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Economic News Release
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Extended Mass Layoffs (Quarterly) News Release

Technical information:  (202) 691-6392        USDL 08-0204
               http://www.bls.gov/mls/
                                              For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:          (202) 691-5902        Thursday, February 14, 2008

               EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2007
                            AND ANNUAL TOTALS FOR 2007

   In the fourth quarter of 2007, there were 1,619 mass layoff events that
resulted in the separation of 265,454 workers from their jobs for at least
31 days, according to preliminary figures released by the U.S. Department
of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The construction industry experi-
enced a record high in both layoff events and separations in the fourth
quarter of 2007.  Other industries registering fourth quarter highs in
terms of separated workers were arts, entertainment, and recreation and
finance and insurance, the latter mostly due to higher layoff activity 
in credit intermediation and related activities.  Both the total number
of layoff events and the number of separations were lower than during the
October-December 2006 time period.  (See table A.)  Fourth quarter 2007
layoff data are preliminary and are subject to revision.  (See the Tech-
nical Note.)

   Among the 7 categories of economic reasons for layoff, the completion
of seasonal work accounted for the highest share of events (42 percent)
and number of separations (119,325) in October-December 2007.  Layoffs 
due to business demand reasons had the next highest proportion of events
(34 percent).  (See table B.)  The only category of economic reasons for
which the number of separations increased over the year was financial
issues.

   Sixty-one extended mass layoff events involved the movement of work and
were associated with the separation of 10,076 workers.  (See table C.)
These events accounted for 7 percent of the nonseasonal layoff events and
nonseasonal separations.

                                   - 2 -

Table A.  Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity           
                                                                       
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                      |               |             |                  
       Period         | Layoff events | Separations | Initial claimants
                      |               |             |                  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                      |               |             |                  
       2003           |               |             |                  
                      |               |             |                  
January-March ........|     1,502     |    286,947  |       297,608    
April-June ...........|     1,799     |    368,273  |       348,966    
July-September .......|     1,190     |    236,333  |       227,909    
October-December .....|     1,690     |    325,333  |       326,328    
                      |               |             |                  
       2004           |               |             |                  
                      |               |             |                  
January-March ........|     1,339     |    276,503  |       238,392    
April-June ...........|     1,358     |    278,831  |       254,063    
July-September .......|       886     |    164,608  |       148,575    
October-December .....|     1,427     |    273,967  |       262,049    
                      |               |             |                  
       2005           |               |             |                  
                      |               |             |                  
January-March ........|     1,142     |    186,506  |       185,486    
April-June ...........|     1,203     |    246,099  |       212,673    
July-September........|     1,136     |    201,878  |       190,186    
October-December .....|     1,400     |    250,178  |       246,188    
                      |               |             |                  
      2006            |               |             |                  
                      |               |             |                  
January-March ........|       963     |    183,089  |       193,510    
April-June ...........|     1,353     |    295,964  |       264,927    
July-September .......|       929     |    160,254  |       161,764    
October-December (r)..|     1,640     |    296,662  |       330,901    
                      |               |             |                  
      2007            |               |             |                  
                      |               |             |                  
January-March (r).....|     1,111     |    226,074  |       199,295    
April-June (r)........|     1,421     |    278,719  |       258,812    
July-September (r)....|     1,019     |    160,806  |       172,508    
October-December (p)..|     1,619     |    265,454  |       234,612    
                      |               |             |                  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.


   Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 8 percent of all extended
mass layoff events, the lowest proportion reported since collection began
in 1996. Events involving permanent closures affected 27,723 workers, down
from 43,158 separations reported during the fourth quarter 2006.  Fifty-six
percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the fourth quarter of
2007 indicated they anticipated some type of recall, about the same as last
year.

   The national unemployment rate averaged 4.6 percent, not seasonally ad-
justed, in the fourth quarter of 2007, up from 4.2 percent a year earlier.
Private nonfarm payroll employment, not seasonally adjusted, increased by
0.9 percent, or about 1.1 million, over the year.

   For all of 2007, the total number of extended mass layoff events was 5,170,
affecting 931,053 workers.  While the total number of layoff events increased
in 2007 from a year earlier, the number of separations decreased over the per-
iod.  Additional information on the annual data is available starting on
page 8 of this release.

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
 
   Construction industries experienced a record high number of extended mass
layoff events (622) and separations (78,716) in the fourth quarter of 2007.
(See table 1.)  The largest number of separations was in heavy and civil
engineering construction (44,151, mostly associated with highway, street,
and bridge construction), followed by specialty trade contractors (22,559)
and construction of buildings (12,006).

   Manufacturing accounted for 24 percent of events and 27 percent of separa-
tions in the fourth quarter, largely in food manufacturing and transportation
equipment manufacturing.  Layoffs in the administrative and waste services
sector accounted for 8 percent of all extended mass layoff events and 7 per-
cent of separations.  The layoffs in this sector were concentrated in land-
scaping services.  Cutbacks in the finance and insurance sector accounted for
6 percent of events and separations and were primarily in the credit interme-
diation and related activities industry.

   Information technology-producing industries (communications equipment, com-
munications services, computer hardware, and software and computer services)
accounted for 24 extended mass layoff events and 3,351 separations during the
fourth quarter of 2007, the lowest figures reported for any quarter since 2000.
(See table 6.)

                                   - 3 -

Table B.  Distribution of extended layoff events and separations
by economic reason categories, October-December 2007(p)
----------------------------------------------------------------
                        |   Layoff events  |    Separations     
        Category        |---------------------------------------
                        | Number | Percent |  Number |  Percent 
------------------------|---------------------------------------
                        |        |         |         |          
  Total ................|  1,619 |  100.0  | 265,454 |   100.0  
                        |        |         |         |          
Business demand.........|    548 |   33.8  |  73,241 |    27.6  
Organizational changes .|     81 |    5.0  |  21,122 |     8.0  
Financial issues .......|    111 |    6.9  |  22,238 |     8.4  
Production specific ....|     22 |    1.4  |   3,655 |     1.4  
Disaster/safety ........|      5 |     .3  |     692 |      .3  
Seasonal ...............|    683 |   42.2  | 119,325 |    45.0  
Other/miscellaneous ....|    169 |   10.4  |  25,181 |     9.5  
                        |        |         |         |          
----------------------------------------------------------------

   p = preliminary.


Reasons for Extended Layoffs

   Among the seven categories of economic reasons for extended mass layoffs,
42 percent of the events were related to seasonal factors (seasonal and 
vacation period).  These events resulted in 119,325 separations during the
fourth quarter of 2007.  (See table 2.)  Seasonal job cuts were most numer-
ous in heavy and civil engineering construction (highway, street, and bridge
construction), amusements, gambling, and recreation (amusement and theme parks),
and in specialty trade contractors (nonresidential site preparation contractors).

   Business demand reasons (contract cancellation, contract completion, domes-
tic competition, excess inventory, import competition, and slack work) accounted
for 34 percent of the extended layoff events and resulted in 73,241 separations,
primarily in specialty trade contractors and in heavy and civil engineering con-
struction.

   Job losses related to financial issues (bankruptcy, cost control, and
financial difficulty) accounted for 7 percent of events and resulted in
22,238 separations.  These layoffs were most common among workers in credit
intermediation and related activities and in hospitals.

   Over-the-year decreases in separations were reported in 6 of the 7 cate-
gories of economic reasons for layoffs, with the largest declines in organiza-
tional change (-14,995) and seasonal (-10,207).  Separations due to financial
issues registered the only over-the-year increase (+8,169).

                                   - 4 -

Table C.  Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected
measures, fourth quarter 2007(p)
                                                                       
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   |                 |                 
              Action               |  Layoff events  |    Separations  
                                   |                 |                 
-----------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------
                                   |                 |                 
Total, private nonfarm ............|      1,619      |       265,454   
                                   |                 |                 
   Total, excluding seasonal       |                 |                 
     and vacation events (1) ......|        936      |       146,129   
                                   |                 |                 
     Total events with movement    |                 |                 
       of work (2) ................|         61      |        10,076   
                                   |                 |                 
       Movement of work actions ...|         80      |           (3)   
         With separations reported.|         61      |         6,682   
         With separations unknown .|         19      |           (3)   
                                   |                 |                 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

   1 The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers when
the reason for layoff was either seasonal work or vacation period.
   2 A layoff event can involve more than one movement of work action.
   3 Data are not available.
   p = preliminary.


Movement of Work

   Between October and December of 2007, 61 extended mass layoff events
involved the movement of work and were associated with the separation of
10,076 workers.  (See table C.)  These movements of work were to other
domestic locations or to locations outside of the U.S., and they occurred
either within the same company or to other companies.  A year earlier,
there were 69 layoff events and 15,782 separations associated with the
movement of work.  (See table 10.)

