Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov:80/newsrels.htm Technical information: (202) 606-6396 USDL 97-187 Media contact: 606-5902 For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT Wednesday, June 11, 1997 MASS LAYOFFS IN MARCH 1997 (ALSO INCLUDES DATA FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 1997) In March 1997, there were 697 mass layoff actions by employers as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 76,704 persons. Both layoff events and the number of workers involved were lower than in March 1996. (See table 1.) To bring the publication of monthly mass layoff data current, this release contains monthly data for January, February, and March 1997 in the attached tables, as well as an analysis of March data. The monthly series in this release covers mass layoffs of 50 or more workers beginning in a given month, regardless of duration. Information on the length of the layoff is obtained later for the quarterly release, which includes only mass layoffs lasting more than 30 days (referred to as "extended mass layoffs"), along with more information on the establishment classification and location and on the demographics of the laid-off workers. See the Technical Note for more detailed definitions. Because the monthly figures include short-term layoffs of 30 days or less, the sum of the figures for the three months in a quarter will be higher than the quarterly figure for mass layoffs of more than 30 days. For example, the sum of all mass layoffs in October, November, and December of 1996 was 4,480 layoff events involving 459,288 initial claimants for unemployment insurance. The fourth-quarter 1996 figures for mass layoffs lasting more than 30 days, however, were 1,802 events and 259,876 claimants. Two-fifths (40 percent) of all mass layoffs in the October- December period lasted for more than a month. In all quarters for which data are available, this ratio of "extended" mass layoffs to all mass layoffs varied from about 34 to 46 percent. (See table 1.) State Distribution In the month of March, the states with the largest numbers of initial claims filed in mass layoff events were: California 29,668 Illinois 5,321 Wisconsin 4,634 Texas 3,965 These four states accounted for over half of the total number of layoff events and initial claims reported. California alone accounted for 68 percent of the initial claims and 72 percent of the events. (See table 2.) Layoffs in this group of states were concentrated in business services (mostly in help supply), motion pictures (mainly in motion picture and video production), and transportation equipment manufacturing (largely in motor vehicles and car bodies). From March 1996 to March 1997, 28 states and the District of Columbia reported fewer initial claims stemming from mass layoff events. Michigan reported the sharpest decline in initial claims. California reported the largest over-the-year rise, primarily in motion pictures and business services. States with the largest over-the-year changes in initial claims were: Increases Decreases California 6,663 Michigan -13,259 Oregon 1,395 Indiana -12,874 Texas 828 New Jersey -3,419 Illinois 803 Ohio -2,844 Idaho 773 Kansas -2,595 Industry Distribution In March 1997, manufacturing industries accounted for two-fifths of all initial claims filed and one-third of all mass layoff events. (See table 3.) Within manufacturing, more initial claims were filed in durable goods industries than in nondurable goods industries. Manufacturing industries which had the largest numbers of initial claimants were: Transportation equipment 9,156 Food and kindred products 7,093 Textile mill products 2,200 Lumber and wood products 2,017 Apparel and other textile products 2,015 Within nonmanufacturing industries (including agriculture), services accounted for 30 percent of the layoff events and 38 percent of initial claims (primarily in business services, particularly help supply). Retail trade (mostly eating places) contributed an additional 22 percent to each measure. Nonmanufacturing industries with the largest numbers of initial claims filed in mass layoff events were: Business services 7,806 Motion pictures 5,241 Eating and drinking places 4,533 Local and suburban passenger transit 3,883 Compared with March 1996, the largest changes in initial claims occurred in the following industries: Increases Local and suburban passenger transit 3,079 Motion pictures 2,994 Eating and drinking places 2,061 Decreases Transportation equipment -10,596 Electronic equipment -7,655 Fabricated metal products -3,074 Technical Note The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state program which uses a standardized, automated approach to identifying, describing, and tracking the effects of major job cutbacks, using data from each state’s unemployment insurance database. Each month, states report on establishments which have at least 50 initial claims filed against them during a consecutive 5-week period. These establishments then are contacted by the state agency to determine whether these separations lasted 31 days or longer, and, if so, other information concerning the layoff is collected. States report on layoffs lasting more than one month on a quarterly basis. Monthly reports from the MLS program began with data for September 1996. The program resumed operations in April 1995 after it had been terminated in November 1992 due to lack of funding. Previously, however, monthly layoff statistics were not published. Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-606-STAT; TDD phone: 202-606-5897; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-326-2577. Definitions Initial claimant. A person who files any notice of unemployment to initiate a request either for a determination of entitlement to and eligibility for compensation, or for a subsequent period of unemployment within a benefit year or period of eligibility. Mass layoff event. Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits filed against an establishment during a 5-week period, regardless of duration. Table 1. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, October 1995 to March 1997 Extended mass layoffs lasting Total mass layoffs more than 30 days Date Event realization Events Initial Events Initial rate (1) claimants claimants 1995 October................ 1,050 110,134 November............... 1,248 130,092 December............... 2,010 209,060 Fourth quarter..... 4,308 449,286 1,716 r296,675 39.8 January................ 1,666 167,834 February............... 918 74,984 March.................. 975 121,046 First quarter...... 3,559 363,864 1,354 r216,048 38.0 1996 April.................. 1,010 110,873 May.................... 913 78,045 June................... 893 77,287 Second quarter..... 2,816 266,205 r1,307 r191,461 46.4 July................... 1,503 189,096 August................. 869 76,462 September.............. 506 41,646 Third quarter...... 2,878 307,204 r985 r177,136 r34.2 October................ 1,277 131,010 November............... 1,402 126,795 December............... 1,801 201,483 Fourth quarter (2). 4,480 459,288 p1,802 p259,876 p40.2 1997 January (3)............ 1,792 180,141 February (3)........... 665 56,102 March (3).............. 697 76,704 1 The event realization rate is the percentage of total mass layoff events lasting more than 30 days. 2 Data for layoffs lasting more than 30 days were reported by the District of Columbia and all states, except New York. 3 Data for total mass layoffs were reported by the District of Columbia and all states, except New York and Pennsylvania. p = preliminary. r = revised. Table 2. State distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claims for unemployment insurance, March 1996 and March 1997 Mass layoff events Initial claimants for State unemployment insurance March March March March 1996 1997 1996 1997 Total (1).................. 975 697 121,046 76,704 Alabama ...................... 5 (2) 2,047 (2) Alaska ....................... - 3 - 218 Arizona ...................... 19 13 1,784 955 Arkansas ..................... 7 5 510 1,272 California ................... 265 285 23,005 29,668 Colorado ..................... 6 (2) 484 (2) Connecticut .................. (2) - (2) - Delaware ..................... 4 (2) 1,740 (2) District of Columbia ......... - - - - Florida ...................... 27 31 1,857 2,146 Georgia ...................... 13 8 1,012 825 Hawaii ....................... 5 5 624 378 Idaho ........................ 4 10 252 1,025 Illinois ..................... 52 32 4,518 5,321 Indiana ...................... 48 12 14,473 1,599 Iowa ......................... 10 8 1,107 1,316 Kansas ....................... 8 4 2,864 269 Kentucky ..................... 10 3 1,174 177 Louisiana .................... 11 7 2,962 2,428 Maine ........................ 6 3 499 284 Maryland ..................... 12 7 2,696 2,738 Massachusetts ................ 13 7 1,413 551 Michigan ..................... 68 11 14,046 787 Minnesota .................... 10 9 1,101 743 Mississippi .................. 5 (2) 262 (2) Missouri ..................... 17 24 2,510 2,511 Montana ...................... - (2) - (2) Nebraska ..................... - - - - Nevada ....................... - (2) - (2) New Hampshire ................ 5 - 956 - New Jersey ................... 32 23 5,987 2,568 New Mexico ................... (2) (2) (2) (2) New York ..................... 13 (1) 2,173 (1) North Carolina ............... 17 12 1,617 1,109 North Dakota ................. - - - - Ohio ......................... 41 14 4,266 1,422 Oklahoma ..................... (2) - (2) - Oregon ....................... 11 22 777 2,172 Pennsylvania ................. 62 (1) 4,266 (1) Rhode Island ................. 6 (2) 582 (2) South Carolina ............... 16 16 2,400 2,208 South Dakota ................. - - - - Tennessee .................... 13 3 1,251 175 Texas ........................ 33 42 3,137 3,965 Utah ......................... (2) (2) (2) (2) Vermont ..................... 3 - 216 - Virginia ..................... 15 20 1,633 1,834 Washington ................... 30 4 2,897 374 West Virginia ................ 4 (2) 345 (2) Wisconsin .................... 43 39 4,988 4,634 Wyoming ...................... - - - - Puerto Rico .................. 4 6 363 553 1 For March 1997, data were reported by the District of Columbia and all states, except New York and Pennsylvania. 