of 2008, the highest second quarter total since 2003, and 56,212
separations. The largest numbers of separations were in transporta-
tion equipment manufacturing (16,073, mostly associated with heavy
duty truck manufacturing) and food manufacturing (10,569).
Professional and technical services accounted for 5 percent of
events and 12 percent of separations in the second quarter of 2008,
the highest proportion of separations recorded in the program. These
job cuts were due largely to seasonal layoffs in the tax preparation
industry. Layoffs in transportation and warehousing accounted for 10
percent of all events and 12 percent of separations and were concen-
trated in school and employee bus transportation.
- 3 -
Table B. Distribution of extended layoff events and separations
by economic reason categories, April-June 2008p
----------------------------------------------------------------
| Layoff events | Separations
Category |---------------------------------------
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent
------------------------|---------------------------------------
| | | |
Total ................| 1,534 | 100.0 | 299,886 | 100.0
| | | |
Business demand.........| 528 | 34.4 | 70,967 | 23.7
Organizational changes .| 107 | 7.0 | 33,828 | 11.3
Financial issues .......| 104 | 6.8 | 24,853 | 8.3
Production specific ....| (1) | (1) | (1) | (1)
Disaster/safety ........| (1) | (1) | (1) | (1)
Seasonal ...............| 582 | 37.9 | 141,562 | 47.2
Other/miscellaneous ....| 195 | 12.7 | 26,211 | 8.7
| | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
p = preliminary.
Reasons for Extended Layoffs
Among the seven categories of economic reasons for extended mass
layoffs, events related to seasonal factors (seasonal and vacation
period) accounted for 38 percent of the extended layoffs and 47 per-
cent of separations during the second quarter of 2008. (See table 2.)
The numbers of workers terminated because of seasonal reasons were
highest in tax preparation, school and employee bus transportation,
skiing facilities, food service contractors, and child daycare serv-
ices.
Job losses related to business demand (contract cancellation,
contract completion, domestic competition, excess inventory, import
competition, and slack work) accounted for 34 percent of the extended
layoff events and resulted in 70,967 separations. Separations asso-
ciated with business demand reasons registered the largest over-
the-year increase (+18,868), as those related to slack work/insuffi-
cient demand/nonseasonal business slowdown more than doubled.
Organizational changes (business-ownership change and reorganiza-
tion or restructuring of company) accounted for 7 percent of events
and resulted in 33,828 separations during the second quarter of 2008,
more than double the number of separations due to organizational change
for the second quarter of 2007. This increase was due largely to busi-
ness-ownership changes in the real estate credit industry.
- 4 -
Table C. Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected
measures, second quarter 2008p
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
Action | Layoff events | Separations
| |
-----------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------
| |
Total, private nonfarm ............| 1,534 | 299,886
| |
Total, excluding seasonal | |
and vacation events (1) ......| 952 | 158,324
| |
Total events with movement | |
of work (2) ................| 60 | 10,957
| |
Movement of work actions ...| 84 | (3)
With separations reported.| 62 | 6,516
With separations unknown .| 22 | (3)
| |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers when
the reason for layoff was either seasonal work or vacation period.
2 A layoff event can involve more than one movement of work action.
3 Data are not available.
p = preliminary.
Movement of Work
In the second quarter of 2008, 60 extended mass layoffs involved
the movement of work and were associated with 10,957 separated work-
ers. (See table C.) These movements of work were to other domestic
locations or to locations outside of the U.S., and they occurred
either within the same company or to other companies. Movement of
work layoffs accounted for 6 percent of nonseasonal layoff events in
the second quarter of 2008. A year earlier, there were 65 layoff
events and 11,352 separations associated with the movement of work.
(See table 10.)
Among the 60 extended mass layoff events with reported relocation
of work in the second quarter of 2008, 63 percent were permanent
closures of worksites, which affected 6,864 workers. In comparison,
10 percent of the total extended mass layoff events reported for the
quarter involved the permanent closure of worksites affecting 33,695
workers.
Of the layoffs involving the movement of work, 67 percent of the
events and 60 percent of the laid-off workers were from manufacturing
industries during the second quarter. (See table 7.) Among all pri-
vate nonfarm extended layoffs, manufacturing accounted for 22 percent
of the events and 19 percent of separations.
While only 7 percent of the extended mass layoff events in the
total private nonfarm economy were because of organizational change,
such reasons accounted for 53 percent of layoff events associated with
work relocation and resulted in 4,798 separations during the second
quarter. (See table 8.)
- 5 -
Table D. Movement of work actions by type of separation where the
number of separations is known by employers, second quarter 2008p
--------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
Activities | Actions (1) | Separations
| |
--------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
With separations reported ......| 62 | 6,516
| |
By location | |
| |
Out-of-country relocations ..| 19 | 2,761
Within company ............| 17 | 2,537
Different company .........| 2 | 224
| |
Domestic relocations ........| 42 | 3,480
Within company ............| 40 | 3,338
Different company .........| 2 | 142
| |
Unable to assign place of | |
relocation ................ | 1 | 275
| |
By company | |
| |
Within company ..............| 57 | 5,875
Domestic ..................| 40 | 3,338
Out of country ............| 17 | 2,537
| |
Different company ...........| 5 | 641
Domestic ..................| 2 | 142
Out of country ............| 2 | 224
Unable to assign ..........| 1 | 275
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Only actions for which separations associated with the movement
of work were reported are shown.
p = preliminary.
Among the regions, the South (30 percent) and the West (29 percent)
accounted for the largest proportions of workers affected by extended
mass layoffs associated with the movement of work, followed by the
Midwest (26 percent) and the Northeast (14 percent). (See table 9.)
Some extended mass layoff events involve more than one relocation
of work action. For example, an extended mass layoff event at an
employer may involve job loss due to movement of work to both another
domestic location of the company and a location out of the country.
This would be counted as two movement of work actions. The 60 ex-
tended layoff events with movement of work for the second quarter of
2008 involved 84 identifiable relocations of work. (See table C.)
An identifiable relocation of work occurs when the employer provides
sufficient information on the new location of work and/or the number
of workers affected by the movement. Of the 84 relocations, employers
were able to provide information on the specific number of separations
associated with the movement of work component of the layoff in 62
actions involving 6,516 workers. (See table 10.)
