Extended Mass Layoffs In The Second Quarter Of 2009
For release 3:00 p.m. (EST) Wednesday, February 17, 2010
USDL-10-0171
Technical information: (202) 691-6392 • mlsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/mls
Media contact:
(202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS – FOURTH QUARTER 2009
ANNUAL TOTALS – 2009
Employers initiated 2,043 mass layoff events in the fourth quarter of 2009 that resulted in the separation
of 321,569 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released by the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of fourth quarter 2009 events decreased from last year,
following 12 consecutive quarters of over-the-year increases. A year earlier, the number of events, at
3,582, reached a record high for any fourth quarter (with data available back to 1995). (See table A.)
Permanent worksite closures accounted for 8 percent of all events and separations, the lowest proportion
of separations due to closures in program history. Manufacturing firms reported their lowest percentage
of separations (26 percent) for any fourth quarter on record. The proportion of women who filed for
notice of unemployment during the quarter recorded a program low 29 percent. Fourth quarter 2009
layoff data are preliminary and are subject to revision. (See the Technical Note.)
The national unemployment rate averaged 9.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, in the fourth quarter of
2009, up from 6.6 percent a year earlier. Private nonfarm payroll employment, not seasonally adjusted,
decreased by 4.7 percent (-5,346,000) over the year.
Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
Manufacturing firms reported 504 events involving the separation of 83,691 workers and were respon-
sible for 25 percent of private nonfarm extended layoff events and 26 percent of related separations in
the fourth quarter of 2009, the lowest proportion of separations for any fourth quarter. A year earlier,
manufacturing made up 36 percent of events and 37 percent of separations. (See table 1.) The largest
numbers of separations within the manufacturing sector were associated with transportation equipment
(mostly from automobile manufacturing) and food (mostly related to fruit and vegetable canning).
Construction firms recorded 659 events and 82,504 separations. Layoffs in this sector comprised 32
percent of events and 26 percent of separations, primarily in heavy and civil engineering construction
(largely from highway, street, and bridge construction).
Reasons for Extended Layoffs
Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 37 percent of the extended mass layoff
events and 39 percent of related separations during the fourth quarter of 2009. This compared to 24
Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity
Period
Layoff events
Separations
Initial claimants
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..............
1,640
296,662
330,954
2007
January-March.....................
1,110
225,600
199,250
April-June............................
1,421
278,719
259,234
July-September....................
1,018
160,024
173,077
October-December..............
1,814
301,592
347,151
2008
January-March.....................
1,340
230,098
259,292
April-June............................
1,756
354,713
339,630
July-September....................
1,581
290,453
304,340
October-December..............
3,582
641,714
766,780
2009
r
January-March ....................
3,979
705,138
835,420
r
April-June ...........................
3,395
651,318
730,946
r
July-September ..................
2,035
345,367
402,927
p
October-December ............
2,043
321,569
292,696
r
= revised.
p
= preliminary.
percent of events and 23 percent of separations in the same period a year earlier. (See table 2.) Among
the seven categories of economic reasons for layoff, extended mass layoff events decreased from a year
ago in all categories. The largest decreases were related to business demand factors (-854) and financial
issues (-176). (See chart.)
Movement of Work
In the fourth quarter of 2009, 58 extended mass layoffs involved movement of work and were associated
with 10,477 separated workers. The number of events decreased 51 percent from the fourth quarter of
2008, and the number of separations decreased 49 percent. Movement of work layoffs accounted for 5
percent of both nonseasonal layoff events and separations in the fourth quarter of 2009. (See table 9.)
- 2 -
Table B. Metropolitan areas with the largest number of initial claimants associated with
extended mass layoff events in the fourth quarter 2009, by residency of claimants
r
p
2008 IV
2009 IV
Metropolitan area
Initial
Initial
Rank
Rank
claimants
claimants
Total, 372 metropolitan areas .................
579,260
...
225,365
...
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. ....
36,283
2
18,751
1
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. .........
36,027
3
16,967
2
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long
Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ................................
24,877
4
11,422
3
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. .......
17,228
5
6,658
4
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. .........
15,602
6
6,258
5
Pittsburgh, Pa. ...............................................
5,147
19
4,569
6
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. ........
10,111
8
4,381
7
Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev. .............................
11,421
7
3,918
8
St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. ..........................................
8,940
9
3,900
9
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington,
Minn.-Wis. ................................................
7,776
12
3,779
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 09-01, November 20, 2008.
Nearly 6 out of 10 extended mass layoff events related to movement of work were from manufacturing
industries. In comparison, manufacturing accounted for more than 2 out of 10 events in the total private
nonfarm economy. (See table 6.) Employers cited financial issues in 34 percent of the extended mass
layoff events involving the movement of work. (See table 7.) The largest proportions of workers
affected by the movement of work among the regions were in the South and West. (See table 8.) Among
the states, California, Connecticut, and Tennessee reported the highest numbers of separations
associated with movement of work.
The 58 extended layoff events with movement of work for the fourth quarter of 2009 involved 89
identifiable relocations of work actions. Employers were able to provide more complete separations
information for 50 of the actions. Of these, 86 percent involved work moving within the same company,
and 66 percent were domestic reassignments. (See table 10.)
Recall Expectations
About half of employers reporting an extended mass layoff event during the quarter indicated they
anticipated some type of recall, up from 43 percent a year earlier. Excluding extended mass layoff
events due to seasonal work and vacation period, in which 96 percent of the employers expected a recall,
employers anticipated recalling laid-off workers in just 24 percent of the events. Of those employers
- 3 -
Table C. Selected measures of mass layoff activity, 1996-2009
Period
Layoff events
Separations
Initial claimants
1996 .......................
4,760
948,122
805,810
1997 .......................
4,671
947,843
879,831
1998 .......................
4,859
991,245
1,056,462
1999 .......................
4,556
901,451
796,917
2000 .......................
4,591
915,962
846,267
2001 .......................
7,375
1,524,832
1,457,512
2002 .......................
6,337
1,272,331
1,218,143
2003 .......................
6,181
1,216,886
1,200,811
2004 .......................
5,010
993,909
903,079
2005 .......................
4,881
884,661
834,533
2006 .......................
4,885
935,969
951,155
2007 .......................
5,363
965,935
978,712
r
2008 ......................
8,259
1,516,978
1,670,042
p
2009 .....................
11,452
2,023,392
2,261,989
r
= revised.
p
= preliminary.
expecting to recall workers, 39 percent indicated that the offer would be extended to all displaced
employees, and 83 percent of employers anticipated extending the offer to at least half of the workers.