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. NOTE: Dash represents zero. Table 2A. State distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claims for unemployment insurance, February 1996 and February 1997 Mass layoff events Initial claimants for State unemployment insurance February February February February 1996 1997 1996 1997 Total (1)........................ 918 665 74,984 56,102 Alabama ............................ 4 (2) 326 (2) Alaska ............................. - - - - Arizona ............................ 4 7 237 606 Arkansas ........................... 8 3 546 237 California ......................... 301 253 18,018 16,076 Colorado ........................... 5 4 630 301 Connecticut ........................ 5 3 351 223 Delaware ........................... (2) (2) (2) (2) District of Columbia ............... (2) (2) (2) (2) Florida ............................ 29 42 1,711 2,759 Georgia ............................ 15 5 1,221 360 Hawaii ............................. 4 4 343 300 Idaho .............................. 10 4 756 289 Illinois ........................... 49 41 6,483 3,651 Indiana ............................ 11 12 985 1,047 Iowa ............................... 18 16 1,555 1,713 Kansas ............................. 4 - 299 - Kentucky ........................... (2) - (2) - Louisiana .......................... (2) 6 (2) 429 Maine .............................. 3 (2) 475 (2) Maryland ........................... 14 9 1,627 1,145 Massachusetts ...................... 10 14 1,260 2,014 Michigan ........................... 29 10 2,230 856 Minnesota .......................... 12 12 802 1,191 Mississippi ........................ 6 (2) 517 (2) Missouri ........................... 15 14 1,285 1,464 Montana ............................ (2) (2) (2) (2) Nebraska ........................... (2) - (2) - Nevada ............................. 4 4 295 254 New Hampshire ...................... (2) 4 (2) 305 New Jersey ......................... 23 34 1,923 4,237 New Mexico ......................... - (2) - (2) New York ........................... 16 (1) 1,085 (1) North Carolina ..................... 10 6 785 475 North Dakota ....................... - - - - Ohio ............................... 36 22 3,060 1,905 Oklahoma ........................... (2) (2) (2) (2) Oregon ............................. 11 15 818 1,095 Pennsylvania ....................... 84 (1) 6,074 (1) Rhode Island ....................... 6 9 626 1,560 South Carolina ..................... 14 13 1,603 1,065 South Dakota ....................... (2) - (2) - Tennessee .......................... 13 3 1,531 170 Texas .............................. 38 36 4,328 5,001 Utah ............................... - (2) - (2) Vermont ........................... (2) (2) (2) (2) Virginia ........................... 11 8 1,202 955 Washington ......................... 21 5 2,704 451 West Virginia ...................... (2) - (2) - Wisconsin .......................... 58 32 5,135 2,759 Wyoming ............................ - (2) - (2) Puerto Rico ........................ 4 8 266 812 1 For February 1997, data were reported by the District of Columbia and all states, except New York and Pennsylvania. 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. NOTE: Dash represents zero. Table 2B. State distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claims for unemployment insurance, January 1996 and January 1997 Mass layoff events Initial claimants for State unemployment insurance January January January January 1996 1997 1996 1997 Total (1)....................... 1,666 1,792 167,834 180,141 Alabama ........................... 11 9 1,386 754 Alaska ............................ 9 9 678 793 Arizona ........................... 12 12 857 998 Arkansas .......................... 9 (2) 1,099 (2) California ........................ 317 678 22,584 60,353 Colorado .......................... 11 23 881 1,536 Connecticut ....................... 7 8 550 697 Delaware .......................... (2) (2) (2) (2) District of Columbia .............. (2) 5 (2) 618 Florida ........................... 44 40 2,905 2,250 Georgia ........................... 12 20 1,190 2,073 Hawaii ............................ 6 7 434 655 Idaho ............................. 13 6 1,138 595 Illinois .......................... 64 72 7,497 6,267 Indiana ........................... 28 41 2,691 3,607 Iowa .............................. 18 4 1,432 1,228 Kansas ............................ 22 10 2,068 1,011 Kentucky .......................... (2) (2) (2) (2) Louisiana ......................... 8 6 544 456 Maine ............................. 5 20 394 1,406 Maryland .......................... 35 30 3,581 2,536 Massachusetts ..................... 7 22 492 2,003 Michigan .......................... 28 31 3,281 2,885 Minnesota ......................... 19 16 3,111 1,846 Mississippi ....................... 11 8 748 577 Missouri .......................... 52 60 4,400 6,047 Montana ........................... 3 6 238 412 Nebraska .......................... - (2) - (2) Nevada ............................ 6 26 414 2,609 New Hampshire ..................... (2) (2) (2) (2) New Jersey ........................ 