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Economic News Release
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MLS MLS Program Links

Extended Mass Layoffs (Quarterly) News Release

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 sepa-
rations, 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 responsible 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 sepa-
rations. (See table 1.) The largest numbers of separations within the man-
ufacturing 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 percent of events and 23 per-
cent 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).


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

January-March(r) .......          3,979            705,138            835,420
April-June(r) ..........          3,395            651,318            730,946
July-September(r) ......          2,035            345,367            402,927
October-December(p) ....          2,043            321,569            292,696
 

    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.


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.)

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 lar-
gest 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 expecting to recall workers, 39 percent indi-
cated 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.


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


                                                     2008 IV (r)           2009 IV (p)    
            
            Metropolitan area                     Initial               Initial            
                                                 claimants    Rank     claimants   Rank

        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.


Initial Claimant Characteristics

A total of 292,696 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were asso-
ciated 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 per-
cent were black, 15 percent were Hispanic, 47 percent were women, and 19 
percent were 55 years of age or older.

Geographic Distribution

Among the four census regions, the Midwest and the West recorded the high-
est 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, Massachu-
setts, 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 metro-
politan 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 Lauder-
dale-Pompano Beach, Fla., from the previous year. (See table B.)


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
    2008(r) ...........       8,259           1,516,978           1,670,042
    2009(p) ...........      11,452           2,023,392           2,261,989


    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.


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
increased by 33 percent. (See table C.) The annual average national unem-
ployment 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 util-
ities and information, reported program highs in terms of events and sepa-
rations in 2009. Manufacturing firms reported the highest number of sepa-
rations, 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 sepa-
rations during 2009, both program high proportions. The largest increases
in events were related to business demand factors (+1,896) and financial
issues (+285).

Movement of Work

In 2009, 344 extended mass layoffs involved movement of work and were asso-
ciated 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. Em-
ployers 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 pro-
gram 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).

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 em-
ployer filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a consec-
utive 5-week period. Approximately 30 days after a mass layoff is trig-
gered, the employer is contacted for additional information.  Data for 
the current quarter are preliminary and subject to revision. This re-
lease 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).




Technical Note

   The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state program which
identifies, describes, and tracks the effects of major job cutbacks, using
data from each state's unemployment insurance database.  Employers which have
at least 50 initial claims filed against them during a consecutive 5-week per-
iod are contacted by the state agency to determine whether these separations
are of at least 31 days duration, and, if so, information is obtained on the
total number of persons separated and the reasons for these separations.  Em-
ployers are identified according to industry classification and location, and
unemployment insurance claimants are identified by such demographic factors as
age, race, gender, ethnic group, and place of residence.  The program yields
information on an individual's entire spell of unemployment, to the point when
regular unemployment insurance benefits are exhausted.

Definitions

   Domestic relocation.  A movement of work from an establishment within the
U.S. to a location also inside the U.S., either within the same company or to
a different company altogether (domestic outsourcing).

   Employer.  A firm covered by state unemployment insurance laws. Information
on employers is obtained from the Quarterly Census ofEmployment and Wages (QCEW)
program, which is administered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

   Extended mass layoff event.  A layoff defined by the filing of 50 or more
initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits from an employer during a
5-week period, with at least 50 workers separated for more than 30 days.  Such
layoffs involve both persons subject to recall and those who are terminated.

   Initial claimant.  A person who files any notice of unemployment to initiate
a request either for a determination of entitlement to and eligibility for com-
pensation, or for a subsequent period of unemployment within a benefit year or
period of eligibility.

   Movement of work.  The reassignment of work activities previously performed
at the worksite by the company experiencing the layoff (1) to another worksite
within the company; (2) to another company under formal contractual arrange-
ments at the same worksite; or (3) to another company under formal contractual
arrangements at another worksite either within or outside of the U.S.

   Outsourcing.  A movement of work that was formerly conducted inhouse by em-
ployees paid directly by a company to a different company under a contractual
arrangement.

   Overseas relocation.  A movement of work from an establishment within the
U.S. to a location outside of the U.S. (offshoring), either within the same
company or to a different company altogether (offshore outsourcing).