Eighty-one percent of employers expecting to recall laid-off employees intend to do so within 6 months.
(See table 11.)
Size of Extended Layoffs
In the fourth quarter of 2009, the average size of a layoff (as measured by separations per layoff event)
was 157, the smallest fourth quarter average size in program history. (See table 12.) Extended mass
layoffs involving 500 or more workers accounted for only 4 percent of events but resulted in 23 percent
of all separations. (See table 13.)
Three major industry sectors reported fourth quarter program lows in terms of the average size of a
layoff—mining, manufacturing, and retail trade. Three categories of economic reasons for layoff—
financial issues, production specific, and seasonal factors—also recorded fourth quarter program lows.
Initial Claimant Characteristics
A total of 292,696 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended mass
layoffs in the fourth quarter of 2009. Of these claimants, 11 percent were black, 18 percent were
Hispanic, 29 percent were women, and 18 percent were 55 years of age or older. (See table 3.) The
proportion of women who filed for notice of unemployment recorded a program low. Among persons in
the civilian labor force for the same period, 11 percent were black, 15 percent were Hispanic, 47 percent
were women, and 19 percent were 55 years of age or older.
- 4 -
Geographic Distribution
Among the four census regions, the Midwest and the West recorded the highest numbers of separations
due to extended mass layoff events in the fourth quarter of 2009. Among the nine census divisions, the
highest numbers of separations were in the East North Central and Pacific. All regions and divisions
reported over-the-year decreases in the number of separations. (See table 4.)
California recorded the largest number of worker separations, followed by Illinois, New York, Ohio, and
Pennsylvania. (See table 5.) Over the year, forty-one states reported decreased numbers of workers laid
off, led by California and Michigan. Four states reported fourth quarter program highs in terms of
numbers of separations—Alaska, Delaware, Vermont, and Wyoming, while three states reported fourth
quarter program lows—Maine, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. After excluding the impact of seasonal
reasons, California still reported the highest number of job cuts (53,425), followed by Illinois (18,387)
and Florida (12,946).
Seventy-seven percent of the initial claimants associated with extended mass layoff events in the fourth
quarter of 2009 resided within metropolitan areas, nearly the same as a year earlier (76 percent). Among
the 372 metropolitan areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., reported the highest number of
resident initial claimants in the fourth quarter of 2009. The next highest were Chicago-Naperville-Joliet,
Ill.-Ind.-Wis., New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., and Riverside-San
Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. Both Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis., and Pittsburgh, Pa.,
moved into the top 10 metropolitan areas in terms of initial claims by residency of claimant in the fourth
quarter of 2009, replacing Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich., and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach,
Fla., from the previous year. (See table B.)
Review of 2009
For all of 2009, employers reported 11,452 extended mass layoff actions, affecting 2,023,392 workers.
Both layoff events and separations reached record highs (with annual data available back to 1996).
Compared to 2008, the number of events increased by 39 percent and the number of separations in-
creased by 33 percent. (See table C.) The annual average national unemployment rate increased from 5.8
percent in 2008 to 9.3 percent in 2009, and private nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 5.2
percent, or 5,912,000.
Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
In the private nonfarm economy, all major industry sectors, except utilities and information, reported
program highs in terms of events and separations in 2009. Manufacturing firms reported the highest
number of separations, with 652,886, followed by administrative and waste services (232,817),
construction (232,279), and retail trade (166,763). Within manufacturing, the largest number of
separations was associated with transportation equipment, followed by food and machinery.
Reasons for Extended Layoffs
Among the seven categories of economic reasons for layoff, business demand factors accounted for 46
percent of the events and 40 percent of separations during 2009, both program high proportions. The
largest increases in events were related to business demand factors (+1,896) and financial issues (+285).
- 5 -
Movement of Work
In 2009, 344 extended mass layoffs involved movement of work and were associated with 60,249
separated workers, compared with 332 events and 60,956 separations in 2008. More than 6 out of 10
events related to movement of work were from manufacturing industries. California and Illinois reported
the highest numbers of separations associated with movement of work. Employers cited organizational
issues in 37 percent of the layoffs involving the movement of work, the highest among the reason
categories.
The 344 extended layoff events with movement of work for 2009 involved 481 identifiable relocations
of work actions. Employers were able to provide more complete separations information for 313 of the
actions. Of these, 88 percent involved work moving within the same company, and 73 percent were
domestic reassignments.
Recall Expectations
About 34 percent of employers reporting an extended mass layoff in 2009 indicated they anticipated
some type of recall, down from 41 percent a year earlier and the lowest proportion on record. Excluding
events due to seasonal work and vacation period, employers anticipated recalling laid-off workers in just
21 percent of the events. Of those employers expecting to recall workers, 34 percent indicated that the
offer would be extended to all displaced employees, and 72 percent intended to do so within 6 months;
both proportions were program lows.
Size of Extended Layoffs
In 2009, the average size of a layoff (as measured by separations per layoff event) was 177, registering
the smallest annual average size in program history. Extended mass layoffs involving 500 or more
workers accounted for only 5 percent of events but resulted in 29 percent of all separations.
Initial Claimant Characteristics
A total of 2,261,989 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended mass
layoffs in 2009. Of these claimants, 14 percent were black and 16 percent were Hispanic. The 55 years
of age or older demographic reached an annual program high at 19 percent, while the proportion of
women who filed for notice of unemployment recorded a program low 36 percent. Among persons in
the civilian labor force for the same period, 11 percent were black, 15 percent were Hispanic, 47 percent
were women, and 19 percent were 55 years of age or older.
Geographic Distribution
Compared to 2008, all census regions, divisions, and 45 states and the District of Columbia reported
increased numbers of laid-off workers. Among the states, the largest increases were reported by
California (+115,779), Pennsylvania (+44,960), and New York (+33,790). Twenty-five states reported
program highs in terms of numbers of separations in 2009.
Among the 372 metropolitan areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., reported the highest
number of resident initial claimants (164,472) in 2009. The next highest were New York-Northern New
Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. (102,851), Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich. (87,600), and Chicago-
Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. (82,224).