- 6 -
Table E. Summary of employer expectations of a recall from extended
layoff, second quarter 2007-second quarter 2008
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| Percentage of events
Nature of the recall |_________________________________________
| | | | |
| II | III | IV | I | II
| 2007 | 2007 | 2007 | 2008(r)| 2008(p)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | |
Anticipate a recall .......| 57.1 | 37.9 | 55.8 | 40.1 | 52.6
| | | | |
Timeframe | | | | |
| | | | |
Within 6 months ...........| 87.5 | 83.9 | 87.9 | 69.8 | 83.6
Within 3 months .........| 59.7 | 62.7 | 34.2 | 45.4 | 56.9
| | | | |
Size | | | | |
| | | | |
At least half .............| 93.3 | 86.0 | 90.5 | 73.2 | 87.7
All workers .............| 57.2 | 45.6 | 50.5 | 28.5 | 50.8
| | | | |
------------------------------------------------------------------------
r = revised.
p = preliminary.
In the 62 actions where employers were able to provide more com-
plete separations information, 92 percent of relocations (57 out of
62) occurred within the same company. (See table D.) Sixty-eight
percent of relocations (42 out of 62) were identified as domestic
reassignments, while 31 percent (19 out of 62) involved out-of-country
moves. Domestic relocation of work--both within the company and to
other companies--affected 3,480 workers. Out-of-country relocations
were associated with the separation of 2,761 workers, 2 percent of all
nonseasonal and nonvacation extended mass layoff separations. (See
table 11.)
Recall Expectations
Fifty-three percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in
the second quarter of 2008 indicated they anticipated some type of
recall, down from 57 percent a year earlier and the lowest second
quarter proportion since 2003. (See table E.) Of those employers
expecting to recall workers, 51 percent indicated that the offer
would be extended to all displaced employees, the lowest second
quarter proportion since 2003, and 88 percent of employers antici-
pated extending the offer to at least half of the workers. Eighty-
four percent of employers expecting to recall laid-off employees
intend to do so within 6 months.
- 7 -
Table F. Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff,
second quarter 2008p
-------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
| Layoff events | Separations
Size |---------------------------------------
| | | |
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent
-------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | |
Total ..................| 1,534 | 100.0 | 299,886 | 100.0
| | | |
50-99 .....................| 716 | 46.7 | 49,735 | 16.6
100-149 ...................| 319 | 20.8 | 37,286 | 12.4
150-199 ...................| 150 | 9.8 | 25,197 | 8.4
200-299 ...................| 163 | 10.6 | 37,946 | 12.7
300-499 ...................| 94 | 6.1 | 34,664 | 11.6
500-999 ...................| 64 | 4.2 | 43,413 | 14.5
1,000 or more .............| 28 | 1.8 | 71,645 | 23.9
-------------------------------------------------------------------
p = preliminary.
Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period
(in which 97 percent of the employers expected a recall), employers
anticipated recalling laid-off workers in 25 percent of the events,
about the same as a year earlier (24 percent).
Size of Extended Layoffs
The average size of a layoff (as measured by separations per lay-
off event) in the second quarter of 2008 was 195, compared to 196 per
layoff in second quarter 2007. Layoff events continued to be concen-
trated at the lower end of the extended layoff-size spectrum, with 47
percent of events involving between 50 and 99 workers and 67 percent
of events with less than 150 workers.
Layoffs involving less than 150 workers accounted for 29 percent of
all separations during the period, the same percentage recorded a year
earlier. Separations involving 500 or more workers, while comprising
only 6 percent of the events, accounted for 38 percent of all separa-
tions in the second quarter of 2008, up from 36 percent a year earlier.
(See table F.)
Initial Claimant Characteristics
A total of 215,808 initial claimants for unemployment insurance
were associated with extended mass layoffs in the second quarter of
2008. Of these claimants, 16 percent were black, 17 percent were
Hispanic, 52 percent were women, 33 percent were 30 to 44 years of
age, and 23 percent were 55 years of age or older. (See table 3.)
Among persons in the civilian labor force for the same period, 12
percent were black, 14 percent were Hispanic, 46 percent were women,
33 percent were 30 to 44 years of age, and 18 percent were 55 years
of age or older.
- 8 -
Table G. Mass layoff events and separations, selected metropolitan areas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
| Events | Separations
Metropolitan area |-----------------|-----------------
| | | |
| II | II | II | II
| 2007(r)| 2008(p)| 2007(r)| 2008(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | |
Total, nonmetropolitan areas ...............| 195 | 179 | 32,057 | 29,857
| | | |
Total, 369 metropolitan areas ..............| 718 | 715 |107,310 |109,698
| | | |
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. .| 31 | 41 | 6,199 | 8,603
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. ..| 91 | 75 | 13,719 | 8,027
Detriot-Warren-Livonia, Mich. .............| 17 | 35 | 3,458 | 6,459
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long | | | |
Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ....................| 45 | 20 | 6,394 | 4,139
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. .....| 19 | 28 | 1,518 | 3,678
Salt Lake City, Utah ......................| 4 | 6 | 541 | 3,245
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. ..| 20 | 25 | 2,922 | 3,065
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-N.J.- | | | |
Del.-Md. .................................| 22 | 18 | 2,587 | 3,030
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla. .| 12 | 22 | 2,378 | 3,022
Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio-Ky.-Ind. ......| 3 | 7 | 1,000 | 2,509
| | | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 08-01,
November 20, 2007.
Geographic Distribution
Among the 4 census regions, the West recorded the highest number of
separations (119,388) due to extended mass layoff events in the second
quarter of 2008, followed by the Midwest (86,410). (See table 4.)
Separations in the West, which reached a program high this quarter,
occurred largely in amusements, gambling, and recreation and in credit
intermediation and related activities. The West accounted for 40 per-
cent of all separations, up from 34 percent in the same period last
year.
Among the 9 census divisions, the highest number of separations
during the second quarter of 2008 was in the Pacific (92,614). The
East North Central division had the next-highest level of separations
(72,140). (See table 4.)
California recorded the largest number of worker separations
(77,751), followed by Illinois (26,475), Ohio (19,683), and Florida
(17,216). (See table 5.) After excluding the substantial impact of
seasonal reasons, California still reported the highest number of job
cuts (59,685), the highest second quarter level since 2003.
California accounted for 26 percent of all separations in the
second quarter of 2008, up from 21 percent in 2007. Illinois ac-
counted for 9 percent of the separations in the second quarter of
2008, about the same as last year (8 percent).
