Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Technical information: (202) 691-6392 USDL 08-1183 

 http://www.bls.gov/cps/ 

 For release: 10:00 A.M. (EDT) 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Wednesday, August 20, 2008 

WORKER DISPLACEMENT, 2005-2007 

From January 2005 through December 2007, 3.6 million workers were displaced from jobs they had 

held for at least 3 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. 

The number of displaced workers was about the same as the level (3.8 million) recorded in the previous 

survey that covered the period from January 2003 to December 2005. (The Worker Displacement 2003-

2005 news release is available online at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/disp_08172006.pdf.) 

Since 1984, the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor has 

sponsored surveys that collect information on workers who were displaced from their jobs. These 

surveys have been conducted biennially as supplements to the Current Population Survey (CPS), a 

monthly survey of households that is the primary source of information on the nation's labor force. 

Displaced workers are defined as persons 20 years of age and older who lost or left jobs because 

their plant or company closed or moved, there was insufficient work for them to do, or their position or 

shift was abolished. The period covered in this study was 2005-07, the 3 calendar years prior to the 

January 2008 survey date. The following analysis focuses primarily on the 3.6 million persons who had 

worked for their employer for 3 or more years at the time of displacement (referred to as long-tenured). 

An additional 4.6 million persons were displaced from jobs they had held for less than 3 years (referred 

to as short-tenured). Combining the short- and long-tenured groups, the number of displaced workers 

totaled 8.3 million from 2005-07, about unchanged from the period covered by the prior survey (2003-

05). 

Results from the January 2008 survey included the following highlights: 

• Two-thirds of long-tenured displaced workers were reemployed at the time of the survey, 

down from the prior survey. 

• About 45 percent of long-tenured displaced workers cited plant or company closings or 

moves as the reason for their displacement. 

• Forty-three percent of displaced workers who had worked for their employer for 3 or more 

years had received written advance notification that their jobs would be terminated. 

• Nearly 1 in 4 long-tenured displaced workers lost a job in manufacturing. 

News United States 

Department 

of Labor 
2

• Fifty-five percent of long-tenured workers who were displaced from full-time wage and 

salary jobs and who were reemployed in such jobs had earnings that were as much or more 

than those on the lost job. One-quarter, however, experienced earnings losses of 20 percent 

or more. 

Characteristics of the Reemployed

Sixty-seven percent of the 3.6 million long-tenured displaced workers were reemployed when 

surveyed in January 2008, down from the proportion in the January 2006 survey—70 percent. The 

proportion unemployed at the time of the most recent survey, 18 percent, was higher than the proportion 

found in January 2006 (13 percent). Fifteen percent of long-tenured displaced workers were not in the 

labor force in January 2008. (See table 1.) 

Reemployment rates for workers ages 20 to 24 and 25 to 54 were 68 and 73 percent, respectively. 

Reemployment rates for older workers—ages 55 to 64 and 65 years and over—were 61 and 18 percent, 

respectively. Among those age 65 years and over, 69 percent were no longer in the labor force when 

surveyed. 

Among the displaced, men were more likely than women to have found a new job at the time of the 

survey in January 2008. The reemployment rate for men (70 percent) declined from the prior survey and 

the rate for women (64 percent) was little changed. However, displaced men and women had a similar 

likelihood of being unemployed; 19 and 17 percent, respectively. The share of displaced women who 

had left the labor force, about 20 percent, was nearly twice that for men—11 percent. 

In January 2008, the reemployment rates for long-tenured displaced whites (68 percent) and Asians 

(67 percent) were little changed from the rates recorded in the January 2006 survey, while the rate for 

blacks (59 percent) declined. The reemployment rate for Hispanics edged up to 68 percent in January 

2008. 

Reason for Job Loss and Receipt of Advance Notice

Of the 3.6 million long-tenured workers displaced during the January 2005 through December 2007 

period, 45 percent lost or left their jobs due to plant or company closings or moves, 31 percent reported 

that their position or shift was abolished, and 24 percent cited insufficient work as the reason for being 

displaced. (See table 2.) The proportion of displaced workers citing plant closings or moves decreased 

from the prior survey and the share reporting insufficient work or an abolished shift or position was 

about unchanged. 

More than 4 in 10 long-tenured displaced workers in the January 2008 survey had received written 

advance notice that their jobs would be terminated, similar to the proportion in the prior survey. 