- 6 -
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 re-
vision. 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 in January 2010 news release is scheduled to be released on Tuesday,
February 23, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
- 7 -
Technical Note
The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-
Overseas relocation. A movement of work from an
state program which identifies, describes, and tracks the
establishment within the U.S. to a location outside of the U.S.
effects of major job cutbacks, using data from each state's
(offshoring), either within the same company or to a different
unemployment insurance database. Employers which have at
company altogether (offshore outsourcing).
least 50 initial claims filed against them during a consecutive
5-week period are contacted by the state agency to determine
Relocation of work action. A movement-of-work action
whether these separations are of at least 31 days duration,
where the employer provides information on the new location
and, if so, information is obtained on the total number of
of work and/or the number of workers affected by the
persons separated and the reasons for these separations.
movement. Events may involve more than one action per
Employers are identified according to industry classification
employer if work is moved to more than one location.
and location, and unemployment insurance claimants are
identified by such demographic factors as age, race, gender,
Separations. The number of individuals who have
ethnic group, and place of residence. The program yields
become displaced during an extended mass layoff event as
information on an individual's entire spell of unemployment,
provided by the employer, regardless of whether they file for
to the point when regular unemployment insurance benefits
unemployment insurance or not.
are exhausted.
Worksite closure. The complete closure of an employer
Definitions
or the partial closure of an employer with multiple locations
where entire worksites affected by layoffs are closed.
Domestic relocation. A movement of work from an
establishment within the U.S. to a location also inside the
Revisions to preliminary data
U.S., either within the same company or to a different
company altogether (domestic outsourcing).
The latest quarterly data in this news release are
considered preliminary. After the initial publication of
Employer. A firm covered by state unemployment
quarterly information, more data are collected as remaining
insurance laws. Information on employers is obtained from
employer interviews for the quarter are completed and
the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)
additional initial claimant information associated with
program, which is administered by the Bureau of Labor
extended layoff events is received.
Statistics (BLS).
Movement of work concepts and questions
Extended mass layoff event. A layoff defined by the
filing of 50 or more initial claims for unemployment
Beginning in 2004, the economic reasons "domestic
insurance benefits from an employer during a 5-week period,
relocation" and "overseas relocation" were replaced by the
with at least 50 workers separated for more than 30 days.
movement of work concept. The movement of work data are
Such layoffs involve both persons subject to recall and those
not collected in the same way as the relocation reasons in
who are terminated.
releases prior to 2004; therefore, the movement of work data
are not comparable to the data for those discontinued reasons.
Initial claimant. A person who files any notice of
Questions on movement of work and location are asked
unemployment to initiate a request either for a determination
for all layoff events when the reason for separation is other
of entitlement to and eligibility for compensation, or for a
than “seasonal work” or “vacation period,” as these are
subsequent period of unemployment within a benefit year or
unlikely. Movement of work questions are asked after the
period of eligibility.
analyst verifies that a layoff in fact occurred and lasted more
than 30 days. If the reason for layoff is other than seasonal or
Movement of work. The reassignment of work activities
vacation, the employer was asked the following:
previously performed at the worksite by the company
experiencing the layoff (1) to another worksite within the
(1) “Did this layoff include your company moving work
company; (2) to another company under formal contractual
from this location(s) to a different geographic location(s)
arrangements at the same worksite; or (3) to another company
within your company?”
under formal contractual arrangements at another worksite
either within or outside of the U.S.
(2) “Did this layoff include your company moving work
that was performed in-house by your employees to a different
Outsourcing. A movement of work that was formerly
company, through contractual arrangements?”
conducted in-house by employees paid directly by a company
to a different company under a contractual arrangement.
A “yes” response to either question is followed by: “Is
the location inside or outside of the U.S.?” and “How many
subject to nonsampling error. Nonsampling error can occur
of the layoffs were a result of this relocation?”
for many reasons, including the inability to obtain inform-
ation for all respondents, inability or unwillingness of
Layoff actions are classified as “domestic relocation” if
respondents to provide correct information, and errors made
the employer responds “yes” to questions 1 and/or 2 and
in the collection or processing of the data. For the fourth
indicates the location(s) was inside the U.S.; “overseas
quarter of 2009, outright refusal to participate in the employer
relocation” indicates that the location(s) was outside the U.S.
interview accounted for 4.0 percent of all private nonfarm
events. Although included in the total number of instances
Reliability of the data
involving the movement of work, for the fourth quarter,
employers in 39 relocations were unable to provide the
The identification of employers and layoff events in the
number of separations specifically associated with the
MLS program and associated characteristics of claimants is
movement of work, 9 of which involved out-of-country
based on administrative data on covered employers and
moves.
unemployment insurance claims, and, therefore, is not subject
to issues associated with sampling error. Nonsampling errors
Additional information
such as typographical errors may occur but are not likely to
be significant. While the MLS employers and layoff events
Information in this release will be made available to
are not subject to sampling error, and all such employers are
sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone:
asked the interview questions, the employer responses are
(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, 2008 and 2009
Initial claimants for
Layoff events
Separations
unemployment insurance
Industry
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
2008r
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
Total, private nonfarm1 ..................................
3,582
2,035
2,043 641,714 345,367 321,569 766,780 402,927 292,696
Mining .............................................................
43
25
34
7,013
4,137
4,193
8,138
3,085
3,819
Utilities ............................................................
5
5
7
977
628
964
897
900
669
Construction ....................................................
915
353
659 114,108
42,299
82,504 138,143
58,938
79,397
Manufacturing .................................................
1,284
585
504 238,950
98,211
83,691 339,518 126,769
83,233
Food ...........................................................
106
61
86
24,532
15,241
17,415
25,410
15,291
15,612
Beverage and tobacco products ................
( 2 )
8
6
( 2 )
1,822
706
( 2 )
1,798
720
Textile mills ................................................
28
6
8
5,763
476
1,635
12,383
784
3,290
Textile product mills ...................................
12
4
–
1,584
841
–
2,103
747
–
Apparel .......................................................
14
13
15
2,094
3,471
1,911
2,660
2,369
1,441
Leather and allied products ........................
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
Wood products ...........................................
99
20
30
14,482
1,704
4,002
19,658
2,251
4,134
Paper .........................................................
31
15
10
4,393
1,667
1,037
5,543
1,622
873
Printing and related support activities ........
14
12
7
2,135
2,001
1,962
3,232
2,031
1,038
Petroleum and coal products .....................
18
3
17
2,508
240
2,326
2,746
223
2,239
Chemicals .................................................
30
15
20
4,849
1,567
2,743
5,477
1,571
1,867
Plastics and rubber products .....................
83
23
14
9,961
2,795
1,559
14,201
4,008
1,377
Nonmetallic mineral products .....................
109
21
50
16,133
2,084
6,745
18,810
2,314
6,643
Primary metals ...........................................
80
47
32
14,601
6,106
3,826
18,473
7,577
5,167
Fabricated metal products .........................