Forty-seven percent of events and 37 percent of separations
(109,698) occurred in metropolitan areas in the second quarter of
2008, compared with 51 percent of events and 39 percent of separa-
tions (107,310) during the second quarter of 2007. Among the 369
metropolitan areas, Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis.,
reported the highest number of separations (8,603) in the second
quarter of 2008. Next were Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif.,
with 8,027 separations and Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich., with 6,459
separations. (See table G.) Employers located in nonmetropolitan
areas separated 29,857 workers in extended mass layoffs.
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 second quarter are preliminary and sub-
ject to revision. This release also includes revised data for pre-
vious quarters. Data are not seasonally adjusted, but survey data
suggest that there is a seasonal pattern to layoffs. Thus, compari-
sons between consecutive quarters should not be used as an indicator
of trend.
For additional information about the program, see the Technical
Note.
______________________________
The report on Mass Layoffs in July 2008 is scheduled to be released
on Friday, August 22.
- 9 -
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 con-
secutive 5-week period are contacted by the state agency to determine
whether these separations are of at least 31 days duration, and, if so,
information is obtained on the total number of persons separated and the
reasons for these separations. Employers are identified according to in-
dustry 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
Employer. Employers in the MLS program include those covered by state
unemployment insurance laws. Information on employers is obtained from the
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, which is admin-
istered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Extended layoff event. Fifty 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.
Initial claimant. A person who files any notice of unemployment to
initiate a request either for a determination of entitlement to and eligi-
bility for compensation, or for a subsequent period of unemployment within
a benefit year or period of eligibility.
Layoff. The separation of persons from an employer as part of a mass
layoff event. (See below.) Such layoffs involve both persons subject to
recall and those who are terminated by the establishment.
Mass layoff. Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment insurance
benefits from an employer beginning in a given month, regardless of dura-
tion.
Worksite closure. The complete closure of either multi-unit or single-
unit employers or the partial closure of a multi-unit employer where entire
worksites affected by layoffs are closed or planned to be closed.
- 10 -
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 col-
lected 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
Because of the employer interview component, the BLS decided to use
the MLS program as a vehicle for collecting additional information on
offshoring and outsourcing associated with job loss, by adding questions
that address movement of work. The term "moving work" means that the
company experiencing the layoff has reassigned work activities that were
performed at a worksite by the company's employees (1) to another work-
site within the company; (2) to another company under formal arrangements
at the same worksite; or (3) to another company under formal arrangements
at another worksite. The type of work activities subject to movement can
include accounting, customer service, cleaning, warehousing, etc.
"Overseas relocation" is the movement of work from within the U.S. to
locations outside of the U.S. "Overseas relocation" can occur within the
same company and involve movement of work to a different location of that
company outside of the U.S., or to a different company altogether.
"Domestic relocation" is the movement of work to other locations inside
the U.S., either within the same company or to a different company.
"Overseas relocation" and "domestic relocation" are no longer used in the
same way as they were in earlier extended mass layoff news releases. There-
fore, the data presented in this news release are not comparable to those
that were presented in earlier news releases.
Questions on movement of work and location are asked for all identified
layoff events when the reason for separation is other than "seasonal work"
or "vacation period." Seasonal and vacation layoff events were excluded
because movement of work appears unlikely.
Questions on movement of work are asked after the analyst verifies that
a layoff in fact occurred and lasted more than 30 days, and obtained the
total number of workers separated from jobs, the date the layoff began, and
the economic reason for the layoff. 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 loca-
tion(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 ar-
rangements?"
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 "overseas relocation" if the employer
responds "yes" to questions 1 and/or 2, and indicates that the location(s)
was outside of the U.S. Domestic relocation is determined if the employer
responds "yes" to questions 1 and/or 2 and indicates that the location(s)
was within the U.S.
After asking the movement of work questions, the employer interview
continues and responses are obtained for questions on recall expectations
and open/closed status of the worksite.
- 11 -
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 establishments 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 in-
ability to obtain information for all respondents, inability or unwill-
ingness of respondents to provide correct information, and errors made
in the collection or processing of the data. For the second quarter of
2008, outright refusal to participate in the employer interview accounted
for 2.6 percent of all private nonfarm events. Although included in the
total number of instances involving the movement of work, for the second
quarter, employers in 22 relocations were unable to provide the number of
separations specifically associated with the movement of work, 4 of which
involved out-of-country moves.
Other information
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.
Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2007 and 2008
Initial claimants for
Layoff events Separations unemployment insurance
Industry
II I II II I II II I II
2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p
Total, private nonfarm (1) ................. 1,421 1,340 1,534 278,719 229,870 299,886 259,234 256,697 215,808
Mining ....................................... (2) 5 3 (2) 474 627 (2) 428 335
Utilities .................................... (2) (2) 4 (2) (2) 757 (2) (2) 717
Construction ................................. 191 337 227 20,673 36,917 24,789 26,179 45,227 25,431
Manufacturing ................................ 286 422 334 48,619 84,411 56,212 55,393 105,759 47,168
Food .................................... 56 65 55 10,419 14,777 10,569 10,159 15,120 6,475
Beverage and tobacco products ........... (2) 8 (2) (2) 1,436 (2) (2) 2,003 (2)
Textile mills ........................... 10 12 (2) 1,462 1,758 (2) 1,327 8,042 (2)
Textile product mills (3) ............... (2) (2) 6 (2) (2) 720 (2) (2) 591
Apparel (3) ............................. 9 10 9 1,431 952 1,164 1,493 1,270 1,088
Leather and allied products ............. (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Wood products ........................... 10 41 29 988 5,408 3,728 926 7,583 3,621
Paper ................................... 11 7 11 1,063 595 1,359 1,036 814 1,138
Printing and related support activities . 8 6 10 1,197 584 1,230 1,004 620 1,534
Petroleum and coal products ............. (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Chemicals ............................... 10 9 11 1,314 1,289 1,430 1,107 762 1,048
Plastics and rubber products (3) ........ 11 21 17 1,347 2,963 2,651 1,198 2,590 2,328
Nonmetallic mineral products ............ 5 39 12 431 4,269 1,599 510 4,562 1,101
Primary metals .......................... 9 14 7 1,150 2,659 613 1,552 2,489 949
Fabricated metal products ............... 16 27 16 2,246 3,466 1,753 2,527 4,067 1,669
Machinery (3) ........................... 20 20 23 2,934 3,152 4,055 4,889 3,371 3,016
Computer and electronic products ........ 21 23 16 2,479 3,614 2,136 2,710 3,098 1,674
Electrical equipment and appliances ..... 5 11 9 698 1,994 2,666 889 3,192 2,001
Transportation equipment (3) ............ 54 78 74 15,225 30,245 16,073 20,456 41,582 14,528
Furniture and related products (3) ...... 19 20 17 2,551 3,183 3,136 2,129 3,199 3,249
Miscellaneous manufacturing (3) ......... 7 7 6 960 1,555 625 735 834 613
Wholesale trade .............................. 24 35 30 3,904 3,745 4,218 3,183 3,555 2,789
Retail trade ................................. 64 107 71 20,215 24,119 12,574 17,061 30,260 11,417
Transportation and warehousing ............... 172 49 155 40,230 10,260 35,381 43,915 8,512 30,085
Information .................................. 29 27 37 3,271 7,330 5,649 3,699 5,697 4,904
Finance and insurance (3) .................... 79 99 69 13,760 18,548 23,839 14,403 19,473 8,904
Real estate and rental and leasing (3) ....... 4 5 7 380 612 611 361 746 594
Professional and technical services (3) ...... 55 39 73 26,456 7,346 36,411 14,864 5,806 14,847
Management of companies and enterprises ...... 5 (2) 4 478 (2) 398 415 (2) 263
Administrative and waste services (3) ........ 77 96 99 12,504 15,642 15,791 12,410 15,799 14,818
Educational services ......................... 14 5 11 1,691 595 982 1,467 618 883
Health care and social assistance ............ 170 20 166 23,511 5,302 20,468 20,235 2,643 16,713
Arts, entertainment, and recreation .......... 45 20 51 18,804 2,504 22,126 4,831 1,833 4,528
Accommodation and food services .............. 143 63 141 36,079 10,694 32,309 32,724 8,752 25,790
Other services, except public administration . 59 5 51 7,484 524 6,279 7,504 588 5,448