   Among the 61 extended mass layoff events with reported relocation of
work in the fourth quarter of 2007, 66 percent were permanent closures of
worksites, which affected 7,147 workers.  In comparison, 8 percent of the
total extended mass layoff events reported for the quarter involved the
permanent closure of worksites.

   Of the layoffs involving the movement of work, 70 percent of the events
and 71 percent of the laid-off workers were from manufacturing industries
during the fourth quarter.  (See table 7.)  Among all private nonfarm ex-
tended layoffs, manufacturing accounted for 24 percent of the events and
27 percent of the separations.

                                   - 5 -

Table D.  Movement of work actions by type of separation where the
number of separations is known by employers, fourth quarter 2007(p)

--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   |               |                
              Activities           |  Actions (1)  |   Separations  
                                   |               |                
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   |               |                
   With separations reported ......|       61      |        6,682   
                                   |               |                
            By location            |               |                
                                   |               |                
      Out-of-country relocations ..|       24      |        2,667   
        Within company ............|       23      |        2,580   
        Different company .........|        1      |           87   
                                   |               |                
      Domestic relocations ........|       37      |        4,015   
        Within company ............|       36      |        3,835   
        Different company .........|        1      |          180   
                                   |               |                
             By company            |               |                
                                   |               |                
      Within company ..............|       59      |        6,415   
        Domestic ..................|       36      |        3,835   
        Out of country ............|       23      |        2,580   
                                   |               |                
      Different company ...........|        2      |          267   
        Domestic ..................|        1      |          180   
        Out of country ............|        1      |           87   
                                   |               |                
--------------------------------------------------------------------

   1 Only actions for which separations associated with the movement
of work were reported are shown.
   p = preliminary.


   While 5 percent of the extended mass layoff events in the total pri-
vate nonfarm economy were because of organizational change, such changes
accounted for 44 percent of layoff events associated with work reloca-
tion and resulted in 4,605 separations during the fourth quarter.  (See
table 8.)

   Among the regions, the Midwest accounted for the largest proportion of
workers affected by extended mass layoffs associated with the movement
of work (57 percent), followed by the South (21 percent), the Northeast
(14 percent), and the West (9 percent).  (See table 9.)

   Some extended mass layoff events involve more than one relocation of
work action.  For example, an extended mass layoff event at an employer
may involve job loss due to movement of work to both another domestic
location of the company and a location out of the country.  This would be
counted as two movement of work actions.  The 61 extended layoff events
with movement of work for the fourth quarter of 2007 involved 80 identi-
fiable relocations of work.  (See table C.)  An identifiable relocation of
work occurs when the employer provides sufficient information on the new
location of work and/or the number of workers affected by the movement.  Of
the 80 relocations, employers were able to provide information on the speci-
fic number of separations associated with the movement of work component of
the layoff in 61 actions involving 6,682 workers.  (See table 10.)

   In the 61 actions where employers were able to provide more complete
separations information, 97 percent of relocations (59 out of 61) occurred
within the same company.  (See table D.)  Sixty-one percent of these relo-
cations (37 out of 61) were domestic reassignments, while 39 percent invol-
ved out-of-country moves (24 out of 61).  Domestic relocation of work--both
within the company and to other companies--affected 4,015 workers.  Out-of-
country relocations were associated with the separation of 2,667 workers,
2 percent of all nonseasonal and nonvacation extended mass layoff separa-
tions.  (See table 11.)

                                   - 6 -

Table E.  Summary of employer expectations of a recall from extended
layoff, fourth quarter 2006-fourth quarter 2007
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              |                                         
                              |            Percentage of events         
      Nature of the recall    |_________________________________________
                              |       |       |       |        |        
                              |   IV  |   I   |   II  |  III   |  IV    
                              |  2006 |  2007 |  2007 | 2007(r)| 2007(p)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              |       |       |       |        |        
   Anticipate a recall .......|  56.7 |  40.1 |  57.1 |   37.9 |  56.5  
                              |       |       |       |        |        
        Timeframe             |       |       |       |        |        
                              |       |       |       |        |        
   Within 6 months ...........|  89.8 |  83.6 |  87.5 |   83.9 |  88.0  
     Within 3 months .........|  38.9 |  51.3 |  59.7 |   62.7 |  33.7  
                              |       |       |       |        |        
          Size                |       |       |       |        |        
                              |       |       |       |        |        
   At least half .............|  93.5 |  87.2 |  93.3 |   86.0 |  91.1  
     All workers .............|  53.7 |  38.6 |  57.2 |   45.6 |  50.3  
                              |       |       |       |        |        
------------------------------------------------------------------------

   r = revised.
   p = preliminary. 


Recall Expectations

   Fifty-six percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the fourth
quarter of 2007 indicated they anticipated some type of recall, about the 
same as a year earlier.  (See table E.)  Of those employers expecting to re-
call workers, 50 percent anticipated recalling all of the separated employees,
91 percent anticipated extending the offer to at least half of all laid-off
employees, and 88 percent expected a recall within 6 months.

   Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in which
98 percent of the employers expected a recall), employers anticipated recalling
laid-off workers in 26 percent of the events, essentially unchanged from 27 per-
cent a year earlier.

Size of Extended Layoffs

   The average size of a layoff (as measured by separations per layoff event)
in the fourth quarter 2007 was 164, compared to 181 per layoff in 2006.  The
average differed widely by industry, ranging from a low of 75 in clothing and
clothing accessories stores to a high of 776 in transit and ground passenger
transportation.

                                         - 7 -

Table F.  Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff,
fourth quarter 2007(p)
                                                                   
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                           |                    |                  
                           |   Layoff events    |    Separations   
            Size           |---------------------------------------
                           |         |          |         |        
                           |  Number |  Percent |  Number | Percent
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                           |         |          |         |        
   Total ..................|  1,619  |   100.0  | 265,454 |  100.0 
                           |         |          |         |        
50-99 .....................|    720  |    44.5  |  50,227 |   18.9 
100-149 ...................|    392  |    24.2  |  46,512 |   17.5 
150-199 ...................|    163  |    10.1  |  26,985 |   10.2 
200-299 ...................|    175  |    10.8  |  40,286 |   15.2 
300-499 ...................|    104  |     6.4  |  36,636 |   13.8 
500-999 ...................|     43  |     2.7  |  28,790 |   10.8 
1,000 or more .............|     22  |     1.4  |  36,018 |   13.6 
-------------------------------------------------------------------

   p = preliminary.


   Layoff events during October-December 2007 continued to be concentrated
at the lower end of the extended layoff-size spectrum, with 69 percent of
the events involving fewer than 150 workers.  Layoffs involving less than
150 workers accounted for 36 percent of all separations during the period,
compared to 32 percent in the fourth quarter of  2006.  Separations in-
volving 500 or more workers, while comprising only 4 percent of the events,
accounted for 24 percent of all separations, down from 28 percent a year
earlier.  (See table F.)

Initial Claimant Characteristics

   A total of 234,612 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with extended mass layoffs in the fourth quarter of 2007.  Of
these claimants, 12 percent were black, 18 percent were Hispanic, 29 per-
cent were women, 36 percent were 30 to 44 years of age, and 16 percent
were 55 years of age or older.  (See table 3.)  Among persons in the civil-
ian labor force for the same period, 11 percent were black, 14 percent
were Hispanic, 47 percent were women, 33 percent were age 30 to 44, and
18 percent were 55 years of age or older.

Geographic Distribution

   Among the 4 census regions, the highest number of separations due to 
extended mass layoff events in the fourth quarter of 2007 was in the Midwest,
with 110,899, followed by the West, with 79,404.  (See table 4.)  Extended mass
layoffs in the Midwest were largely in heavy and civil engineering construction
and in specialty trade contractors.

   The Midwest region reported the largest over-the-year decrease in separa-
tions (-20,206), mainly due to fewer layoffs in transportation equipment manu-
facturing, followed by the South (-10,900).  The West region experienced the
only over-the-year increase in separations (+9,190), due in part to layoffs in
food manufacturing.  Six of the 9 geographic divisions reported over-the-year
decreases in laid-off workers, with the largest declines occurring in the East
North Central (-18,848) and South Atlantic (-11,507) divisions.  The Pacific
division reported the largest increase in separations (+12,536).