44 43 4,411 3,649 New Mexico ........................ - 7 - 510 New York .......................... 25 (1) 1,913 (1) North Carolina .................... 21 18 3,415 2,684 North Dakota ...................... - (2) - (2) Ohio .............................. 101 158 14,440 26,444 Oklahoma .......................... - (2) - (2) Oregon ............................ 17 37 1,419 3,034 Pennsylvania ...................... 352 (1) 34,074 (1) Rhode Island ...................... 13 12 901 1,099 South Carolina .................... 35 51 7,033 6,251 South Dakota ...................... (2) (2) (2) (2) Tennessee ......................... 24 16 1,730 949 Texas ............................. 80 100 7,732 12,059 Utah .............................. - (2) - (2) Vermont .......................... 3 - 187 - Virginia .......................... 27 32 3,218 3,051 Washington ........................ 59 18 10,454 1,614 West Virginia ..................... 6 (2) 500 (2) Wisconsin ......................... 94 117 11,323 13,088 Wyoming ........................... - - - - Puerto Rico ....................... 7 10 607 892 1 For January 1997, data were reported by the District of Columbia and all states, except New York and Pennsylvania. 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. NOTE: Dash represents zero. Table 3. Industry distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claims for unemployment insurance, March 1996 and March 1997 Mass layoff events Initial claimants for Industry unemployment insurance March March March March 1996 1997 1996 1997 Total (1)................................... 975 697 121,046 76,704 Total, private....................................... 960 680 119,870 75,676 Agriculture........................................ 72 83 5,721 5,965 Nonagriculture..................................... 824 588 94,829 68,907 Manufacturing.................................... 465 231 62,886 30,405 Durable goods................................. 261 96 42,588 16,105 Lumber and wood products................... 18 19 1,242 2,017 Furniture and fixtures..................... 18 6 2,222 585 Stone, clay, and glass products............ 16 4 1,884 277 Primary metal industries................... 20 6 1,995 696 Fabricated metal industries................ 40 10 3,834 760 Industrial machinery and equipment......... 18 10 1,475 843 Electronic and other electrical equipment.. 47 11 8,790 1,135 Transportation equipment................... 70 22 19,752 9,156 Instruments and related products........... 8 5 858 309 Miscellaneous manufacturing industries..... 6 3 536 327 Nondurable goods.............................. 204 135 20,298 14,300 Food and kindred products.................. 66 58 6,043 7,093 Tobacco products................. 7 4 810 535 Textile mill products...................... 14 18 2,340 2,200 Apparel and other textile products......... 42 24 3,219 2,015 Paper and allied products.................. 13 13 2,107 1,221 Printing and publishing.................... 15 7 1,108 494 Chemicals and allied products.............. (2) (2) (2) (2) Petroleum and coal products................ (2) (2) (2) (2) Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products. 32 3 3,067 256 Leather and leather products............... 7 5 635 325 Nonmanufacturing................................ 359 357 31,943 38,502 Mining........................................ 4 3 309 192 Construction.................................. 50 66 3,398 4,491 Transportation and public utilities........... 29 41 2,607 5,105 Wholesale and retail trade.................... 120 106 10,795 11,207 Wholesale trade............................ 24 11 2,149 773 Retail trade............................... 96 95 8,646 10,434 Finance, insurance, and real estate........... 17 9 1,340 812 Services...................................... 139 132 13,494 16,695 Not identified.................................... 64 9 19,320 804 Government........................................... 15 17 1,176 1,028 Federal........................................... 4 (2) 389 (2) State............................................. 4 (2) 279 (2) Local............................................. 7 (2) 508 (2) 1 For March 1997, data were reported by the District of Columbia and all states, except New York and Pennsylvania. 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. Table 3A. Industry distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claims for unemployment insurance, February 1996 and February 1997 Mass layoff events Initial claimants for Industry unemployment insurance February February February February 1996 1997 1996 1997 Total (1)................................... 918 664 74,984 56,021 Total, private....................................... 904 651 74,045 55,083 Agriculture........................................ 124 104 7,556 6,075 Nonagriculture..................................... 739 528 62,366 47,583 Manufacturing.................................... 375 253 35,909 24,148 Durable goods................................. 182 121 17,879 13,017 Lumber and wood products................... 18 21 1,495 2,670 Furniture and fixtures..................... 15 3 1,218 271 Stone, clay, and glass products............ 