   Relocation of work action.  A movement-of-work action where the employer
provides information on the new location of work and/or the number of workers
affected by the movement.  Events may involve more than one action per employer
if work is moved to more than one location.

   Separations.  The number of individuals who have become displaced during an
extended mass layoff event as provided by the employer, regardless of whether
they file for unemployment insurance or not.

   Worksite closure.  The complete closure of an employer or the partial closure
of an employer with multiple locations where entire worksites affected by layoffs
are closed.



Revisions to preliminary data

   The latest quarterly data in this news release are considered preliminary.
After the initial publication of quarterly information, more data are collected
as remaining employer interviews for the quarter are completed and additional
initial claimant information associated with extended layoff events is received.

Movement of work concepts and questions

   Beginning in 2004, the economic reasons "domestic relocation" and "overseas
relocation" were replaced by the movement of work concept.  The movement of work
data are not collected in the same way as the relocation reasons in releases prior
to 2004; therefore, the movement of work data are not comparable to the data for
those discontinued reasons.

   Questions on movement of work and location are asked for all layoff events when
the reason for separation is other than "seasonal work" or "vacation period," as
these are unlikely.  Movement of work questions are asked after the analyst veri-
fies that a layoff in fact occurred and lasted more than 30 days.  If the reason
for layoff is other than seasonal or vacation, the employer was asked the following:

   (1) "Did this layoff include your company moving work from this location(s)
to a different geographic location(s) within your company?"

   (2) "Did this layoff include your company moving work that was performed in-
house by your employees to a different company, through contractual arrangements?"

   A "yes" response to either question is followed by:

   "Is the location inside or outside of the U.S.?" and "How many of the layoffs
were a result of this relocation?"

   Layoff actions are classified as "domestic relocation" if the
employer responds "yes" to questions 1 and/or 2 and indicates the
location(s) was inside the U.S.; "overseas relocation" indicates that
the location(s) was outside the U.S.

Reliability of the data

   The identification of employers and layoff events in the MLS program and asso-
ciated characteristics of claimants is based on administrative data on covered
employers and unemployment insurance claims, and, therefore, is not subject to
issues associated with sampling error.  Nonsampling errors such as typographical
errors may occur but are not likely to be significant.  While the MLS employers
and layoff events are not subject to sampling error, and all such employers are
asked the interview questions, the employer responses are subject to nonsampling
error.  Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the inability to
obtain information for all respondents, inability or unwillingness of respondents
to provide correct information, and errors made in the collection or processing
of the data.  For the fourth quarter of 2009, outright refusal to participate in
the employer interview accounted for 4.0 percent of all private nonfarm events.
Although included in the total number of instances involving the movement of work,
for the fourth quarter, employers in 39 relocations were unable to provide the num-
ber of separations specifically associated with the movement of work, 9 of which
involved out-of-country moves.

Additional information

   Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired in-
dividuals upon request.  Voice phone:  (202)691-5200; Federal Relay Service:
(800) 877-8339.




Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 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 nonfarm (1) .................  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 in all states and the District of Columbia. 
   2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.    
   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE: Dash represents zero.    




Table 2. Reason for layoff: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2008 and 2009

                                                                                                         Initial claimants for   
                                             Layoff events                   Separations                 unemployment insurance  
         Reason for layoff                                                                                                       
                                       IV        III       IV          IV        III       IV           IV        III       IV   
                                      2008r     2009r     2009p       2008r     2009r     2009p        2008r     2009r     2009p 
                                                                                                                                 
   Total, private nonfarm (1) .....   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.
   2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   r = revised.     
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE: Dash represents zero. 




Table 3. State and selected claimant characteristics: Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 
private nonfarm sector, third and fourth quarters, 2009

                                                         Total                              Percent of total                       
                                                        initial                          Hispanic                    Persons age 55
                                  Layoff events        claimants          Black           origin          Women         and over   
              State                                                                                                                
                                   III     IV        III      IV        III     IV      III     IV      III     IV      III     IV  
                                  2009r   2009p     2009r    2009p     2009r   2009p   2009r   2009p   2009r   2009p   2009r   2009p

    Total, private nonfarm (1) .  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

Montana ........................    (2)      11        (2)    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.
   2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   r = revised.           
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE: Dash represents zero. 