   California recorded the largest number of worker separations (58,922), fol-
lowed by Illinois (30,467), Ohio (19,959), Michigan (16,067), Wisconsin (12,107),
and Minnesota (12,047).  These six states accounted for 59 percent of total ex-
tended mass layoff events and 56 percent of total separations during the fourth
quarter of 2007.  (See table 5.)  After excluding the substantial impact of sea-
sonal reasons, California still reported the highest number of job cuts (49,548),
largely due to layoffs in credit intermediation and related activities and in
specialty trade contractors.

                                   - 8 -

Table G.  Mass layoff events and separations, selected metropolitan areas
                                                                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            |                 |                 
                                            |     Events      |   Separations   
            Metropolitan area               |-----------------|-----------------
                                            |        |        |        |        
                                            |   IV   |   IV   |   IV   |   IV   
                                            | 2006(r)| 2007(p)| 2006(r)| 2007(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            |        |        |        |        
Total, nonmetropolitan areas ...............|   259  |   189  | 36,079 | 36,446 
                                            |        |        |        |        
Total, 369 metropolitan areas ..............|   858  |   814  |l55,348 |121,829 
                                            |        |        |        |        
 Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. .|    92  |   100  | 14,974 | 15,687 
 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. ..|    72  |    91  | 10,589 | 11,691 
 Detriot-Warren-Livonia, Mich. .............|    45  |    45  | 12,224 |  9,541 
 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long          |        |        |        |        
  Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ....................|    44  |    38  |  5,338 |  6,610 
 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington,          |        |        |        |        
  Minn.-Wis. ...............................|    41  |    37  |  6,565 |  5,874 
 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. ..|    20  |    39  |  1,842 |  4,086 
 Medford, Ore. .............................|     3  |     3  |  3,680 |  3,250 
 San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. .....|    12  |    30  |  1,678 |  3,171 
 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif. ....|    14  |    15  |  3,282 |  2,991 
 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. .....|    22  |    33  |  2,294 |  2,828 
                                            |        |        |        |        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   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 07-01,
December 18, 2006.


   Over the year, Michigan reported the greatest decrease in separated workers in
extended layoffs during the fourth quarter (-9,307), followed by Florida (-8,514)
and New York (-4,182).  The largest increases occurred in California (+18,483),
Tennessee (+5,073), and Iowa (+2,288).

   Fifty percent of events and 46 percent of separations (121,829) occurred in met-
ropolitan areas in the fourth quarter of 2007, compared with 52 percent of events
and 52 percent of separations (155,348) during the fourth quarter of 2006.  Among
the 369 metropolitan areas, Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis., reported the
highest number of separations (15,687) in the fourth quarter of 2007.  Next were
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana,Calif., with 11,691 separations and Detroit-Warren-
Livonia, Mich., with 9,541 separations.  (See table G.)  Employers located in non-
metropolitan areas separated 36,446 workers in extended mass layoffs, essentially
unchanged from 36,079 workers in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Review of 2007

   For all of 2007, employers reported 5,170 extended mass layoff actions, affecting
931,053 workers.  Compared to 2006, the number of events was up from 4,885, but the
number of separations was down slightly from 935,969.  (See table H.)  The annual
average national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.6 percent from 2006, while
private nonfarm payroll employment increased by 1.1 percent, or 1,310,000 jobs.

                                   - 9 -

Table H. Selected measures of mass layoff activity, 1996-2007
                                                                       
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                      |               |             |                  
       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 (r) ..........|     4,885     |    935,969  |       951,102    
   2007 (p) ..........|     5,170     |    931,053  |       865,227    
                      |               |             |                  
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.


   Eleven percent of extended events in 2007 were permanent closures, accounting
for 124,937 worker separations.  Permanent closures were most numerous in the
manufacturing sector, primarily in transportation equipment manufacturing, plas-
tics and rubber products, food, and computer and electronic products.  When com-
pared with 2006, layoff activity resulting in permanent closures decreased in 2007.

   In 2007, employers expected a recall in 49 percent of the mass layoff events,
down from 52 percent of events in 2006.

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

   Manufacturing had the largest share of extended events and separations in 2007--
25 percent of both.  Separations were most numerous in transportation equipment 
manufacturing (59,150, mainly in motor vehicle manufacturing) and in food manufac-
turing (42,541, largely fruit and vegetable canning and fresh and frozen seafood 
processing).  Compared to 2006, 13 of the 21 manufacturing subgroups had decreases
in the number of separations, with the largest decreases occurring in transporta-
tion equipment manufacturing (-22,128) and food manufacturing (-7,688).  Fabricated
metal product manufacturing had the largest increase (+2,650), followed by machinery
manufacturing (+2,404) and wood product manufacturing (+2,209).

   The construction, and finance and insurance industries, both had the highest levels
of layoff events and separations since the series began in 1996.  Construction lay-
offs were primarily concentrated in heavy and civil engineering construction (highway,
street, and bridge construction), and layoffs in finance and insurance were highest in
credit intermediation and related activities (real estate credit).

Reasons for Extended Layoffs

   In 2007, seasonal factors (seasonal and vacation period) were the most-cited reason
for layoff among the seven categories, accounting for 35 percent of all layoff events
and 38 percent of all separations, unchanged from 2006.  Seasonal layoffs in 2007 oc-
curred primarily in transit and ground passenger transportation, heavy and civil engi-
neering construction, and food services and drinking places.

                                   - 10 -

   Layoff activity due to business demand reasons (contract cancellation, contract 
completion, domestic competition, excess inventory, import competition, and slack 
work) also accounted for 35 percent of the extended mass layoff events and resulted in
237,301 separations.  Business demand layoffs occurred largely among specialty trade
contractors, transportation equipment manufacturing, administrative and support ser-
vices, and heavy and civil engineering construction.

   Over-the-year decreases in separations were reported in 5 of the 7 categories of
economic reasons for layoffs, with the largest declines in organizational change
(-27,228) and in business demand reasons (-20,577).  Separations due to financial
issues (+50,042) increased over the year.

Movement of Work

   In 2007, there were 259 extended mass layoff events that involved work moving
within the same company or to a different company, domestically or out of the U.S.
The events involving movement of work were associated with the separation of 45,212
workers, about 8 percent of all separations resulting from nonseasonal/nonvacation
mass layoff events.  Sixty-nine percent of events with movement of work involved the
permanent closure of a worksite, affecting 32,444 workers.  Manufacturing industries
accounted for more than two-thirds of the events and separations involving movement
of work, mostly in transportation equipment manufacturing and in computer and electric
product manufacturing.  Among the regions, the South accounted for the largest propor-
tion of laid-off workers associated with the movement of work (34 percent), followed
by the Midwest (31 percent).

   As part of the 259 layoff events, 342 identifiable movement-of-work actions were
taken by employers.  Employers were able to provide information on specific separa-
tions associated with the movement of work component of the layoff in 248 actions (out
of the 342), which totaled 29,709 laid-off workers.  Thus for 2007, the number of se-
parations due to the movement of work ranged between 29,709 (separations in movement-of-
work actions where the employer was able to provide specific detail) to 45,212 (total
separations in all layoff events that included movement of work).

   Of the 248 movement-of-work actions for which complete information is available, 
2 out of 3 relocations were to other locations within the U.S., and 88 percent involved
moving work within the company.  The separation of 11,526 workers was associated with
out-of-country relocations, which accounts for 39 percent of the separations related
to the movement of work and 2 percent of all separations in nonseasonal/nonvacation
extended mass layoff events.

Geographic Distribution

   The West reported more workers affected by extended mass layoffs in 2007 than any
other region, 333,954.  In the West, food and beverage stores had the largest number of
separations, with 51,365, followed by credit intermediation and related activities, and
specialty trade contractors.  The South region reported the lowest annual number of se-
parations (152,509).  Compared to 2006, 3 of the 4 geographic regions reported a decrease
in laid-off workers, with the largest decline in the South (-47,302).  The West had the
only over-the-year increase (+86,650).

   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, California reported the largest
number of separated workers in 2007 (252,805), the highest number of annual separa-
tions since 2003 and the highest number of extended mass layoff events in the program’s
history.  States with the next highest number of separations due to extended mass lay-
offs were Illinois (81,719), Michigan (53,504), New York (51,755), Ohio (43,831), and
New Jersey (41,389).  These six states accounted for 55 percent of events and 56 per-
cent of separations in 2007.  Florida recorded the largest over-the-year decline in 
separations (-41,635); California had the largest over-the-year increase in the number
of separations (+91,998).

                                   - 11 -

   Among the 369 metropolitan areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., reported
the highest number of separations, 45,824.  The next highest numbers of separations
were in Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis., with 35,424 and New York-Northern
New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., with 34,287.  Employers located in nonmetropoli-
tan areas separated 101,238 workers in mass layoffs during 2007, essentially unchanged
from 2006.