20 8 1,662 466 Primary metal industries................... 10 8 929 737 Fabricated metal industries................ 23 11 1,665 1,018 Industrial machinery and equipment......... 30 6 2,495 584 Electronic and other electrical equipment.. 31 28 2,775 2,291 Transportation equipment................... 22 28 3,946 4,383 Instruments and related products........... 9 4 1,451 272 Miscellaneous manufacturing industries..... 4 4 243 325 Nondurable goods.............................. 193 132 18,030 11,131 Tobacco products................. - (2) - (2) Food and kindred products.................. 85 71 7,133 6,222 Textile mill products...................... 18 4 1,598 220 Apparel and other textile products......... 38 22 4,339 1,789 Paper and allied products.................. 13 7 1,260 498 Printing and publishing.................... 17 10 1,857 699 Chemicals and allied products.............. 5 3 496 279 Petroleum and coal products................ 3 (2) 338 (2) Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products. 11 7 776 530 Leather and leather products............... 3 5 233 608 Nonmanufacturing................................ 364 275 26,457 23,435 Mining........................................ 11 (2) 881 (2) Construction.................................. 63 54 3,839 3,661 Transportation and public utilities........... 27 38 1,767 5,397 Wholesale and retail trade.................... 120 78 10,234 6,474 Wholesale trade............................ 23 12 1,632 962 Retail trade............................... 97 66 8,602 5,512 Finance, insurance, and real estate........... 15 (2) 1,106 (2) Services...................................... 128 95 8,630 7,105 Not identified.................................... 41 19 4,123 1,425 Government........................................... 14 13 939 938 Federal........................................... 4 4 282 320 State............................................. 5 5 366 374 Local............................................. 5 4 291 244 1 For February 1997, data were reported by the District of Columbia and all states, except New York and Pennsylvania. 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. NOTE: Dash represents zero. Table 3B. Industry distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claims for unemployment insurance, January 1996 and January 1997 Mass layoff events Initial claimants for Industry unemployment insurance January January January January 1996 1997 1996 1997 Total (1)................................... 1,666 1,792 167,834 180,141 Total, private....................................... 1,638 1,722 164,559 173,351 Agriculture........................................ 48 103 3,991 7,026 Nonagriculture..................................... 1,482 1,583 143,477 161,599 Manufacturing.................................... 641 579 75,950 68,680 Durable goods................................. 316 300 43,108 40,133 Lumber and wood products................... 68 57 6,530 5,981 Furniture and fixtures..................... 27 17 3,222 2,436 Stone, clay, and glass products............ 30 31 2,908 2,427 Primary metal industries................... 24 24 2,304 2,424 Fabricated metal industries................ 31 34 3,215 2,890 Industrial machinery and equipment......... 25 25 2,819 4,555 Electronic and other electrical equipment.. 35 43 4,657 5,534 Transportation equipment................... 51 48 15,539 12,376 Instruments and related products........... 10 6 796 325 Miscellaneous manufacturing industries..... 15 15 1,118 1,185 Nondurable goods.............................. 325 279 32,842 28,547 Food and kindred products.................. 83 102 8,233 9,630 Textile mill products...................... 45 28 7,132 3,402 Apparel and other textile products......... 103 70 9,673 7,520 Paper and allied products.................. 15 12 1,249 752 Printing and publishing.................... 18 15 1,362 1,356 Chemicals and allied products.............. 12 6 724 645 Petroleum and coal products................ 5 4 475 309 Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products. 31 33 2,732 4,241 Leather and leather products............... 12 9 1,200 692 Nonmanufacturing................................ 841 1,004 67,527 92,919 Mining........................................ 21 17 1,535 1,306 Construction.................................. 199 263 13,899 18,559 Transportation and public utilities........... 97 86 9,114 7,509 Wholesale and retail trade.................... 227 256 20,115 24,458 Wholesale trade............................ 29 34 2,010 2,618 Retail trade............................... 198 222 18,105 21,840 Finance, insurance, and real estate........... 25 30 2,147 2,484 Services...................................... 272 352 20,717 38,603 Not identified.................................... 108 36 17,091 4,726 Government........................................... 28 70 3,275 6,790 Federal........................................... 6 26 450 3,104 State............................................. 8 15 1,656 1,315 Local............................................. 14 29 1,169 2,371 1 For January 1997, data were reported by the District of Columbia and all states, except New York and Pennsylvania.