Unclassified ................................. - 1 1 - 250 465 - 133 174
1 For the second quarter of 2008, 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.
3 Data beginning in 2008 are not strictly comparable to prior years due to a change in NAICS versions.
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, 2007 and 2008
Initial claimants for
Layoff events Separations unemployment insurance
Reason for layoff
II I II II I II II I II
2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p
Total, private nonfarm (1) ..... 1,421 1,340 1,534 278,719 229,870 299,886 259,234 256,697 215,808
Business demand ................... 417 600 528 52,099 91,595 70,967 63,520 124,330 71,209
Contract cancellation ........... 18 18 18 2,778 2,417 2,387 2,370 2,201 2,070
Contract completion ............. 217 227 199 27,921 28,319 25,479 32,770 36,085 25,184
Domestic competition ............ 4 - (2) 561 - (2) 519 - (2)
Excess inventory/saturated
market ........................ 6 7 (2) 892 1,559 (2) 1,072 876 (2)
Import competition .............. 18 15 11 2,704 2,796 1,433 2,880 2,558 1,071
Slack work/insufficient demand/
non-seasonal business slowdown. 154 333 291 17,243 56,504 40,300 23,909 82,610 41,808
Organizational changes ............ 79 114 107 15,472 21,674 33,828 17,161 22,606 13,586
Business-ownership change ....... 16 22 17 3,553 4,990 16,852 1,771 2,796 1,381
Reorganization or restructuring
of company .................... 63 92 90 11,919 16,684 16,976 15,390 19,810 12,205
Financial issues .................. 110 122 104 26,754 26,681 24,853 22,101 23,856 14,684
Bankruptcy ...................... 17 26 21 3,035 6,488 8,546 2,065 3,782 4,277
Cost control/cost cutting/
increase profitability ........ 44 40 46 8,387 6,509 8,752 7,743 9,833 4,904
Financial difficulty ............ 49 56 37 15,332 13,684 7,555 12,293 10,241 5,503
Production specific ............... 20 29 (2) 5,887 11,823 (2) 8,365 8,459 (2)
Automation/technological
advances ...................... (2) 4 3 (2) 579 264 (2) 557 248
Energy related .................. (2) - (2) (2) - (2) (2) - (2)
Governmental regulations/
intervention .................. 4 5 3 684 2,083 267 335 654 245
Labor dispute/contract
negotiations/strike ........... 4 5 3 1,395 5,194 704 1,657 3,026 643
Material or supply shortage ..... (2) 6 3 (2) 2,356 215 (2) 2,826 215
Model changeover ................ 4 - (2) 2,286 - (2) 4,614 - (2)
Plant or machine repair/
maintenance ................... (2) 5 (2) (2) 507 (2) (2) 416 (2)
Product line discontinued ....... (2) 4 (2) (2) 1,104 (2) (2) 980 (2)
Disaster/safety ................... 3 8 (2) 306 1,979 (2) 248 1,891 (2)
Hazardous work environment ...... - (2) - - (2) - - (2) -
Natural disaster (not weather
related) ...................... - - (2) - - (2) - - (2)
Non-natural disaster ............ 3 (2) - 306 (2) - 248 (2) -
Extreme weather-related event ... - 5 (2) - 986 (2) - 1,188 (2)
Seasonal .......................... 649 246 582 154,876 43,107 141,562 124,628 42,230 88,743
Seasonal ........................ 349 246 346 98,808 43,107 103,207 66,396 42,230 54,178
Vacation period-school related
or otherwise .................. 300 - 236 56,068 - 38,355 58,232 - 34,565
Other/miscellaneous ............... 143 221 195 23,325 33,011 26,211 23,211 33,325 25,291
Other ........................... 11 23 17 1,776 3,466 2,957 1,809 4,685 2,498
Data not provided: refusal ...... 53 63 42 10,888 12,282 6,715 10,843 11,902 6,476
Data not provided: does not
know .......................... 79 135 136 10,661 17,263 16,539 10,559 16,738 16,317
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
r =revised.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
Table 3. State and selected claimant characteristics: Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, first and second quarters, 2008
Total Percent of total
initial Hispanic Persons age 55
Layoff events claimants Black origin Women and over
State
I II I II I II I II I II I II
2008r 2008p 2008r 2008p 2008r 2008p 2008r 2008p 2008r 2008p 2008r 2008p
Total, private nonfarm (1) . 1,340 1,534 256,697 215,808 14.8 15.9 18.1 17.1 36.1 51.9 18.1 22.7
Alabama ........................ 13 20 2,825 3,470 57.2 48.8 4.6 2.1 49.8 61.7 17.3 22.2
Alaska ......................... (2) 6 (2) 1,110 8.8 5.0 20.9 17.4 29.3 43.9 26.5 27.6