124
56
35
15,230
6,953
4,752
22,505
8,430
4,424
Machinery ..................................................
67
64
40
10,970
10,819
5,201
19,084
21,310
6,887
Computer and electronic products .............
69
46
33
11,778
7,391
4,112
14,187
7,237
3,798
Electrical equipment and appliances .........
38
26
13
7,720
3,798
1,612
11,498
4,492
1,320
Transportation equipment ..........................
288
100
65
78,869
23,942
19,210 125,837
36,623
19,013
Furniture and related products ...................
42
29
12
6,854
3,870
1,446
10,455
4,630
2,181
Miscellaneous manufacturing ....................
19
16
11
2,910
1,423
1,491
3,578
1,461
1,209
Wholesale trade ..............................................
90
63
47
11,919
7,229
5,673
13,464
7,690
4,875
Retail trade ......................................................
202
96
70
61,492
21,158
10,143
56,231
27,562
9,096
Transportation and warehousing ....................
118
151
75
23,156
26,108
11,957
22,474
26,392
9,070
Information ......................................................
73
63
45
10,350
10,372
7,976
11,949
16,280
7,555
Finance and insurance ....................................
113
101
57
22,743
17,552
9,616
23,989
20,597
9,013
Real estate and rental and leasing .................
27
9
18
3,592
1,019
2,016
4,061
1,600
1,741
Professional and technical services ................
88
76
60
12,803
16,788
11,257
13,909
15,090
9,184
Management of companies and enterprises ...
17
11
8
3,138
1,463
893
3,122
1,423
1,560
Administrative and waste services ..................
319
202
224
72,042
43,423
39,346
78,212
49,907
39,960
Educational services .......................................
4
30
6
630
5,018
543
474
4,659
560
Health care and social assistance ..................
39
89
34
6,765
11,845
4,071
5,385
10,011
3,451
Arts, entertainment, and recreation .................
63
52
60
14,609
13,854
17,421
8,696
8,240
7,805
Accommodation and food services .................
153
102
116
33,908
20,982
26,440
34,368
21,048
19,746
Other services, except public administration ..
28
22
19
3,446
3,281
2,865
3,677
2,736
1,962
Unclassified .....................................................
1
–
–
73
–
–
73
–
–
1 For the fourth quarter of 2009, data on layoffs were reported by employers
r = revised.
in all states and the District of Columbia.
p = preliminary.
2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
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, 2008 and 2009
Initial claimants for
Layoff events
Separations
Reason for layoff
unemployment insurance
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
2008r
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
Total, private nonfarm1 ...................................................
3,582
2,035
2,043 641,714 345,367 321,569 766,780 402,927 292,696
Business demand .............................................................
1,580
941
726 248,222 134,654 105,378 372,717 180,574 112,305
Contract cancellation .....................................................
57
48
29
11,692
6,530
4,888
13,346
6,809
3,822
Contract completion .......................................................
313
283
252
45,608
48,226
38,970
63,474
64,145
39,762
Domestic competition .....................................................
4
4
( 2 )
470
258
( 2 )
639
367
( 2 )
Excess inventory/saturated market ................................
18
17
9
4,021
3,399
1,124
4,218
6,762
1,100
Import competition .........................................................
14
3
( 2 )
1,855
310
( 2 )
2,671
387
( 2 )
Slack work/insufficient demand/non-seasonal
business slowdown .................................................
1,174
586
430 184,576
75,931
59,721 288,369 102,104
67,147
Organizational changes ....................................................
159
114
73
31,012
20,303
13,501
33,740
28,547
8,101
Business-ownership change ..........................................
31
21
24
8,430
4,082
6,677
5,987
2,896
2,091
Reorganization or restructuring of company ..................
128
93
49
22,582
16,221
6,824
27,753
25,651
6,010
Financial issues ................................................................
329
172
153
73,370
26,086
26,167
70,806
39,879
21,808
Bankruptcy .....................................................................
45
19
18
12,022
3,121
4,724
7,295
4,335
3,986
Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ................
165
99
96
24,679
15,120
14,521
33,147
25,990
12,152
Financial difficulty ...........................................................
119
54
39
36,669
7,845
6,922
30,364
9,554
5,670
Production specific ............................................................
24
15
14
4,644
4,476
1,693
4,130
3,778
1,332
Automation/technological advances ..............................
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
Energy related ................................................................
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
Governmental regulations/intervention ..........................
7
4
5
1,549
2,637
576
915
1,409
484
Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike .....................
5
4
( 2 )
630
422
( 2 )
588
796
( 2 )
Material or supply shortage ............................................
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
Model changeover .........................................................
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
Plant or machine repair/maintenance ............................
5
( 2 )
3
1,357
( 2 )
540
1,248
( 2 )
281
Product line discontinued ...............................................
3
3
( 2 )
590
537
( 2 )
705
551
( 2 )
Disaster/safety ..................................................................
12
4
5
1,346
1,951
790
1,325
494
673
Hazardous work environment ........................................
–
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
Natural disaster (not weather related) ............................
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Non-natural disaster .......................................................
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
Extreme weather-related event ......................................
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
Seasonal ...........................................................................
869
286
763 149,773
56,301 124,781 147,899
47,838 100,279
Seasonal ........................................................................
863
171
754 148,449
39,685 122,529 146,518
32,853
97,548
Vacation period–school related or otherwise .................
6
115
9
1,324
16,616
2,252
1,381
14,985
2,731
Other/miscellaneous .........................................................
609
503
309 133,347 101,596
49,259 136,163 101,817
48,198
Other ..............................................................................
26
31
16
4,243
3,873
2,828
6,844
4,080
2,028
Data not provided: refusal ..............................................
129
117
82
40,398
31,560
14,286
40,384
31,555
14,280
Data not provided: does not know .................................
454
355
211
88,706
66,163
32,145
88,935
66,182
31,890
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
p = preliminary.
2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
r = revised.
Table 3. State and selected claimant characteristics: Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, third and fourth quarters, 2009
Total
Percent of total
Layoff events
initial
Hispanic
Persons age 55
Black
Women
State
claimants
origin
and over
III
IV
III
IV
III
IV
III
IV
III
IV
III
IV
2009r
2009p
2009r
2009p
2009r
2009p
2009r
2009p
2009r
2009p
2009r
2009p
Total, private nonfarm1 ...........
2,035
2,043 402,927 292,696
12.9
11.3
19.4
17.9
36.0
28.9
18.3
18.0
Alabama ......................................