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 fourth quarter are preliminary and subject to revision.
This release also includes revised data for previous quarters.  Data are not season-
ally 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 report on Mass Layoffs in January 2008 is scheduled to be released on 
Wednesday, February 27, 2008.



   --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  |                                                                           |
  |                     Upcoming Changes to Mass Layoff Data                  |
  |                                                                           |
  |   With the release of January 2008 data on February 27, 2008, the Mass    |
  |Layoff Statistics program will revise the basis for industry classification|
  |from the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) to the |
  |2007 NAICS.  The new classification reflects minor definitional changes    |
  |within manufacturing, telecommunications, financial activities, and profes-|
  |sional, scientific, and technical services.  Several industry titles and   |
  |descriptions will also be updated.                                         |
  |                                                                           |
  |   For additional information on the 2007 NAICS, see http://www.census.gov/|
  | epcd/www/naics.html.                                                      |
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------






                                  - 12 -


Technical Note

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

Definitions

   Employer.  Employers in the MLS program include those covered by state
unemployment insurance laws.  Information on employers is obtained from the
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, which is admini-
stered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

   Extended layoff event.  Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment
insurance benefits from an employer during a 5-week period, with at least
50 workers separated for more than 30 days.

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

   Layoff.  The separation of persons from an employer as part of a mass
layoff event.  (See below.)  Such layoffs involve both persons subject to
recall and those who are terminated by the establishment.

   Mass layoff.  Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment insurance
benefits from an employer beginning in a given month, regardless of dura-
tion.

   Worksite closure.  The complete closure of either multi-unit or single-
unit employers or the partial closure of a multi-unit employer where entire
worksites affected by layoffs are closed or planned to be closed.

                                  - 13 -



Revisions to preliminary data

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

Movement of work concepts and questions

   Because of the employer interview component, the BLS decided to use
the MLS program as a vehicle for collecting additional information on
offshoring and outsourcing associated with job loss, by adding questions
that address movement of work.  The term "moving work" means that the
company experiencing the layoff has reassigned work activities that were
performed at a worksite by the company's employees (1) to another work-
site within the company; (2) to another company under formal arrangements 
at the same worksite; or (3) to another company under formal arrangements 
at another worksite.  The type of work activities subject to movement can
include accounting, customer service, cleaning, warehousing, etc.

   "Overseas relocation" is the movement of work from within the U.S. to
locations outside of the U.S. "Overseas relocation" can occur within the
same company and involve movement of work to a different location of that
company outside of the U.S., or to a different company altogether.

   "Domestic relocation" is the movement of work to other locations inside
the U.S., either within the same company or to a different company.

   "Overseas relocation" and "domestic relocation" are no longer used in the
same way as they were in earlier extended mass layoff news releases.  There-
fore, the data presented in this news release are not comparable to those
that were presented in earlier news releases.

   Questions on movement of work and location are asked for all identified
layoff events when the reason for separation is other than "seasonal work"
or "vacation period."  Seasonal and vacation layoff events were excluded
because movement of work appears unlikely.

   Questions on movement of work are asked after the analyst verifies that 
a layoff in fact occurred and lasted more than 30 days, and obtained the
total number of workers separated from jobs, the date the layoff began, and
the economic reason for the layoff.  If the reason for layoff is other than
seasonal or vacation, the employer was asked the following:

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

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

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

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

   Layoff actions are classified as "overseas relocation" if the employer
responds "yes" to questions 1 and/or 2, and indicates that the location(s)
was outside of the U.S.  Domestic relocation is determined if the employer
responds "yes" to questions 1 and/or 2 and indicates that the location(s)
was within the U.S.

   After asking the movement of work questions, the employer interview
continues and responses are obtained for questions on recall expectations
and open/closed status of the worksite.

                                  - 14 - 
Reliability of the data

   The identification of employers and layoff events in the MLS program
and associated characteristics of claimants is based on administrative
data on covered establishments and unemployment insurance claims, and,
therefore, is not subject to issues associated with sampling error.
Nonsampling errors such as typographical errors may occur but are not
likely to be significant.  While the MLS employers and layoff events
are not subject to sampling error, and all such employers are asked the
interview questions, the employer responses are subject to nonsampling 
error.  Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the in-
ability to obtain information for all respondents, inability or unwill-
ingness of respondents to provide correct information, and errors made 
in the collection or processing of the data.  For the fourth quarter of
2007, outright refusal to participate in the employer interview accounted
for 3.3 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 19 relocations were unable to provide the number of
separations specifically associated with the movement of work, 4 of which
involved out-of-country moves.

Other information

   Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.






Table 1.  Industry distribution:  Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2006 and 2007

                                                                                                            Initial claimants for  
                                                         Layoff events              Separations             unemployment insurance 
                      Industry                                                                                                     
                                                     IV      III     IV         IV       III      IV         IV       III      IV  
                                                    2006r   2007r   2007p      2006r    2007r    2007p      2006r    2007r    2007p
                                                                                                                                   
      Total, private nonfarm (1) .................  1,640   1,019   1,619    296,662  160,806  265,454    330,901  172,508  234,612

    Mining .......................................     29       4      21      4,632      677    2,890      4,798      530    1,973
    Utilities ....................................      3     -      (2)         454      -       (2)         517      -       (2) 
    Construction .................................    567     187     622     72,481   17,315   78,716     87,619   28,053   72,476
    Manufacturing ................................    479     269     385     93,795   43,329   71,611    130,869   53,469   79,252
         Food ....................................     78      30      65     18,402    5,833   15,624     20,263    6,608   13,700
         Beverage and tobacco products ...........     11    (2)       5         971     (2)       572      1,065     (2)       545
         Textile mills ...........................     13       9      11      2,504    2,730    1,808      3,135    4,552    2,925
         Textile product mills ...................      6       3    (2)         743      908     (2)       1,370      918      (2)
         Apparel .................................      9      16       9        836    1,706    1,344        893    1,788    1,161
         Leather and allied products .............      3     -      (2)         408      -       (2)         227      -        (2)
         Wood products ...........................     44      21      39      5,134    2,756    5,545      7,963    3,496    5,463
         Paper ...................................      6       5       5        633      893      759        691      882      729
         Printing and related support activities .      8     (2)      14      1,004     (2)     2,142      1,192     (2)     1,318
         Petroleum and coal products .............     20      -       15      2,931      -      2,100      3,146      -      2,021

         Chemicals ...............................      4       6       7        521      463    1,836        439      583    1,489
         Plastics and rubber products ............     24      11      14      3,838    1,213    2,577      4,563    1,617    1,864
         Nonmetallic mineral products ............     39       8      52      6,319      919    7,114      7,585    1,074    6,710
         Primary metals ..........................     16       9      13      1,678    1,486    2,378      2,189    2,331    2,294
         Fabricated metal products ...............     28      21      20      3,512    3,093    2,712      4,419    3,574    2,578
         Machinery ...............................     20      18      21      2,563    3,608    4,056      3,946    3,546    5,463
         Computer and electronic products ........     20      27      10      5,913    5,957    1,595      3,135    4,911    1,017
         Electrical equipment and appliances .....     14       5      11      4,493      328    2,873      7,304      441    6,568
         Transportation equipment ................     84      54      49     25,957    8,694   12,100     52,231   14,582   19,794
         Furniture and related products ..........     23      14      14      3,333    1,411    1,876      3,553    1,124    1,976
         Miscellaneous manufacturing .............      9       7       6      2,102      791    1,574      1,560      995      851

    Wholesale trade ..............................     26      19      35      3,140    2,336    3,990      3,145    1,838    3,319
    Retail trade .................................     70      59      63     27,329   10,094   15,372     22,430   11,481    9,632
    Transportation and warehousing ...............     33      84      39      4,964   15,251    8,976      4,841   14,498    6,421
    Information ..................................     23      18      26      2,724    2,415    3,825      4,141    2,713    5,016
    Finance and insurance ........................     52     134      93     11,269   25,563   15,429      8,112   24,368   13,000
    Real estate and rental and leasing ...........      5       8       6        401    1,194      859        412    1,354      742
    Professional and technical services ..........     33      35      43      5,479    5,144    7,724      7,159    5,728    6,959
    Management of companies and enterprises ......      6       8       8      1,182      782    1,392      1,129    1,043      876
    Administrative and waste services ............    165      60     127     30,030    8,225   18,697     31,253    9,349   16,431
    Educational services .........................      3       9    (2)         266    1,323     (2)         458    1,726     (2) 
    Health care and social assistance ............     20      49      22      3,352    9,708    4,661      2,516    5,001    3,217
    Arts, entertainment, and recreation ..........     41      22      45     13,589    6,118   17,219      5,283    2,734    4,664
    Accommodation and food services ..............     73      40      65     20,100    8,622   11,520     14,813    6,978    8,472
    Other services, except public administration .     12      13      13      1,475    2,560    1,843      1,406    1,572    1,464