Arizona ........................ 5 12 607 1,546 10.4 1.8 22.2 72.5 38.2 57.2 9.6 21.9
Arkansas ....................... 10 6 3,194 521 34.7 34.4 9.6 2.3 51.9 88.7 11.3 19.8
California ..................... 467 437 77,332 50,319 9.1 9.5 38.9 38.3 36.4 40.9 13.9 16.1
Colorado ....................... 9 12 1,480 1,493 7.0 6.3 18.3 30.5 35.2 65.0 16.2 22.3
Connecticut .................... 3 22 320 3,205 10.9 14.8 8.4 12.1 45.3 60.9 29.4 28.4
Delaware ....................... - 4 - 215 - 43.3 - 9.3 - 83.3 - 34.9
District of Columbia ........... 3 4 185 337 48.1 86.9 16.8 6.2 36.2 68.0 25.9 18.1
Florida ........................ 60 109 8,531 13,605 13.9 17.8 29.6 31.8 37.7 48.8 22.5 24.3
Georgia ........................ 19 14 8,376 1,266 21.7 49.8 11.4 3.1 46.5 46.8 16.6 18.8
Hawaii ......................... 6 9 659 2,461 7.9 3.2 13.1 7.2 12.1 42.1 10.9 18.1
Idaho .......................... 8 9 940 769 .2 .1 14.3 4.8 27.7 35.8 17.4 20.8
Illinois ....................... 98 110 17,166 21,486 25.4 23.0 15.2 10.3 39.1 58.4 15.1 21.2
Indiana ........................ 26 44 7,397 6,399 8.0 9.4 4.4 3.0 32.5 48.1 17.6 22.5
Iowa ........................... 10 8 3,445 1,077 2.7 11.6 2.0 1.6 37.2 61.2 17.3 24.8
Kansas ......................... 7 15 1,619 1,249 15.3 16.4 5.1 1.8 43.5 62.7 19.1 23.2
Kentucky ....................... 18 19 1,886 1,790 12.0 5.1 .3 - 27.4 25.1 17.4 22.4
Louisiana ...................... 11 18 2,641 2,024 45.7 70.6 3.0 1.3 28.7 81.1 24.7 22.6
Maine .......................... (2) 5 (2) 569 2.8 1.1 .5 .2 53.5 36.2 22.0 25.3
Maryland ....................... 10 (2) 1,206 (2) 26.7 40.7 4.1 .4 26.0 54.2 27.7 18.3
Massachusetts .................. 18 23 2,633 3,134 12.7 14.2 1.4 2.3 45.3 61.7 16.3 31.0
Michigan ....................... 57 74 20,781 12,061 19.3 18.8 2.5 3.5 26.2 58.3 25.0 19.5
Minnesota ...................... 16 22 1,694 2,486 4.5 9.5 3.2 6.4 26.4 46.6 15.2 23.0
Mississippi .................... 9 12 796 1,115 62.6 56.4 .9 1.6 32.4 44.8 24.7 15.7
Missouri ....................... 26 34 4,650 5,721 19.2 19.0 .6 .3 35.4 71.3 22.5 28.3
Montana ........................ 5 9 440 653 .5 - 5.0 3.5 14.5 54.8 20.9 31.4
Nebraska ....................... 4 5 565 706 .4 10.9 19.3 6.5 21.2 33.4 21.2 32.3
Nevada ......................... 11 13 1,791 1,619 5.8 11.2 29.6 28.4 40.6 48.1 21.0 23.1
New Hampshire .................. (2) 4 (2) 337 1.3 - 3.3 .6 41.8 45.7 10.5 34.4
New Jersey ..................... 33 37 5,326 8,485 26.7 17.7 8.8 5.8 49.1 66.2 21.3 33.9
New Mexico ..................... 5 8 799 613 2.3 2.6 33.9 40.0 23.9 34.1 33.8 20.6
New York ....................... 78 21 12,880 3,197 11.9 11.0 9.5 10.7 30.9 57.0 18.5 36.0
North Carolina ................. 13 10 2,669 2,302 61.4 34.9 5.3 2.5 50.2 31.0 25.4 15.4
North Dakota ................... - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ohio ........................... 64 81 16,669 12,250 17.0 14.3 3.0 3.0 32.1 51.9 19.4 20.8
Oklahoma ....................... (2) 4 (2) 550 15.6 8.9 2.8 2.0 42.6 42.5 4.3 15.8
Oregon ......................... 11 23 3,658 4,712 .7 1.5 23.9 10.4 34.6 56.1 20.3 28.8
Pennsylvania ................... 75 95 16,182 17,335 6.7 9.5 4.9 3.6 35.3 53.0 23.7 32.9
Rhode Island ................... 4 9 345 1,084 1.2 5.5 5.8 18.5 50.4 80.1 36.2 36.3
South Carolina ................. 9 14 978 1,661 50.7 70.2 .1 .8 53.9 69.3 7.2 9.8
South Dakota ................... (2) (2) (2) (2) 4.2 - 16.8 1.0 65.8 86.0 15.3 47.0
Tennessee ...................... 16 22 2,844 2,728 23.9 29.5 - - 50.3 57.7 18.9 38.7
Texas .......................... 22 51 4,363 7,654 17.8 16.2 39.7 49.0 30.3 46.1 18.2 15.0
Utah ........................... 5 9 608 1,213 3.6 1.6 22.5 15.7 52.0 41.5 10.7 10.1
Vermont ........................ (2) 5 (2) 731 1.0 1.0 - .3 33.2 37.2 20.6 18.7
Virginia ....................... 14 14 3,881 1,527 22.1 55.7 1.6 4.8 38.5 74.7 21.5 20.9
Washington ..................... 21 6 3,072 694 5.7 5.2 9.8 13.4 37.8 73.8 16.3 29.8
West Virginia .................. 4 7 712 684 .1 .7 .1 - 38.9 36.1 18.0 12.3
Wisconsin ...................... 27 35 7,102 5,198 4.8 11.6 10.1 3.5 36.4 59.9 18.9 33.5
Wyoming ........................ (2) (2) (2) (2) - - 1.3 - 32.9 27.0 25.3 2.7
Puerto Rico .................... 10 12 2,315 2,590 - .1 97.6 98.1 57.5 58.9 7.3 9.0