11
12
3,607
1,592
42.6
46.0
4.3
1.6
44.6
49.1
15.4
14.4
Alaska ..........................................
10
9
3,161
1,656
6.4
4.3
20.9
11.6
28.7
33.3
25.2
21.9
Arizona ........................................
23
18
4,090
1,992
6.4
5.7
34.5
37.7
49.3
36.6
16.0
16.1
Arkansas .....................................
4
10
444
1,574
27.9
32.2
8.1
5.8
50.7
28.1
15.8
17.1
California .....................................
685
392 135,126
58,935
9.2
7.5
35.0
38.9
38.1
37.9
15.3
16.2
Colorado ......................................
21
32
2,897
3,607
3.7
4.1
20.4
29.9
26.7
24.1
18.8
19.0
Connecticut .................................
12
15
1,990
1,484
13.3
13.0
10.5
17.4
42.7
31.5
19.1
24.5
Delaware .....................................
( 2 )
7
( 2 )
444
23.0
23.0
–
4.7
21.6
23.0
64.9
21.6
District of Columbia .....................
–
5
–
471
–
65.0
–
14.4
–
50.3
–
15.5
Florida .........................................
96
87
23,917
13,312
14.6
14.1
27.9
27.4
39.8
37.4
18.5
20.2
Georgia ........................................
23
19
5,292
5,609
49.0
45.9
1.3
6.7
35.5
48.5
15.9
19.0
Hawaii ..........................................
7
5
1,031
496
1.0
1.0
13.1
7.3
27.8
19.0
13.5
10.5
Idaho ...........................................
7
13
1,304
1,954
.3
.2
15.1
13.4
40.4
28.0
20.7
15.6
Illinois ..........................................
106
203
23,468
27,703
17.8
12.4
10.7
19.5
34.6
22.8
16.9
15.2
Indiana .........................................
35
41
6,541
5,276
4.4
5.6
2.2
4.0
30.5
18.3
22.1
15.5
Iowa .............................................
12
10
3,975
1,448
3.6
2.7
.9
5.9
14.5
11.0
23.0
19.5
Kansas ........................................
21
18
2,738
3,082
17.1
10.5
3.2
4.8
37.6
27.3
16.0
18.4
Kentucky ......................................
22
25
2,750
2,512
4.0
2.8
–
.1
15.2
9.4
20.8
17.8
Louisiana .....................................
20
27
2,439
3,129
61.3
43.8
3.1
4.5
45.6
20.2
14.4
22.0
Maine ...........................................
( 2 )
6
( 2 )
998
2.1
2.3
–
.5
42.9
20.2
21.1
22.1
Maryland ......................................
7
( 2 )
722
( 2 )
55.8
26.4
3.3
4.7
51.4
27.0
14.5
35.1
Massachusetts ............................
21
14
3,011
1,285
9.1
7.5
3.6
2.3
45.6
35.6
25.9
20.1
Michigan ......................................
59
78
17,871
9,034
16.6
10.6
3.4
8.4
30.4
24.5
17.0
15.3
Minnesota ....................................
35
93
5,323
10,897
4.3
2.8
2.7
9.4
27.8
16.2
22.6
17.6
Mississippi ...................................
7
8
663
547
47.8
49.0
5.1
2.4
25.8
28.7
11.5
16.5
Missouri .......................................
34
57
6,440
5,492
15.0
15.5
.9
1.7
32.5
32.6
23.7
19.9
( 2 )
( 2 )
Montana ......................................
11
1,158
1.2
.1
2.3
2.9
9.3
18.8
18.6
20.1
Nebraska .....................................
4
7
368
800
–
1.0
4.1
10.1
50.8
25.3
25.0
29.8
Nevada ........................................
37
21
9,812
5,016
8.6
6.8
30.3
34.5
29.8
33.1
17.8
16.6
New Hampshire ...........................
4
4
331
439
1.5
.9
1.8
.7
36.0
17.1
19.6
22.6
New Jersey ..................................
66
49
9,567
5,562
23.7
19.2
8.7
10.6
49.4
35.3
22.6
18.4
New Mexico .................................
10
12
1,017
1,437
3.3
1.6
32.1
55.8
36.4
37.0
16.0
17.1
New York .....................................
154
142
26,172
18,731
17.2
11.8
15.8
12.9
47.8
31.4
25.6
21.4
North Carolina .............................
29
40
6,973
5,302
38.0
42.4
4.3
4.7
46.1
39.6
17.7
14.8
North Dakota ...............................
3
9
634
902
.6
1.7
1.3
3.7
22.9
17.7
23.3
22.2
Ohio .............................................
75
96
18,003
16,984
9.6
9.5
2.9
3.7
23.6
21.7
21.1
20.3
Oklahoma ....................................
8
8
616
996
15.9
9.0
4.4
4.1
26.5
26.0
12.8
16.2
Oregon ........................................
26
32
6,126
6,493
1.7
1.3
24.2
22.1
40.0
36.3
18.2
18.9
Pennsylvania ...............................
134
128
26,872
24,370
6.2
4.0
2.9
2.3
27.2
18.1
25.2
20.9
Rhode Island ...............................
5
4
403
314
2.5
2.2
30.8
15.0
48.4
46.2
31.5
22.0
South Carolina .............................
18
12
2,701
1,323
42.3
51.2
2.5
.8
41.8
45.0
7.7
14.6
South Dakota ...............................
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
–
3.8
3.6
28.8
14.5
13.5
25.5
Tennessee ...................................
21
22
3,373
3,435
36.0
21.4
–
–
40.3
27.5
19.9
27.5
Texas ...........................................
34
41
6,243
6,364
14.3
15.7
41.5
47.4
22.8
25.1
14.3
14.2
Utah .............................................
8
14
1,780
2,388
1.1
.8
13.0
9.7
36.1
13.2
11.4
15.6
Vermont .......................................
5
8
668
1,254
.3
1.0
.1
.6
33.1
34.9
28.9
23.5
Virginia ........................................
16
30
2,022
4,408
37.9
40.5
1.7
5.0
37.3
42.0
21.7
17.2
Washington .................................
41
62
8,823
8,144
5.5
5.3
15.5
20.8
38.0
33.2
13.1
17.4
West Virginia ...............................
5
5
481
449
–
–
–
.2
21.2
3.1
12.9
16.9
Wisconsin ....................................
48
73
10,429
10,955
7.0
3.9
9.4
7.6
30.0
14.9
18.5
15.6
Wyoming .....................................
–
4
–
592
–
1.7
–
7.6
–
36.5
–
22.5
Puerto Rico ..................................