    Unclassified .................................    -         1     -          -        150      -          -         73      -  
                                                                                                                                   
   1 For the fourth quarter of 2007, 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, 2006 and 2007

                                                                                                         Initial claimants for   
                                             Layoff events                   Separations                 unemployment insurance  
         Reason for layoff                                                                                                       
                                        IV       III       IV           IV        III       IV          IV         III       IV  
                                      2006r     2007r     2007p        2006r     2007r     2007p       2006r      2007r     2007p
                                                                                                                                 
   Total, private nonfarm (1)......   1,640     1,019     1,619      296,662   160,806   265,454      330,901   172,508   234,612

Business demand ...................     565       421       548       81,305    49,268    73,241      135,626    72,956    84,227
  Contract cancellation ...........      19        15        16        2,159     2,320     3,028        2,311     1,723     2,368
  Contract completion .............     312       201       260       41,797    20,331    29,753       58,169    31,535    31,133
  Domestic competition ............     -           3      (2)           -         254      (2)           -         208      (2) 
  Excess inventory/saturated
    market ........................     -           6      (2)           -       1,551      (2)           -       1,641      (2) 
  Import competition ..............      22        16        15        3,245     3,273     2,786        3,318     3,601     2,740
  Slack work/insufficient demand/
    non-seasonal business slowdown.     212       180       245       34,104    21,539    36,180       71,828    34,248    46,652

Organizational changes ............     143        99        81       36,117    17,717    21,122       30,333    17,208    15,369
  Business-ownership change .......      25        27        20       11,279     4,990     9,279        4,580     3,472     4,710
  Reorganization or restructuring
    of company ....................     118        72        61       24,838    12,727    11,843       25,753    13,736    10,659

Financial issues ..................      64       123       111       14,069    29,267    22,238       11,609    24,108    18,698
  Bankruptcy ......................      15        21        14        2,229     6,819     4,480        1,814     2,904     2,265
  Cost control/cost cutting/
    increase profitability ........     -          36        35          -       6,130     6,915          -       8,023     9,195
  Financial difficulty ............      49        66        62       11,840    16,318    10,843        9,795    13,181     7,238

Production specific ...............      28      (2)         22        9,168      (2)      3,655        5,159      (2)      4,066
  Automation/technological
    advances ......................       3         4      (2)           271     1,468      (2)           353     1,293      (2) 
  Energy related ..................    (2)        -         -           (2)        -         -           (2)        -         -  
  Governmental regulations/
  intervention ....................     -           4      (2)           -         997      (2)           -         604      (2) 
  Labor dispute/contract 
    negotiations/strike ...........    (2)       (2)          7         (2)       (2)      1,177         (2)       (2)      1,774
  Material or supply shortage .....    (2)        -        (2)          (2)        -        (2)          (2)        -        (2) 
  Model changeover ................    (2)        -        (2)          (2)        -        (2)          (2)        -        (2) 
  Plant or machine repair/
    maintenance ...................       7      (2)          8        1,714      (2)      1,360        1,094      (2)        815
  Product line discontinued .......      11       -        (2)         4,329       -        (2)         1,781       -        (2) 

Disaster/safety ...................       8      (2)          5          733      (2)        692        1,249      (2)        632
  Hazardous work environment ......    (2)       (2)         -          (2)       (2)        -           (2)       (2)        -  
  Natural disaster (not weather
   related) ......................      -        (2)         -           -        (2)        -            -        (2)        -  

 Non-natural disaster ............      -        (2)         -           -        (2)        -            -        (2)        -  
  Extreme weather-related event ...    (2)        -           5         (2)        -         692         (2)        -         632

Seasonal ..........................     697       218       683      129,532    40,361   119,325      119,430    34,465    86,355
  Seasonal ........................     691       123       679      128,648    23,314   119,043      118,713    20,066    85,959
  Vacation period-school related 
    or otherwise ..................       6        95         4          884    17,047       282          717    14,399       396

Other/miscellaneous ...............     135       140       169       25,738    19,623    25,181       27,495    20,406    25,265
  Other ...........................      18         9        10        3,726     1,363     1,642        5,540     2,050     2,069
  Data not provided: refusal ......      49        43        53        9,990     6,003     7,871        9,990     6,000     7,872
  Data not provided: does not
    know ..........................      68        88       106       12,022    12,257    15,668       11,965    12,356    15,324

   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, 2007

                                                          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   
                                  2007r   2007p      2007r    2007p    2007r  2007p    2007r  2007p    2007r  2007p    2007r  2007p
                                                                                                                                   
    Total, private nonfarm (1) .. 1,019   1,619    172,508  234,612     15.5   12.2     18.4   17.6     42.5   29.2     18.2   16.3

Alabama ........................      8       8      1,411    1,128     69.5   58.2      4.5    3.0     45.2   46.7     18.0   16.9
Alaska .........................   (2)        7      (2)        904      4.1    3.2     26.3   13.7     27.8   25.0     21.8   16.5
Arizona ........................      8       5      1,578      733      7.9   16.4     24.9   32.9     55.7   50.3     12.2    7.1
Arkansas .......................      7       8      1,107    2,718     46.7   20.5      4.5    1.2     31.3   35.1      9.8   22.7
California .....................    317     422     50,397   57,132      8.3    6.9     36.6   38.3     39.5   35.2     13.6   13.9
Colorado .......................   (2)       15       (2)     1,804      2.9    2.5     12.7   41.0     59.5   13.7     24.3   18.8
Connecticut ....................   (2)        8       (2)       976     13.2   13.7      7.8    6.7     58.9   34.0     16.3   22.0
Delaware .......................    -      (2)         -       (2)        -     7.8       -     7.8       -    30.1       -    63.1
District of Columbia ...........   (2)     (2)        (2)      (2)      98.6   54.7      1.4   17.2     83.8   62.5      4.9    7.8
Florida ........................     50      59      5,986    5,660     15.4   13.0     28.9   25.4     46.2   40.2     18.4   20.4
Georgia ........................     21      15      4,594    3,479     44.0   33.6      5.3    9.3     58.5   41.2     17.7   16.6
Hawaii .........................      3       3        344      317     11.6   11.4      9.9   10.1     32.6   21.1     23.3   11.7
Idaho ..........................      3       7      1,137    1,051      1.8     .4     11.6   24.5     34.7   30.5     17.5   15.4

Illinois .......................     70     178     12,863   21,260     25.5   13.2     11.1   22.8     44.1   19.0     15.6   12.6
Indiana ........................     14      45      3,363   10,380      9.8   12.5      3.4    4.3     43.9   25.4     22.8   14.7
Iowa ...........................      4      19        614    4,853      2.9    1.8      5.2    4.6     36.8   24.3      9.4   17.1
Kansas .........................      3       8        476    1,105      8.4   12.0       .6    6.2     43.9   25.2     29.4   17.6
Kentucky .......................     13      15      1,433    1,721      8.2    2.5       .1     .1     26.6   12.0     22.1   17.3
Louisiana ......................      4       8        738      728     26.4   66.1       .4    1.6     20.7   17.7     30.6   16.3
Maine ..........................      4       8        310      902      1.0    1.3        -     .2     48.7   27.6     15.2   19.0
Maryland .......................     12      19      1,394    2,359     34.7   32.3       .9     .1     57.3   35.2     16.3   20.0
Massachusetts ..................     22      25      4,696    2,452     14.3    8.4      2.5     .8     48.2   27.6     23.1   19.6
Michigan .......................     29      94      8,027   21,569     24.2   21.9      2.8    7.2     41.3   25.2     12.4   17.4
Minnesota ......................      8      75      1,159    8,892       .8    2.7      2.7    9.4     24.5   14.5     18.8   16.8
Mississippi ....................      5       4        588      613     78.1   64.4      1.7     .2     74.7   26.8     12.8   20.9
Missouri .......................     21      33      2,523    3,093     26.7    7.5       .3     .4     52.0   27.5     20.5   25.1