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
3 Data are not available.
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, 2007 and 2008
Initial claimants for
Layoff events Separations unemployment insurance
Census region and division
II I II II I II II I II
2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p
United States (1) ..... 1,421 1,340 1,534 278,719 229,870 299,886 259,234 256,697 215,808
Northeast ..................... 293 217 221 59,017 32,465 40,813 66,551 38,511 38,077
New England ............... 63 31 68 13,777 4,839 13,692 10,036 4,123 9,060
Middle Atlantic ........... 230 186 153 45,240 27,626 27,121 56,515 34,388 29,017
South ......................... 303 232 330 48,599 42,117 53,275 45,673 45,228 41,722
South Atlantic ............ 170 132 178 27,930 23,492 28,895 25,125 26,538 21,870
East South Central ........ 63 56 73 10,293 10,277 10,565 10,270 8,351 9,103
West South Central ........ 70 44 79 10,376 8,348 13,815 10,278 10,339 10,749
Midwest ....................... 363 336 429 75,305 73,442 86,410 74,665 81,278 68,733
East North Central ........ 270 272 344 58,772 61,305 72,140 57,026 69,115 57,394
West North Central ........ 93 64 85 16,533 12,137 14,270 17,639 12,163 11,339
West .......................... 462 555 554 95,798 81,846 119,388 72,345 91,680 67,276
Mountain .................. 65 49 73 22,257 7,547 26,774 7,482 6,744 7,980
Pacific ................... 397 506 481 73,541 74,299 92,614 64,863 84,936 59,296
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, 2007 and 2008
Initial claimants for
Layoff events Separations unemployment insurance
State
II I II II I II II I II
2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p
Total, private nonfarm (1) . 1,421 1,340 1,534 278,719 229,870 299,886 259,234 256,697 215,808
Alabama ........................ 14 13 20 2,739 2,182 3,295 2,919 2,825 3,470
Alaska ......................... 7 (2) 6 3,953 (2) 3,707 1,328 (2) 1,110
Arizona ........................ 19 5 12 5,141 474 2,295 2,675 607 1,546
Arkansas ....................... 14 10 6 2,233 1,809 521 1,875 3,194 521
California ..................... 340 467 437 59,345 66,895 77,751 53,458 77,332 50,319
Colorado ....................... 13 9 12 13,630 2,141 14,347 1,451 1,480 1,493
Connecticut .................... 17 3 22 5,489 296 5,008 3,449 320 3,205
Delaware ....................... 3 - 4 252 - 239 270 - 215
District of Columbia ........... (2) 3 4 (2) 340 337 (2) 185 337
Florida ........................ 70 60 109 12,996 10,358 17,216 10,562 8,531 13,605
Georgia ........................ 13 19 14 1,718 2,112 1,384 1,895 8,376 1,266
Hawaii ......................... 7 6 9 1,396 2,019 4,300 1,076 659 2,461
Idaho .......................... 5 8 9 543 783 829 462 940 769
Illinois ....................... 89 98 110 22,131 17,736 26,475 20,615 17,166 21,486
Indiana ........................ 24 26 44 3,006 4,396 8,125 3,714 7,397 6,399
Iowa ........................... 4 10 8 358 1,458 952 509 3,445 1,077
Kansas ......................... 13 7 15 1,938 1,389 2,043 1,241 1,619 1,249
Kentucky ....................... 17 18 19 2,873 2,049 2,034 3,120 1,886 1,790
Louisiana ...................... 19 11 18 2,493 2,100 2,590 2,152 2,641 2,024
Maine .......................... 9 (2) 5 1,767 (2) 1,739 825 (2) 569
Maryland ....................... 29 10 (2) 3,153 1,255 (2) 3,835 1,206 (2)
Massachusetts .................. 13 18 23 2,426 2,771 4,545 1,666 2,633 3,134
Michigan ....................... 51 57 74 17,445 14,915 12,246 15,850 20,781 12,061
Minnesota ...................... 28 16 22 3,714 2,107 3,399 3,600 1,694 2,486
Mississippi .................... 11 9 12 1,207 2,207 1,280 995 796 1,115
Missouri ....................... 42 26 34 9,564 6,326 6,923 11,570 4,650 5,721
Montana ........................ 9 5 9 675 442 670 713 440 653
Nebraska ....................... 3 4 5 550 607 745 421 565 706
Nevada ......................... 6 11 13 768 1,708 2,646 731 1,791 1,619
New Hampshire .................. 6 (2) 4 779 (2) 426 779 (2) 337
New Jersey ..................... 69 33 37 21,452 6,498 12,308 16,263 5,326 8,485
New Mexico ..................... 6 5 8 705 649 624 705 799 613
New York ....................... 77 78 21 11,049 13,084 4,380 18,145 12,880 3,197
North Carolina ................. 15 13 10 3,279 2,113 4,384 2,561 2,669 2,302
North Dakota ................... (2) - - (2) - - (2) - -
Ohio ........................... 78 64 81 12,050 18,236 19,683 12,613 16,669 12,250
Oklahoma ....................... (2) (2) 4 (2) (2) 923 (2) (2) 550
Oregon ......................... 22 11 23 5,798 1,913 6,157 5,856 3,658 4,712
Pennsylvania ................... 84 75 95 12,739 8,044 10,433 22,107 16,182 17,335
Rhode Island ................... 9 4 9 1,829 363 1,237 1,830 345 1,084
South Carolina ................. 9 9 14 986 1,125 2,425 1,102 978 1,661
South Dakota ................... (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Tennessee ...................... 21 16 22 3,474 3,839 3,956 3,236 2,844 2,728
Texas .......................... 36 22 51 5,490 4,298 9,781 6,186 4,363 7,654
Utah ........................... 6 5 9 724 1,150 4,563 674 608 1,213
Vermont ........................ 9 (2) 5 1,487 (2) 737 1,487 (2) 731
Virginia ....................... 24 14 14 4,041 5,384 1,830 4,053 3,881 1,527
Washington ..................... 21 21 6 3,049 2,772 699 3,145 3,072 694
West Virginia .................. 5 4 7 1,313 805 824 655 712 684