16
5
3,286
491
.2
.2
99.4
99.2
56.3
28.3
7.5
11.8
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
p
= preliminary.
2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
r = revised.
Table 4. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2008 and 2009
Initial claimants for
Layoff events
Separations
Census region and division
unemployment insurance
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
2008r
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
United States1 ..................................
3,582
2,035
2,043
641,714
345,367
321,569
766,780
402,927
292,696
Northeast .................................................
517
403
370
91,113
67,268
52,088
101,637
69,303
54,437
New England ........................................
76
49
51
11,454
6,601
7,287
12,400
6,692
5,774
Middle Atlantic ......................................
441
354
319
79,659
60,667
44,801
89,237
62,611
48,663
South ........................................................
682
322
362
124,275
60,164
54,766
146,158
62,391
51,763
South Atlantic .......................................
371
195
209
71,902
37,837
31,801
78,626
42,256
31,614
East South Central ...............................
169
61
67
26,768
12,137
10,064
36,003
10,393
8,086
West South Central ..............................
142
66
86
25,605
10,190
12,901
31,529
9,742
12,063
Midwest ....................................................
1,236
433
686
234,691
69,316
109,033
305,085
95,894
92,628
East North Central ...............................
924
323
491
183,967
51,230
78,582
248,346
76,312
69,952
West North Central ..............................
312
110
195
50,724
18,086
30,451
56,739
19,582
22,676
West .........................................................
1,147
877
625
191,635
148,619
105,682
213,900
175,339
93,868
Mountain ..............................................
210
108
125
40,530
17,665
20,956
40,591
21,072
18,144
Pacific ..................................................
937
769
500
151,105
130,954
84,726
173,309
154,267
75,724
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
West Virginia; East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and
r = revised.
Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and
p = preliminary.
Texas; East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin;
NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the
West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North
census divisions are: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic: New Jersey,
Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California,
New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia,
Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.
Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and
Table 5. State distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2008 and 2009
Initial claimants for
Layoff events
Separations
State
unemployment insurance
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
2008r
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
Total, private nonfarm1 ........................
3,582
2,035
2,043
641,714
345,367
321,569
766,780
402,927
292,696
Alabama ...................................................
17
11
12
5,086
2,817
1,799
8,642
3,607
1,592
Alaska ......................................................
12
10
9
3,345
4,123
5,326
2,363
3,161
1,656
Arizona .....................................................
30
23
18
6,365
4,251
1,925
5,611
4,090
1,992
Arkansas ..................................................
20
4
10
3,167
343
1,623
3,169
444
1,574
California ..................................................
765
685
392
117,835
116,855
65,152
134,969
135,126
58,935
Colorado ..................................................
31
21
32
5,384
3,967
4,494
4,142
2,897
3,607
Connecticut ..............................................
11
12
15
2,445
1,974
2,602
2,519
1,990
1,484
Delaware ..................................................
7
( 2 )
7
976
( 2 )
1,346
986
( 2 )
444
District of Columbia ..................................
( 2 )
–
5
( 2 )
–
471
( 2 )
–
471
Florida ......................................................
180
96
87
42,222
24,697
14,671
37,576
23,917
13,312
Georgia ....................................................
59
23
19
8,373
3,438
3,709
16,008
5,292
5,609
Hawaii ......................................................
10
7
5
1,233
888
467
1,318
1,031
496
Idaho ........................................................
51
7
13
7,791
826
2,404
8,397
1,304
1,954
Illinois .......................................................
286
106
203
55,805
17,820
35,879
60,449
23,468
27,703
Indiana .....................................................
154
35
41
22,553
4,011
4,227
44,383
6,541
5,276
Iowa .........................................................
45
12
10
5,828
1,748
1,125
10,735
3,975
1,448
Kansas .....................................................
25
21
18
3,857
2,633
3,366
4,238
2,738
3,082
Kentucky ..................................................
65
22
25
9,376
4,874
3,678
12,247
2,750
2,512
Louisiana ..................................................
22
20
27
4,586
3,331
4,424
4,429
2,439
3,129
Maine .......................................................
7
( 2 )
6
1,040
( 2 )
822
1,249
( 2 )
998
Maryland ..................................................
24
7
4
3,280
669
417
3,498
722
296
Massachusetts .........................................
43
21
14
6,237
2,815
1,417
6,712
3,011
1,285
Michigan ...................................................
212
59
78
47,602
7,328
10,899
77,701
17,871
9,034
Minnesota ................................................
120
35
93
20,893
4,983
14,483
21,625
5,323
10,897
Mississippi ................................................
24
7
8
4,343
552
645
4,512
663
547
Missouri ....................................................
101
34
57
17,641
7,431
9,306
17,882
6,440
5,492
Montana ...................................................
14
( 2 )
11
1,775
( 2 )
1,194
2,432
( 2 )
1,158
Nebraska ..................................................
8
4
7
1,015
740
1,085
755
368
800
Nevada .....................................................
46
37
21
9,438
6,176
3,845
13,222
9,812
5,016
New Hampshire .......................................
( 2 )
4
4
( 2 )
431
588
( 2 )
331
439
New Jersey ..............................................
89
66
49
16,459
11,672
8,359
16,382
9,567
5,562
New Mexico .............................................
17
10
12
2,729
1,202
1,769
2,805
1,017
1,437
New York .................................................
147
154
142
30,582
28,216
19,033
31,868
26,172
18,731
North Carolina ..........................................
32
29
40
3,718
3,694
4,039
6,110
6,973
5,302
North Dakota ............................................
10
3
9
1,253
476
1,013
1,253
634
902
Ohio .........................................................
189
75
96
39,950
12,760
17,115
45,689
18,003
16,984
Oklahoma .................................................
21
8
8
3,846
872
1,554
4,443
616
996
Oregon .....................................................
73
26
32
13,668
3,001
5,962
19,492
6,126
6,493
Pennsylvania ............................................
205
134
128
32,618
20,779
17,409
40,987
26,872
24,370
Rhode Island ............................................
6
5
( 2 )
612
396
( 2 )
615
403
( 2 )
South Carolina .........................................
47
18
12
10,129
2,376
1,363
11,661
2,701
1,323
South Dakota ...........................................
3
( 2 )
( 2 )
237
( 2 )
( 2 )
251
( 2 )
( 2 )
Tennessee ...............................................
63
21
22
7,963
3,894
3,942
10,602
3,373
3,435
Texas .......................................................
79
34
41
14,006
5,644
5,300
19,488
6,243
6,364
Utah .........................................................