Montana ........................    -       -          -        -         -      -        -      -        -      -        -      - 
Nebraska .......................   (2)        6       (2)       520      2.1    2.1      1.4    9.8     41.8    7.9     21.3   30.8
Nevada .........................   (2)        9       (2)     1,262     15.5    7.4     25.7   20.8     54.3   24.6     32.9   18.5
New Hampshire ..................   (2)        3       (2)       337       -     1.2      1.9    1.8     38.9    5.6     59.3   29.4
New Jersey .....................     30      37      4,234    4,309     22.2   15.3      8.5   11.5     49.9   41.0     22.2   24.1
New Mexico .....................      6       3      1,156      377      4.4    1.6     40.5   79.0     34.3   51.7     17.2   29.4
New York .......................    135      50     23,233    8,327     17.9    9.8     16.8    9.2     49.3   29.0     28.0   18.0
North Carolina .................      6       5        943      656     23.5   44.4      9.0    2.0     61.5   35.1     20.6   26.1
North Dakota ...................    -         8        -        962       -      .5       -     3.2       -    12.3       -    17.4
Ohio ...........................     28     116      5,577   16,512     13.1   13.2      1.6    3.1     28.5   24.0     16.7   14.2
Oklahoma .......................      4    (2)         363     (2)      17.4    3.6      7.2    5.4     62.0   30.4     19.8    3.6
Oregon .........................     12      22      1,695    5,392       .8    1.5     21.6   27.4     46.6   38.6     14.5   17.9
Pennsylvania ...................     72      62     14,114   12,841      6.6    6.2      3.6    4.3     34.5   36.8     22.3   20.6

Rhode Island ...................      4       6        411      700      3.2    2.7     27.3   12.9     80.5   32.3     20.0   15.7
South Carolina .................      6      12      1,134    1,457     60.9   72.5       .6     .1     60.9   56.7      8.7    9.4
South Dakota ...................   (2)     (2)        (2)      (2)        -      -       1.6   14.7     65.6   34.7     40.6   37.3
Tennessee ......................      9      27      1,031    4,497     22.4   40.3       -      .1     59.8   40.0     19.1   25.3
Texas ..........................     24      29      5,217    4,048     20.3   19.6     30.1   41.3     42.6   37.0     11.7   11.2
Utah ...........................      5      11        570    1,631      1.9     .9     14.4   14.4     17.7   10.4      4.4   11.6
Vermont ........................   (2)        4       (2)       399       -      -        -      .5     35.7   26.6     17.2   22.8
Virginia .......................     10      18        887    1,527     19.7   43.9      2.6    5.2     44.8   52.5     23.1   19.4
Washington .....................     15      15      1,979    2,323      4.3    4.0     14.0   33.9     31.9   33.0     15.9   18.1
West Virginia ..................   (2)        6       (2)       500       -      .4       -      -      17.6    8.8     16.0   15.8
Wisconsin ......................     11      76      2,787    9,832      1.2    4.2     15.2    8.0     27.7   14.3     24.9   13.4
Wyoming ........................    -      (2)         -       (2)        -     1.3       -      -        -    40.8       -    34.2

Puerto Rico ....................     11       8      2,647    1,213       .1     .1     97.1   98.5     63.2   55.0     11.1   13.8
                                                                                                                                   
   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, 2006 and 2007

                                                                                                    Initial claimants for  
                                         Layoff events                   Separations                unemployment insurance 
   Census region and division                                                                                              
                                    IV       III        IV           IV       III       IV           IV       III      IV 
                                  2006r     2007r     2007p        2006r     2007r     2007p        2006r    2007r    2007p
                                                                                                                           
        United States (1) .....   1,640     1,019     1,619      296,662   160,806   265,454      330,901  172,508  234,612

Northeast .....................     293       271       203       45,223    46,902    35,931       58,821   47,392   31,243

    New England ...............      52        34        54        9,957     8,696    11,055        7,959    5,811    5,766
    Middle Atlantic ...........     241       237       149       35,266    38,206    24,876       50,862   41,581   25,477

South .........................     279       182       237       50,120    26,981    39,220       49,384   27,093   31,314

    South Atlantic ............     171       108       137       32,139    15,450    20,632       31,115   15,205   15,805
    East South Central ........      55        35        54        8,559     5,471    11,325        7,569    4,463    7,959
    West South Central ........      53        39        46        9,422     6,060     7,263       10,700    7,425    7,550

Midwest .......................     657       191       659      131,105    32,557   110,899      149,932   37,594   99,053

    East North Central ........     504       152       509      105,530    26,161    86,682      122,480   32,617   79,553
    West North Central ........     153        39       150       25,575     6,396    24,217       27,452    4,977   19,500

West ..........................     411       375       520       70,214    54,366    79,404       72,764   60,429   73,002

    Mountain ..................      68        26        51       14,289     6,237    10,943       10,703    5,201    6,934
    Pacific ...................     343       349       469       55,925    48,129    68,461       62,061   55,228   66,068
                                                                                                                           

   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, 2006 and 2007

                                                                                                        Initial claimants for   
                                           Layoff events                     Separations                unemployment insurance  
              State                                                                                                             
                                       IV       III       IV           IV        III       IV           IV        III       IV  
                                     2006r     2007r     2007p        2006r     2007r     2007p        2006r     2007r     2007p
                                                                                                                                
    Total, private nonfarm (1) .     1,640     1,019     1,619      296,662   160,806   265,454      330,901   172,508   234,612

Alabama ........................        15         8         8        3,228     1,714     1,489        2,768     1,411     1,128
Alaska .........................        12      (2)          7        4,548      (2)      1,486        2,088     (2)         904
Arizona ........................         4         8         5          554     2,014       782          524     1,578       733
Arkansas .......................         5         7         8        2,411     1,083     1,140        1,367     1,107     2,718
California .....................       288       317       422       40,439    42,041    58,922       50,141    50,397    57,132
Colorado .......................        17      (2)         15        3,067      (2)      3,193        2,316      (2)      1,804
Connecticut ....................         9      (2)          8        2,135      (2)     1,543         1,754      (2)        976
Delaware .......................       -         -        (2)           -         -       (2)            -         -        (2) 
District of Columbia ...........      (2)       (2)       (2)          (2)       (2)      (2)           (2)       (2)       (2) 
Florida ........................        82        50        59       16,355     8,199     7,841       14,812     5,986     5,660
Georgia ........................        22        21        15        2,811     2,285     2,813        4,233     4,594     3,479
Hawaii .........................         6         3         3          836       503       447          794       344       317
Idaho ..........................        13         3         7        1,800     1,280     1,523        1,818     1,137     1,051

Illinois .......................       181        70       178       33,328    13,488    30,467       30,604    12,863    21,260
Indiana ........................        48        14        45        8,264     2,211     8,082       10,058     3,363    10,380
Iowa ...........................        17         4        19        1,448       491     3,736        5,238       614     4,853
Kansas .........................         9         3         8        1,096       333     1,027        1,372       476     1,105
Kentucky .......................        23        13        15        2,959     1,975     2,385        2,649     1,433     1,721
Louisiana ......................         9         4         8        2,143       813     1,624        1,151       738       728
Maine ..........................         8         4         8        1,459       341     1,827        1,293       310       902
Maryland .......................        20        12        19        2,280     1,377     2,460        3,088     1,394     2,359
Massachusetts ..................        24        22        25        5,215     7,348     5,969        3,718     4,696     2,452
Michigan .......................       105        29        94       25,374     5,166    16,067       47,956     8,027    21,569
Minnesota ......................        83         8        75       12,921     1,163    12,047       13,355     1,159     8,892
Mississippi ....................         5         5         4          702       796       708          594       588       613
Missouri .......................        36        21        33        8,607     4,174     5,370        6,250     2,523     3,093

Montana ........................        12       -         -          1,676       -         -          1,727       -         -  
Nebraska .......................      (2)       (2)          6         (2)       (2)        859         (2)       (2)        520
Nevada .........................         3      (2)          9        1,139      (2)        854        1,328      (2)      1,262
New Hampshire ..................         5      (2)          3          490      (2)        415          540      (2)        337
New Jersey .....................        45        30        37        9,737     6,927     6,805        7,150     4,234     4,309
New Mexico .....................         9         6         3        1,501     1,156       387        1,501     1,156       377
New York .......................       105       135        50       13,690    24,583     9,508       19,966    23,233     8,327
North Carolina .................        12         6         5        1,086       761       503        1,508       943       656
North Dakota ...................         5       -           8        1,128       -         962          982       -         962
Ohio ...........................        96        28       116       22,570     3,882    19,959       18,485     5,577    16,512
Oklahoma .......................         5         4      (2)           603       413      (2)         1,360       363      (2) 
Oregon .........................        19        12        22        7,514     1,813     6,217        6,215     1,695     5,392
Pennsylvania ...................        91        72        62       11,839     6,696     8,563       23,746    14,114    12,841