Wisconsin ...................... 28 27 35 4,140 6,022 5,611 4,234 7,102 5,198
Wyoming ........................ (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Puerto Rico .................... 16 10 12 2,035 659 810 4,316 2,315 2,590
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. Information technology-producing industries: Extended mass layoff events and separations, private nonfarm sector,
2001-2008
Information technology-producing industries (1)
Total extended
Year mass layoffs
Computer Software and Communications Communications
hardware (2) computer services (3) equipment (4) services (5)
Layoff Layoff Layoff Layoff Layoff
events Separations events Separations events Separations events Separations events Separations
2001
First quarter .... 1,546 304,171 91 20,991 32 5,558 22 4,441 13 3,317
Second quarter ... 1,828 430,499 161 38,986 69 9,563 36 12,109 15 3,519
Third quarter .... 1,629 330,391 142 24,813 45 5,724 39 8,200 21 5,350
Fourth quarter ... 2,372 459,771 109 17,797 50 7,667 43 10,124 38 9,889
Total ........ 7,375 1,524,832 503 102,587 196 28,512 140 34,874 87 22,075
2002
First quarter .... 1,611 299,266 84 18,574 34 3,770 32 8,192 28 4,346
Second quarter ... 1,624 344,606 69 11,764 39 4,326 27 4,870 34 5,643
Third quarter .... 1,186 255,152 76 15,017 36 4,359 34 6,529 33 5,496
Fourth quarter ... 1,916 373,307 74 14,298 26 5,709 19 3,645 31 7,643
Total ........ 6,337 1,272,331 303 59,653 135 18,164 112 23,236 126 23,128
2003
First quarter .... 1,502 286,947 71 11,900 27 5,097 23 4,402 26 4,513
Second quarter ... 1,799 368,273 54 9,221 19 2,741 21 3,098 22 4,169
Third quarter .... 1,190 236,333 46 6,488 24 4,189 9 1,289 8 842
Fourth quarter ... 1,690 325,333 25 5,080 8 1,167 9 1,619 23 5,774
Total ........ 6,181 1,216,886 196 32,689 78 13,194 62 10,408 79 15,298
2004
First quarter .... 1,339 276,503 27 3,222 13 2,786 8 894 14 2,832
Second quarter ... 1,358 278,831 18 2,959 15 2,775 - - 15 3,250
Third quarter .... 886 164,608 13 2,288 14 1,467 4 430 11 3,792
Fourth quarter ... 1,427 273,967 18 3,055 10 1,547 4 563 20 3,143
Total ........ 5,010 993,909 76 11,524 52 8,575 16 1,887 60 13,017
2005
First quarter .... 1,142 186,506 13 1,526 9 2,355 4 439 12 2,400
Second quarter ... 1,203 246,099 20 2,973 13 1,558 4 842 7 1,331
Third quarter .... 1,136 201,878 23 3,307 7 1,034 (6) (6) 3 304
Fourth quarter ... 1,400 250,178 19 4,122 3 720 (6) (6) 5 845
Total ........ 4,881 884,661 75 11,928 32 5,667 13 3,000 27 4,880
2006
First quarter .... 963 183,089 12 1,159 6 744 (6) (6) (6) (6)
Second quarter ... 1,353 295,964 10 3,294 7 1,564 8 988 (6) (6)
Third quarter .... 929 160,254 14 3,544 6 487 (6) (6) 8 1,222
Fourth quarter ... 1,640 296,662 12 4,039 4 708 5 1,482 8 947
Total ........ 4,885 935,969 48 12,036 23 3,503 19 3,753 23 3,406
2007
First quarter .... 1,110 225,600 19 3,007 5 875 3 415 5 885
Second quarter ... 1,421 278,719 22 3,634 4 413 5 433 3 315
Third quarter(r) . 1,018 160,024 22 5,279 6 1,030 4 403 3 276
Fourth quarter(r) 1,814 301,592 9 1,459 4 473 3 381 7 870
Total(r) ..... 5,363 965,935 72 13,379 19 2,791 15 1,632 18 2,346
2008
First quarter(r) . 1,340 229,870 19 3,040 9 987 3 330 3 329
Second quarter(p). 1,534 299,886 19 3,181 5 618 (6) (6) 13 1,673
1 Information technology-producing industries are defined in Digital Economy 2003, (U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and
Statistics Administration, 2003). In the MLS program, however, computer and software merchant wholesalers and computer and
software stores are only included in the computer hardware industry.
2 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
semiconductor machinery manufacturing; office machinery manufacturing; electronic computer manufacturing; computer storage device
manufacturing; computer terminal manufacturing; other computer peripheral equipment mfg.; electron tube manufacturing; bare
printed circuit board manufacturing; semiconductors and related device mfg.; electronic capacitor manufacturing; electronic
resistor manufacturing; electronic coils, transformers, and inductors; electronic connector manufacturing; printed circuit
assembly manufacturing; other electronic component manufacturing; industrial process variable instruments; electricity and signal
testing instruments; analytical laboratory instrument mfg.; computer and software merchant wholesalers; and computer and software
stores.
3 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
software publishers; internet service providers; web search portals; data processing and related services; computer and software
merchant wholesalers; computer and software stores; custom computer programming services; computer systems design services;
computer facilities management services; other computer related services; office equipment rental and leasing; and computer and
office machine repair.
4 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
telephone apparatus manufacturing; audio and video equipment manufacturing; broadcast and wireless communications equip.; fiber
optic cable manufacturing; software reproducing; and magnetic and optical recording media mfg.
5 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
wired telecommunications carriers; cellular and other wireless carriers; telecommunications resellers; cable and other program
distribution; satellite telecommunications; other telecommunications; and communication equipment repair.
6 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
r = revised.
p = preliminary.