18
8
14
3,704
978
1,695
3,714
1,780
2,388
Vermont ...................................................
7
5
8
825
628
1,522
1,096
668
1,254
Virginia .....................................................
14
16
30
2,104
1,898
5,341
1,712
2,022
4,408
Washington ..............................................
77
41
62
15,024
6,087
7,819
15,167
8,823
8,144
West Virginia ............................................
7
5
5
915
665
444
890
481
449
Wisconsin .................................................
83
48
73
18,057
9,311
10,462
20,124
10,429
10,955
Wyoming ..................................................
3
–
4
3,344
–
3,630
268
–
592
Puerto Rico ..............................................
12
16
5
1,304
1,529
299
2,020
3,286
491
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
p = preliminary.
2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
r = revised.
Table 6. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009
Layoff events
Separations
Industry
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
2008
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
Total, private nonfarm1 ...............................................
118
78
58
20,382
12,906
10,477
Mining ..........................................................................
–
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
Utilities .........................................................................
–
–
–
–
–
–
Construction .................................................................
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
Manufacturing ..............................................................
80
47
33
15,238
7,376
5,993
Food ........................................................................
3
4
( 2 )
425
672
( 2 )
Beverage and tobacco products .............................
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
Textile mills .............................................................
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
Textile product mills ................................................
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
Apparel ...................................................................
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
Leather and allied products ....................................
–
–
–
–
–
–
Wood products ........................................................
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
Paper ......................................................................
4
( 2 )
( 2 )
602
( 2 )
( 2 )
Printing and related support activities .....................
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
Petroleum and coal products ..................................
–
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
Chemicals ..............................................................
4
( 2 )
4
1,125
( 2 )
760
Plastics and rubber products ..................................
4
3
( 2 )
542
384
( 2 )
Nonmetallic mineral products .................................
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
Primary metals ........................................................
3
3
( 2 )
1,795
555
( 2 )
Fabricated metal products ......................................
6
3
( 2 )
752
477
( 2 )
Machinery ...............................................................
5
4
4
1,118
624
890
Computer and electronic products ..........................
10
7
9
1,534
1,099
930
Electrical equipment and appliances ......................
7
( 2 )
( 2 )
836
( 2 )
( 2 )
Transportation equipment .......................................
19
6
6
4,301
1,107
2,046
Furniture and related products ................................
3
( 2 )
( 2 )
456
( 2 )
( 2 )
Miscellaneous manufacturing .................................
3
( 2 )
–
509
( 2 )
–
Wholesale trade ...........................................................
7
5
6
804
572
772
Retail trade ..................................................................
6
5
( 2 )
682
944
( 2 )
Transportation and warehousing .................................
4
4
( 2 )
686
552
( 2 )
Information ...................................................................
4
4
5
871
745
696
Finance and insurance ................................................
8
3
( 2 )
926
302
( 2 )
Real estate and rental and leasing ..............................
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
Professional and technical services .............................
( 2 )
3
( 2 )
( 2 )
1,152
( 2 )
Management of companies and enterprises ...............
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
Administrative and waste services ...............................
4
–
3
545
–
650
Educational services ....................................................
–
–
–
–
–
–
Health care and social assistance ...............................
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
Arts, entertainment, and recreation .............................
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
Accommodation and food services ..............................
–
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
Other services, except public administration ...............
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
Unclassified .................................................................
–
–
–
–
–
–
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
p = preliminary.
2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
r = revised.
Table 7. Reason for layoff: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009
Layoff events
Separations
Reason for layoff
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
2008r
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
Total, private nonfarm1 ...................................................
118
78
58
20,382
12,906
10,477
Business demand .............................................................
36
21
16
6,080
3,337
2,831
Contract cancellation .....................................................
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
Contract completion .......................................................
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
Domestic competition .....................................................
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
Excess inventory/saturated market ................................
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
Import competition .........................................................
10
( 2 )
( 2 )
1,504
( 2 )
( 2 )
Slack work/insufficient demand/non-seasonal
business slowdown .................................................
22
15
11
4,227
2,583
2,394
Organizational changes ....................................................
49
40
18
8,966
7,085
2,514
Business-ownership change ..........................................
9
6
( 2 )
1,498
1,329
( 2 )
Reorganization or restructuring of company ..................
40
34
( 2 )
7,468
5,756
( 2 )
Financial issues ................................................................
29
15
20
4,554
2,107
4,372
Bankruptcy .....................................................................
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ................
25
12
17
3,392
1,559
3,564
Financial difficulty ...........................................................
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
( 2 )
2
2
Production specific ............................................................
3
( 2 )
( )
592
( 2 )
( )
Automation/technological advances ..............................
–
–
–
–
–
–
Energy related ................................................................
–
–
–
–
–
–
Governmental regulations/intervention ..........................
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike .....................
–
–
–
–
–
–
Material or supply shortage ............................................
–
–
–
–
–
–
Model changeover .........................................................
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
Plant or machine repair/maintenance ............................
–
–
–
–
–
–
Product line discontinued ...............................................
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
–
( 2 )
( 2 )
Disaster/safety ..................................................................
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
Hazardous work environment ........................................
–
–
–
–
–
–
Natural disaster (not weather related) ............................
–
–
–
–
–
–
Non-natural disaster .......................................................
–
–
–
–
–
–
Extreme weather-related event ......................................
( 2 )
–
–
( 2 )
–
–
Other/miscellaneous .........................................................
–
–
3
–
–
670
Other ..............................................................................
–
–
3
–
–
670
Data not provided: refusal ..............................................
–
–
–
–
–
–
Data not provided: does not know .................................
–
–
–
–
–
–
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
p = preliminary.
2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
r = revised.
Table 8. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009
Layoff events
Separations
Census region and division
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
2008
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
United States1 ......................................
118
78
58
20,382
12,906
10,477
Northeast .....................................................
13
10
12
1,828
1,424
2,020
New England ...........................................
4
4
6
686
719
1,280
Middle Atlantic .........................................
9
6
6
1,142
705
740
South ...........................................................
29
19
21
4,917
2,622
4,022
South Atlantic ...........................................
9
( 2 )
12
1,220
( 2 )
1,960
East South Central ...................................
12
9
6
1,650
1,039
1,362
West South Central ..................................
8
( 2 )
3
2,047
( 2 )
700
Midwest ........................................................
48
22
13
9,534
3,578
1,758
East North Central ...................................
33
15
( 2 )
6,652
2,260
( 2 )
West North Central ..................................