Rhode Island ...................      (2)          4         6         (2)        464       779         (2)        411       700
South Carolina .................         9         6        12        1,713     1,493     1,510        1,571     1,134     1,457
South Dakota ...................      (2)       (2)       (2)          (2)       (2)       (2)          (2)       (2)       (2) 
Tennessee ......................        12         9        27        1,670       986     6,743        1,558     1,031     4,497
Texas ..........................        34        24        29        4,265     3,751     4,398        6,822     5,217     4,048
Utah ...........................         8         5        11        1,507       604     2,004        1,243       570     1,631
Vermont ........................         4      (2)          4          472      (2)        522          472      (2)        399
Virginia .......................        17        10        18        6,676       963     4,653        4,065       887     1,527
Washington .....................        18        15        15        2,588     1,387     1,389        2,823     1,979     2,323
West Virginia ..................         7      (2)          6        1,016      (2)        673        1,636      (2)        500
Wisconsin ......................        74        11        76       15,994     1,414    12,107       15,377     2,787     9,832
Wyoming ........................      (2)        -        (2)          (2)        -        (2)          (2)        -        (2) 

Puerto Rico ....................        14        11         8        2,038       938       557        2,916     2,647     1,213
                                                                                                                                
   1 See footnote 1, table 1.
   2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE: Dash represents zero. 






Table 6.  Information technology-producing industries:  Extended mass layoff events and separations, private nonfarm sector, 2000-2007

                                                               Information technology-producing industries (1)
                        Total extended
        Year             mass layoffs
                                                 Computer              Software and          Communications        Communications 
                                                hardware (2)        computer services (3)     equipment (4)          services (5)  

                      Layoff                 Layoff                 Layoff                 Layoff                Layoff              
                      events   Separations   events   Separations   events   Separations   events   Separations  events   Separations
        2000                                                                                                                      

First quarter ....    1,081      202,500       22        5,195         8         1,931        9        1,402        4          771
Second quarter ...    1,055      205,861       18        8,862        11         1,580        7          805        7          977
Third quarter ....      817      174,628       10        1,678         9         1,132        4        1,465        6        1,280
Fourth quarter ...    1,638      332,973       16        3,070        20         3,297        5          946        7        1,020

    Total ........    4,591      915,962       66       18,805        48         7,940       25        4,618       24        4,048

        2001                                                                                                                      

First quarter ....    1,546      304,171       91       20,991        34         5,710       22        4,441       24        5,312
Second quarter ...    1,828      430,499      161       38,986        75        10,219       36       12,109       28        6,386
Third quarter ....    1,629      330,391      142       24,813        45         5,724       39        8,200       36        7,134
Fourth quarter ...    2,372      459,771      109       17,797        51         7,767       43       10,124       48       11,252

    Total ........    7,375    1,524,832      503      102,587       205        29,420      140       34,874      136       30,084

        2002                                                                                                                      

First quarter ....    1,611      299,266       84       18,574        35         3,824       32        8,192       42        6,664
Second quarter ...    1,624      344,606       69       11,764        39         4,326       27        4,870       53        8,538
Third quarter ....    1,186      255,152       76       15,017        36         4,359       34        6,529       42        7,945
Fourth quarter ...    1,916      373,307       74       14,298        27         6,180       19        3,645       39        8,987

    Total ........    6,337    1,272,331      303       59,653       137        18,689      112       23,236      176       32,134

        2003                                                                                                                      

First quarter ....    1,502      286,947       71       11,900        28         5,214       23        4,402       41        6,591
Second quarter ...    1,799      368,273       54        9,221        20         2,856       21        3,098       29        5,891
Third quarter ....    1,190      236,333       46        6,488        24         4,189        9        1,289       15        2,604
Fourth quarter ...    1,690      325,333       25        5,080         8         1,167        9        1,619       28        6,635

    Total ........    6,181    1,216,886      196       32,689        80        13,426       62       10,408      113       21,721

        2004                                                                                                                      

First quarter ....    1,339      276,503       27        3,222        13         2,786        8          894       23        4,197
Second quarter ...    1,358      278,831       18        2,959        15         2,775       -           -         22        5,295
Third quarter ....      886      164,608       13        2,288        14         1,467        4          430       13        4,317
Fourth quarter ...    1,427      273,967       18        3,055        10         1,547        4          563       23        3,457

    Total ........    5,010      993,909       76       11,524        52         8,575       16        1,887       81       17,266

        2005                                                                                                                      

First quarter ....    1,142      186,506       13        1,526         9         2,355        4          439       17        3,569
Second quarter ...    1,203      246,099       20        2,973        13         1,558        4          842       11        1,904
Third quarter ....    1,136      201,878       23        3,307         7         1,034        2        1,075       11        1,127
Fourth quarter ...    1,400      250,178       19        4,122         3           720        3          644        8        1,125

    Total ........    4,881      884,661       75       11,928        32         5,667       13        3,000       47        7,725

        2006                                                                                                                      

First quarter ....      963      183,089       12        1,159         6           744      (6)         (6)         7          833
Second quarter ...    1,353      295,964       10        3,294         7         1,564        8          988        7        1,252
Third quarter ....      929      160,254       14        3,544         6           487      (6)         (6)        11        1,831
Fourth quarter ...    1,640      296,662       12        4,039         4           708        5        1,482        9        1,017

    Total ........    4,885      935,969       48       12,036        23         3,503       19        3,753       34        4,933

        2007                                                                                                                      

First quarter ....    1,111   (r)226,074       19        3,007         5           875        3          415        5          885
Second quarter ...    1,421   (r)278,719       22        3,634         4           413        5          433        6          592
Third quarter .... (r)1,019   (r)160,806       22        5,279         7         1,117        4          403        4          342
Fourth quarter(p).    1,619      265,454        7        1,173         5           960        3          352        9          866

    Total(p) .....    5,170      931,053       70       13,093        21         3,365       15        1,603       24        2,685
                                                                                                                                  

   1 Information technology-producing industries are defined in Digital Economy 2003, (U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics
and Statistics Administration, 2003).  In the MLS program, however, computer and software merchant wholesalers and computer and
software stores are only included in the computer hardware industry.  Thus, data published in previous news releases for the
software and computer services industry are not comparable.
   2 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
semiconductor machinery manufacturing; office machinery manufacturing; electronic computer manufacturing; computer storage device
manufacturing; computer terminal manufacturing; other computer peripheral equipment mfg.; electron tube manufacturing; bare
printed circuit board manufacturing; semiconductors and related device mfg.; electronic capacitor manufacturing; electronic
resistor manufacturing; electronic coils, transformers, and inductors; electronic connector manufacturing; printed circuit
assembly manufacturing; other electronic component manufacturing; industrial process variable instruments; electricity and signal
testing instruments; analytical laboratory instrument mfg.; computer and software merchant wholesalers; and computer and software
stores.
   3 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
software publishers; internet service providers; web search portals; data processing and related services; computer and software
merchant wholesalers; computer and software stores; custom computer programming services; computer systems design services;
computer facilities management services; other computer related services; office equipment rental and leasing; and computer and
office machine repair.
   4 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
telephone apparatus manufacturing; audio and video equipment manufacturing; broadcast and wireless communications equip.; fiber
optic cable manufacturing; software reproducing; and magnetic and optical recording media mfg.
   5 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
wired telecommunications carriers; cellular and other wireless carriers; telecommunications resellers; cable and other program
distribution; satellite telecommunications; other telecommunications; and communication equipment repair.
   6 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   NOTE: Dash represents zero.
   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.