Table 7. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2007 and 2008
Layoff events Separations
Industry
II I II II I II
2007 2008r 2008p 2007 2008r 2008p
Total, private nonfarm (1) ................ 65 59 60 11,352 13,324 10,957
Mining ...................................... - - - - - -
Utilities ................................... - - - - - -
Construction ................................ - - (2) - - (2)
Manufacturing ............................... 48 34 40 8,820 6,652 6,575
Food ................................... 5 (2) 4 1,329 (2) 843
Beverage and tobacco products .......... (2) (2) - (2) (2) -
Textile mills .......................... (2) (2) - (2) (2) -
Textile product mills (3) .............. - - (2) - - (2)
Apparel (3) ............................ 3 (2) (2) 440 (2) (2)
Leather and allied products ............ - (2) - - (2) -
Wood products .......................... - 3 - - 390 -
Paper .................................. (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Printing and related support activities (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Petroleum and coal products ............ - - - - - -
Chemicals .............................. (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Plastics and rubber products (3) ....... 5 (2) (2) 542 (2) (2)
Nonmetallic mineral products ........... - - (2) - - (2)
Primary metals ......................... 3 (2) (2) 495 (2) (2)
Fabricated metal products .............. 4 (2) 3 1,100 (2) 338
Machinery (3) .......................... (2) - 3 (2) - 366
Computer and electronic products ....... 4 5 (2) 457 1,195 (2)
Electrical equipment and appliances .... (2) (2) 4 (2) (2) 1,332
Transportation equipment (3) ........... 7 8 8 1,830 1,190 1,013
Furniture and related products (3) ..... 3 (2) (2) 612 (2) (2)
Miscellaneous manufacturing (3) ........ 4 - - 576 - -
Wholesale trade ............................. (2) 3 4 (2) 210 578
Retail trade ................................ (2) 4 5 (2) 1,166 454
Transportation and warehousing .............. (2) 3 3 (2) 1,734 1,556
Information ................................. (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Finance and insurance (3) ................... 4 8 (2) 590 2,120 (2)
Real estate and rental and leasing (3) ...... - - - - - -
Professional and technical services (3) ..... - (2) (2) - (2) (2)
Management of companies and enterprises ..... - - - - - -
Administrative and waste services (3) ....... (2) (2) 4 (2) (2) 1,091
Educational services ........................ - - - - - -
Health care and social assistance ........... 3 (2) - 258 (2) -
Arts, entertainment, and recreation ......... (2) - - (2) - -
Accommodation and food services ............. - - - - - -
Other services, except public administration - - - - - -
Unclassified ................................ - - - - - -
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
3 Data beginning in 2008 are not strictly comparable to prior years due to a change in NAICS versions.
r = revised.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
Table 8. Reason for layoff: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2007 and 2008
Layoff events Separations
Reason for layoff II I II II I II
2007 2008r 2008p 2007 2008r 2008p
Total, private nonfarm (1) .... 65 59 60 11,352 13,324 10,957
Business demand .................. (2) 16 15 (2) 4,912 4,058
Contract cancellation .......... - - - - - -
Contract completion ............ (2) - - (2) - -
Domestic competition ........... (2) - (2) (2) - (2)
Excess inventory/saturated
market ....................... (2) - (2) (2) - (2)
Import competition ............. 7 7 7 1,236 1,724 842
Slack work/insufficient demand/
non-seasonal business slowdown 4 9 (2) 1,005 3,188 (2)
Organizational changes ........... 29 22 32 4,258 3,654 4,798
Business-ownership change ...... (2) 6 3 (2) 1,656 634
Reorganization or restructuring
of company ................... (2) 16 29 (2) 1,998 4,164
Financial issues ................. 20 17 10 4,141 3,704 1,487
Bankruptcy ..................... (2) - - (2) - -
Cost control/cost cutting/
increase profitability ....... 15 10 (2) 3,275 1,706 (2)
Financial difficulty ........... (2) 7 (2) (2) 1,998 (2)
Production specific .............. - (2) (2) - (2) (2)
Automation/technological
advances ..................... - - - - - -
Energy related ................. - - - - - -
Governmental regulations/
intervention ................. - - - - - -
Labor dispute/contract
negotiations/strike .......... - - - - - -
Material or supply shortage .... - (2) - - (2) -
Model changeover ............... - - - - - -
Plant or machine repair/
maintenance .................. - - - - - -
Product line discontinued ...... - - (2) - - (2)
Disaster/safety .................. (2) (2) - (2) (2) -
Hazardous work environment ..... - - - - - -
Natural disaster (not weather
related) ..................... - - - - - -
Non-natural disaster ........... (2) (2) - (2) (2) -
Extreme weather-related event .. - - - - - -
Other/miscellaneous .............. (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Other .......................... (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Data not provided: refusal ..... - - (2) - - (2)
Data not provided: does not
know ......................... - - - - - -
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 9. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the
movement of work, selected quarters, 2007 and 2008
Layoff events Separations
Census region and division
II I II II I II
2007 2008r 2008p 2007 2008r 2008p
United States (1) . 65 59 60 11,352 13,324 10,957
Northeast ................. 13 6 13 1,808 1,381 1,557
New England ........... (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Middle Atlantic ....... (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
South ..................... 25 26 19 4,482 4,878 3,293
South Atlantic ........ 10 8 11 1,909 947 1,832
East South Central .... 8 11 5 949 2,237 734
West South Central .... 7 7 3 1,624 1,694 727
Midwest ................... 17 14 16 2,716 3,388 2,899
East North Central .... 12 11 (2) 1,810 2,378 (2)
West North Central .... 5 3 (2) 906 1,010 (2)
West ...................... 10 13 12 2,346 3,677 3,208
Mountain .............. (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Pacific ............... (2) (2) (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: 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 10. Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, selected quarters, 2007 and 2008
Layoff events Separations
Action
II I II II I II
2007 2008r 2008p 2007 2008r 2008p
Total, private nonfarm (1) ......... 1,421 1,340 1,534 278,719 229,870 299,886
Total, excluding seasonal
and vacation events (2) .... 772 1,094 952 123,843 186,763 158,324
Total, movement of work (3) . 65 59 60 11,352 13,324 10,957
Movement of work
actions ............. 89 76 84 (4) (4) (4)
With separations
reported ....... 66 41 62 7,401 6,180 6,516
With separations
unknown ........ 23 35 22 (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 11. Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by
employers, selected quarters, 2007 and 2008
Actions (1) Separations
Activities
II I II II I II
2007 2008r 2008p 2007 2008r 2008p
With separations reported (2) . 66 41 62 7,401 6,180 6,516
By location
Out-of-country relocations .. 23 15 19 3,537 1,901 2,761
Within company .......... 22 12 17 3,387 1,602 2,537
Different company ....... 1 3 2 150 299 224
Domestic relocations ........ 43 26 42 3,864 4,279 3,480
Within company .......... 34 24 40 3,254 3,364 3,338
Different company ....... 9 2 2 610 915 142
Unable to assign place of
relocation ............... - - 1 - - 275
By company
Within company .............. 56 36 57 6,641 4,966 5,875
Domestic ................ 34 24 40 3,254 3,364 3,338
Out of country .......... 22 12 17 3,387 1,602 2,537
Unable to assign ........ - - - - - -
Different company ........... 10 5 5 760 1,214 641
Domestic ................ 9 2 2 610 915 142
Out of country .......... 1 3 2 150 299 224
Unable to assign ........ - - 1 - - 275
1 Only actions for which separations associated with the movement of work were reported are
shown.
2 See footnote 1, table 1.
r = revised.
p = preliminary.
Note: Dash represents zero.
United States Department of Labor