15
7
( 2 )
2,882
1,318
( 2 )
West .............................................................
28
27
12
4,103
5,282
2,677
2
Mountain ..................................................
( 2 )
5
( 2 )
( )
1,832
( 2 )
Pacific ......................................................
( 2 )
22
( 2 )
( 2 )
3,450
( 2 )
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South
2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; East South Central: Alabama,
r = revised.
Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas,
p = preliminary.
Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; East North Central: Illinois, Indiana,
NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise
Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West North Central: Iowa, Kansas,
the census divisions are: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massa-
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain:
chusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic:
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and
New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware,
Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.
Table 9. Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, selected quarters, 2008 and 2009
Layoff events
Separations
Action
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
2008
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
Total, private nonfarm1 ...................................................
3,582
2,035
2,043
641,714
345,367
321,569
Total, excluding seasonal
and vacation events2 ..............................................
2,713
1,749
1,280
491,941
289,066
196,788
Total, movement of work3 .......................................
118
78
58
20,382
12,906
10,477
Movement of work actions .................................
161
110
89
( 4 )
( 4 )
( 4 )
With separations reported ............................
122
74
50
11,919
7,140
4,198
With separations unknown ...........................
39
36
39
( 4 )
( 4 )
( 4 )
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
4 Data are not available.
2 The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers
r = revised.
when the reason for layoff was either seasonal work or vacation period.
p = preliminary.
3 Movement of work can involve more than one action.
Table 10. Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by employers,
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009
Actions1
Separations
Activities
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
2008
2009r
2009p
2008
2009r
2009p
With separations reported2 .................................
122
74
50
11,919
7,140
4,198
By location
Out-of-country relocations ................................
36
19
15
4,059
2,006
1,807
Within company ............................................
31
16
12
3,720
1,786
1,542
Different company ........................................
5
3
3
339
220
265
Domestic relocations ........................................
86
55
33
7,860
5,134
2,096
Within company ............................................
79
43
29
7,363
3,694
1,734
Different company ........................................
7
12
4
497
1,440
362
Unable to assign place of
relocation .......................................................
–
–
2
–
–
295
By company
Within company ................................................
110
59
43
11,083
5,480
3,571
Domestic .......................................................
79
43
29
7,363
3,694
1,734
Out of country ...............................................
31
16
12
3,720
1,786
1,542
Unable to assign ...........................................
–
–
2
–
–
295
Different company ............................................
12
15
7
836
1,660
627
Domestic .......................................................
7
12
4
497
1,440
362
Out of country ...............................................
5
3
3
339
220
265
Unable to assign ...........................................
–
–
–
–
–
–
1 Only actions for which separations associated with the
r = revised.
p
movement of work were reported are shown.
= preliminary.
2 See footnote 1, table 1.
Note: Dash represents zero.
Table 11. Summary of employer expectations of a recall from extended mass layoffs, private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2008 and 2009
Percent of layoff events due to seasonal work Percent of layoff events, excluding those due
Percent of total layoff events1
and vacation period
to seasonal and vacation period
Nature of recall
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
IV
III
IV
2008r
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
2008r
2009r
2009p
Anticipate a recall ...................................
42.8
31.1
50.7
96.0
93.7
96.1
25.7
20.9
23.7
Timeframe
Within 6 months ......................................
77.3
64.8
80.5
88.2
89.2
89.8
64.3
46.8
58.1
Within 3 months ................................
33.9
48.2
32.8
24.7
65.3
29.2
45.0
35.6
41.6
Size of recall
At least half .............................................
77.5
63.3
83.3
89.3
91.4
91.8
63.5
42.7
62.7
All workers ........................................
35.4
31.9
38.6
45.1
58.6
46.2
23.8
12.3
20.1
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, 2008 and 2009
Average number of separations
Measure
IV
III
IV
2008r
2009r
2009p
Total, private nonfarm1 ....................................................
179
170
157
Industry
Mining ...................................................................................
163
165
123
Utilities ..................................................................................
195
126
138
Construction ..........................................................................
125
120
125
Manufacturing .......................................................................
186
168
166
Wholesale trade ....................................................................
132
115
121
Retail trade ............................................................................
304
220
145
Transportation and warehousing ..........................................
196
173
159
Information ............................................................................
142
165
177
Finance and insurance ..........................................................
201
174
169
Real estate and rental and leasing .......................................
133
113
112
Professional and technical services ......................................
145
221
188
Management of companies and enterprises .........................
185
133
112
Administrative and waste services ........................................
226
215
176
Educational services .............................................................
158
167
91
Health care and social assistance ........................................
173
133
120
Arts, entertainment, and recreation .......................................
232
266
290
Accommodation and food services .......................................
222
206
228
Other services, except public administration ........................
123
149
151
Unclassified establishments ..................................................
73
–
–
Reason for layoff groupings
Business demand .................................................................
157
143
145
Organizational changes ........................................................
195
178
185
Financial issues ....................................................................
223
152
171
Production specific ................................................................
194
298
121
Disaster/Safety ......................................................................
112
488
158
Seasonal ...............................................................................
172
197
164
Other/miscellaneous .............................................................
219
202
159
1 See footnote 1, table 1.
p = preliminary.
r = revised.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
Table 13. Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff, private nonfarm sector,
fourth quarter 2009p
Layoff events
Separations
Size
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Total ………………………………………………
2,043
100.0
321,569
100.0
50-99 ……………………………………………
939
46.0
66,198
20.6
100-149 ..………………………………………
485
23.7
56,286
17.5
150-199 …………………………………………
231
11.3
38,605
12.0
200-299 …………………………………………
200
9.8
45,861
14.3
300-499 …………………………………………
113
5.5
41,204
12.8
500-999 …………………………………………
47
2.3
30,499
9.5
1,000 or more …………………………………
28
1.4
42,916
13.3
p = preliminary.
p
4
y
2009:
et
af
/
S
t
er
s
a
Dis
1
4
ic
if
2008:
pec
t
i
on s
r
oduc
P
4
2007:
ues
s
ial is
.
i
nanc
s
F
n
4
reaso
2006:
s
u
o
hanges
e
llan
t
i
onal c
a
4
Fourth quarters, 2003-09
r
ganiz
other/misce
2005:
O
due to
and
ffs
dem
s
4
on layo
04:
i
nes
s
20
u
B
information
s
Extended Mass Layoff Events by Reason Categories
onal
eas
4
S
2003:
The chart exclude
= preliminary.
1
p
0
800
600
400
200
1600
1400
1200
1000