Table 7.  Industry distribution:  Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2006 and 2007

                                                               Layoff events                            Separations           
                     Industry                                                                                                 
                                                        IV          III           IV           IV           III           IV  
                                                       2006        2007r        2007p         2006         2007r         2007p
                                                                                                                              
      Total, private nonfarm (1) ................       69           63           61        15,782        12,361        10,076

    Mining ......................................       -            -            -            -             -             -  
    Utilities ...................................       -            -            -            -             -             -  
    Construction ................................       -            -            -            -             -             -  
    Manufacturing ...............................       50           45           43        12,775         8,949         7,189
         Food ...................................        3          (2)            3           559          (2)            683
         Beverage and tobacco products ..........       -           (2)           -            -            (2)            -  
         Textile mills ..........................        4            5          (2)         1,120         1,505          (2) 
         Textile product mills ..................      (2)          (2)          (2)          (2)           (2)           (2) 
         Apparel ................................      (2)            5           -           (2)           660            -  
         Leather and allied products ............      (2)           -            -           (2)            -             -  
         Wood products ..........................       -            -            -            -             -             -  
         Paper ..................................       -            -           (2)           -             -            (2) 
         Printing and related support activities       (2)          (2)            3          (2)           (2)            411
         Petroleum and coal products ............       -            -            -            -             -             -  

         Chemicals ..............................       -            -           (2)           -             -            (2) 
         Plastics and rubber products ...........        3            5          (2)           468           595          (2) 
         Nonmetallic mineral products ...........      (2)          (2)          (2)          (2)           (2)           (2) 
         Primary metals .........................      (2)          (2)            3          (2)           (2)            388
         Fabricated metal products ..............        3            3            5           525           462           879
         Machinery ..............................        4            3          (2)           515           565          (2) 
         Computer and electronic products .......      (2)            3            3          (2)          1,924           620
         Electrical equipment and appliances ....        7          (2)            5         3,198          (2)          1,310
         Transportation equipment ...............        9            6           10         1,664         1,059         1,438
         Furniture and related products .........      (2)          (2)          (2)          (2)           (2)           (2) 
         Miscellaneous manufacturing ............        3            3           -            842           188           -  

    Wholesale trade .............................      (2)            5          (2)          (2)            678          (2) 
    Retail trade ................................      (2)          (2)          (2)          (2)           (2)           (2) 
    Transportation and warehousing ..............        3          (2)          (2)           754          (2)           (2) 
    Information .................................      (2)           -             3          (2)            -             252
    Finance and insurance .......................        7            7            5         1,028         1,612           860
    Real estate and rental and leasing ..........      (2)           -            -           (2)            -             -  
    Professional and technical services .........      (2)          (2)            3          (2)           (2)            577
    Management of companies and enterprises .....       -            -           (2)           -             -            (2) 
    Administrative and waste services ...........        3           -           (2)           427           -            (2) 
    Educational services ........................       -            -            -            -             -             -  
    Health care and social assistance ...........       -            -            -            -             -             -  
    Arts, entertainment, and recreation .........       -            -            -            -             -             -  
    Accommodation and food services .............       -            -            -            -             -             -  
    Other services, except public administration        -           (2)           -            -            (2)            -  

    Unclassified ................................       -            -            -            -             -             -  
                                                                                                                              

   1 See footnote 1, table 1.
   2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   r = revised. 
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE: Dash represents zero. 






Table 8.  Reason for layoff:  Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2006 and 2007

                                               Layoff events                                  Separations              


         Reason for layoff               IV         III        IV                IV               III              IV  
                                       2006r       2007r      2007p             2006r            2007r            2007p

   Total, private nonfarm (1) ....       69          63          61            15,782           12,361           10,076

Business demand ..................       12          17         (2)             2,129            3,303             (2) 
  Contract cancellation ..........      (2)         (2)         (2)              (2)              (2)              (2) 
  Contract completion ............      (2)         (2)          -               (2)              (2)               -  
  Domestic competition ...........       -           -           -                -                -                -  
  Excess inventory/saturated 
    market .......................       -          (2)          -                -               (2)               -  
  Import competition .............        7          10           7             1,463            2,269            1,165
  Slack work/insufficient demand/
    non-seasonal business slowdown      (2)         (2)         (2)              (2)              (2)              (2) 

Organizational changes ...........       43          23          27             8,340            4,723            4,605
  Business-ownership change ......        5           4           5             1,160              903            1,325
  Reorganization or restructuring 
    of company ...................       38          19          22             7,180            3,820            3,280

Financial issues .................      (2)          18          18              (2)             3,763            2,981
  Bankruptcy .....................       -           -           -                -                -                -  
  Cost control/cost cutting/
    increase profitability .......       -          (2)         (2)               -               (2)              (2) 
  Financial difficulty ...........      (2)         (2)         (2)              (2)              (2)              (2) 
Production specific ..............        8         (2)          -              4,016             (2)               -  
  Automation/technological
    advances .....................       -          (2)          -                -               (2)               -  
  Energy related .................       -           -           -                -                -                -  
  Governmental regulations/
    intervention .................       -           -           -                -                -                -  
  Labor dispute/contract
    negotiations/strike ..........       -           -           -                -                -                -  
  Material or supply shortage ....       -           -           -                -                -                -  
  Model changeover ...............       -           -           -                -                -                -  
  Plant or machine repair/
    maintenance ..................       -           -           -                -                -                -  
  Product line discontinued ......        8          -           -              4,016              -                -  

Disaster/safety ..................        -          -           -                -                -                -  
  Hazardous work environment .....        -          -           -                -                -                -  
  Natural disaster (not weather
    related) .....................        -          -           -                -                -                -  
  Non-natural disaster ...........        -          -           -                -                -                -  
  Extreme weather-related event ..        -          -           -                -                -                -  

Other/miscellaneous ..............       (2)        (2)         (2)              (2)              (2)              (2) 
  Other ..........................       (2)        (2)         (2)              (2)              (2)              (2) 
  Data not provided: refusal .....        -          -           -                -                -                -  
  Data not provided: does not
    know .........................        -         (2)          -                -               (2)               -  

   1 See footnote 1, table 1.
   2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. 
   r = revised.
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE: Dash represents zero.






Table 9.  Census region and division:  Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the
movement of work, selected quarters, 2006 and 2007

                                       Layoff events                             Separations            
 Census region and division                                                                             
                                IV         III          IV              IV            III            IV 
                              2006        2007r       2007p           2006          2007r          2007p
                                                                                                        
        United States (1) .     69           63          61         15,782         12,361         10,076

Northeast .................     10            9           9          2,006          1,400          1,362

    New England ...........    (2)            3           3           (2)             514            562
    Middle Atlantic .......    (2)            6           6           (2)             886            800

South .....................     20           29          16          5,292          5,292          2,102

    South Atlantic ........     10           14           8          2,086          2,321            902
    East South Central ....      7          (2)           5          1,206           (2)             512
    West South Central ....      3          (2)           3          2,000           (2)             688

Midwest ...................     28           15          28          5,933          2,706          5,747

    East North Central ....     20            8          22          4,469          1,355          4,140
    West North Central ....      8            7           6          1,464          1,351          1,607

West ......................     11           10           8          2,551          2,963            865

    Mountain ..............    (2)          (2)         (2)           (2)            (2)            (2) 
    Pacific ...............    (2)          (2)         (2)           (2)            (2)            (2) 
                                                                                                        

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






Table 10.  Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, selected quarters, 2006 and 2007

                                                  Layoff events                                Separations              
                Action                                                                                                  
                                           IV           III          IV              IV              III            IV  
                                          2006         2007r        2007p           2006            2007r          2007p
                                                                                                                        
Total, private nonfarm (1) ..........     1,640        1,019        1,619         296,662         160,806        265,454

    Total, excluding seasonal                                                                                           
        and vacation events (2) .....       943          801          936         167,130         120,445        146,129

                                                                                                                        
        Total, movement of work (3) .        69           63           61          15,782          12,361         10,076

                                                                                                                        
             Movement of work 
               actions ..............        94           87           80            (4)             (4)            (4) 
                  With separations 
                    reported ........        66           60           61          10,462           7,159          6,682
                  With separations 
                    unknown .........        28           27           19            (4)             (4)            (4) 

   1 See footnote 1, table 1.
   2 The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers when the reason for layoff was either seasonal work
or vacation period.
   3 Movement of work can involve more than one action.
   4 Data are not available.
   r = revised.
   p = preliminary. 






Table 11.  Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by
employers, selected quarters, 2006 and 2007

                                              Actions (1)                        Separations         
           Activities                                                                                
                                       IV        III        IV             IV         III        IV  
                                      2006      2007r      2007p          2006       2007r      2007p
                                                                                                     
With separations reported (2) .        66         60         61          10,462      7,159      6,682

           By location                                                                               

  Out-of-country relocations ..        27         21         24           5,581      3,187      2,667
      Within company ..........        24         11         23           5,426      1,504      2,580
      Different company .......         3         10          1             155      1,683         87

  Domestic relocations ........        39         38         37           4,881      3,793      4,015
      Within company ..........        35         34         36           4,494      3,396      3,835
      Different company .......         4          4          1             387        397        180

  Unable to assign place of                                                                          
     relocation ...............        -           1         -               -         179         - 

           By company                                                                                

  Within company ..............        59         46         59           9,920      5,079      6,415
      Domestic ................        35         34         36           4,494      3,396      3,835
      Out of country ..........        24         11         23           5,426      1,504      2,580
      Unable to assign ........        -           1         -              -          179         - 

  Different company ...........         7         14          2             542      2,080        267
      Domestic ................         4          4          1             387        397        180
      Out of country ..........         3         10          1             155      1,683         87
      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.






Last Modified Date: February 14, 2008