Table 4. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2008 and 2009

                                                                                                    Initial claimants for    
                                         Layoff events                   Separations                unemployment insurance    
   Census region and division                                                                                              
                                   IV        III       IV          IV        III       IV           IV       III      IV   
                                  2008r     2009r     2009p       2008r     2009r     2009p        2008r    2009r    2009p 
                                                                                                                           
        United States (1) .....   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.
   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the census divisions are: New England:
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, and
Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia, and  West Virginia; East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and  Tennessee; West South Central:
Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West
North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: Arizona, Colorado,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. 




Table 5. State distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2008 and 2009

                                                                                                        Initial claimants for   
                                           Layoff events                     Separations                unemployment insurance  
              State                                                                                                             
                                      IV        III       IV          IV        III       IV           IV        III       IV   
                                     2008r     2009r     2009p       2008r     2009r     2009p        2008r     2009r     2009p 
                                   
    Total, private nonfarm (1) .     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.
   2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE: Dash represents zero. 




Table 6. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009

                                                               Layoff events                            Separations           
                     Industry                                                                                                 
                                                       IV            III          IV         IV            III           IV
                                                      2008          2009r        2009p      2008r         2009r         2009p

      Total, private nonfarm (1) ................      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.
   2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   r = revised. 
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE: Dash represents zero.




Table 7. Reason for layoff: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work, 
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009

                                               Layoff events                                  Separations              


         Reason for layoff               IV         III          IV             IV               III               IV  
                                       2008r       2009r        2009p          2008r            2009r             2009p
                                                    
   Total, private nonfarm (1) ....      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)
  
Production specific ..............        3         (2)         (2)               592              (2)              (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.
   2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE: Dash represents zero. 




Table 8. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,							
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009							

                                       Layoff events                             Separations            
 Census region and division                                                                             
                               IV            III         IV           IV             III            IV  
                              2008          2009r       2009p        2008r          2009r          2009p

        United States (1) .    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

    Mountain ..............    (2)            5         (2)            (2)          1,832            (2)
    Pacific ...............    (2)           22         (2)            (2)          3,450            (2)
                                                                                                        
 
   1 See footnote 1, table 1.
   2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the census divisions are: New
England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic:
New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida,
Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; East South Central:
Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and
Texas; East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West North Central: Iowa,
Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: Arizona, Colorado,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii,
Oregon, and Washington. 




Table 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 nonfarm (1) .........     3,582        2,035        2,043         641,714         345,367         321,569

    Total, excluding seasonal                                                                                           
        and vacation events (2) ....     2,713        1,749        1,280         491,941         289,066         196,788

                                                                                                        
        Total, movement of work (3)        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.
   2 The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers when the reason for layoff was either seasonal work
or vacation period.
   3 Movement of work can involve more than one action. 
   4 Data are not available.
   r = revised.
   p = preliminary. 




Table 10. Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by employers,
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009

                                              Actions (1)                        Separations         
           Activities                                                                                
                                       IV         III        IV            IV         III        IV  
                                      2008       2009r      2009p         2008       2009r      2009p

With separations reported (2) .       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 movement of work were reported are
shown.
   2 See footnote 1, table 1. 
   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.
   Note: Dash represents zero.




Table 11. Summary of employer expectations of a recall from extended mass layoffs, private nonfarm sector, 
selected quarters, 2008 and 2009

                                 Percent of total layoff events (1)       Percent of layoff events             Percent of layoff events,   
                                                                            due to seasonal work                 excluding those due to    
    Nature of recall                                                         and vacation period              seasonal and vacation period 

                                 IV          III            IV           IV          III        IV            IV           III         IV
                                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 nonfarm (1) .....            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

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.
   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE: Dash represents zero.




Table 13. Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff, private nonfarm sector,
fourth quarter 2009 (p)


                                      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.




Last Modified Date: February 17, 2010