Workers who lost jobs due to plant or company closings or moves were most likely to receive written 

advance notice. Of this group, 54 percent received such notice. In contrast, 39 percent of workers who 

were displaced because their position or shift was abolished and 29 percent of those who lost jobs due to 

insufficient work were notified in advance. For each of these groups, however, receipt of written 

advance notice had little impact on the likelihood of being reemployed at the time of the survey in 

January 2008. (See table 3.) 
3

Industry and Occupation

As was the case in prior surveys, manufacturing accounted for a disproportionately large share of 

displaced workers. During the 2005-07 period, 876,000 factory workers were displaced from their 

jobs—24 percent of all long-tenured displaced workers. Manufacturing displacements were again 

concentrated within the durable goods component (566,000), particularly in transportation equipment 

and in computers and electronic products. Workers in financial activities (387,000) made up about 11 

percent of all long-tenured displaced. (See table 4.) 

The reemployment rates for workers displaced from construction (65 percent), financial activities 

(65 percent), and manufacturing (64 percent) were about the same as the overall reemployment rate for 

displaced workers (67 percent). (Workers were not necessarily reemployed in the same industries from 

which they were displaced.) By comparison, reemployment rates for workers displaced from jobs in 

education and health services (75 percent), professional and business services (74 percent), and 

transportation and utilities (73 percent) were above the overall reemployment rate. 

In the January 2008 survey, workers displaced from managerial, professional, and related 

occupations accounted for 32 percent of all long-tenured displaced workers. Sales and office 

occupations comprised about 27 percent of the long-tenured worker displacements. Workers in 

production, transportation, and material moving jobs made up about one-fifth of the long-tenured 

displaced. (See table 5.) 

Geographic Divisions

Compared to the prior survey period, the number of long-tenured workers displaced during 2005-07 

was lower in the East South Central and higher in the Middle Atlantic geographic divisions of the 

United States. In January 2008, those residing in the Mountain and New England divisions had the 

highest reemployment rates; about three-quarters of the displaced in each of these divisions were 

reemployed at the time of the survey. About one-quarter of displaced manufacturing workers lived in 

the East North Central division. (See table 6.) 

Earnings

Of the 2.2 million reemployed displaced workers who lost full-time wage and salary jobs during the 

2005-07 period, 1.7 million had found new full-time wage and salary jobs by January 2008. Of these 

reemployed full-time workers who reported earnings on their lost job, 55 percent were earning as much 

or more than they did prior to displacement; the proportion was 51 percent in the January 2006 survey. 

In the most recent survey, 25 percent reported earnings losses of 20 percent or more, down from 29 percent in the previous survey. (See table 7.) 

Total Displaced Workers (With No Tenure Restriction)

The total number of workers displaced between January 2005 and December 2007 (regardless of 

how long they had held their jobs) was 8.3 million, little different from the total number in the previous 

survey period. Of the total number of workers who lost jobs over the 2005-07 period, 67 percent had 

found new jobs and 19 percent were unemployed in January 2008. In the January 2006 survey, 68 percent of the total displaced were reemployed and 16 percent were unemployed. (See table 8.) 
4

In January 2008, short-tenured displaced workers were somewhat more likely than their longtenured counterparts to be young and to have lost jobs in construction and in professional and business 

services. 

Imputed Data for Older Veterans 

Due to a programming error in the January 2008 survey instrument, displacement information was 

not obtained from respondents who were veterans age 65 and over. Missing data for these individuals 

were imputed using information collected from respondents who were veterans age 65 and over in the 

January 2006 Displaced Worker Supplement. This imputation had minimal effect on the overall 

estimates because older veterans make up a relatively small share of the displaced and because of the 

similar employment characteristics of veterans age 65 and over in January 2006 and January 2008. 
Technical Note 

The data presented in this release were collected 

through a supplement to the January 2008 Current 

Population Survey (CPS), the monthly survey of about 

60,000 households that provides the basic data on employment and unemployment for the nation. The CPS is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics (BLS). The purpose of this supplement was to 

obtain information on the number and characteristics of persons who had been displaced (as defined below) from their 

jobs over the prior 3 calendar years. 

Data presented in this release are based on Census 

2000 population controls that are updated annually in 

January. For additional information, see “Population control adjustments to the CPS” available on the Internet at 

http://www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#pop. 

Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 

(202) 691-5200; TDD message referral phone number: 

1-800-877-8339. 

Reliability of the estimates 

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than 

the entire population, is surveyed, there is a chance that the 

sample estimates may differ from the "true" population 

values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling 

error, varies depending on the particular sample selected, 

and this variability is measured by the standard error of the 

estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of 

confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ 

by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true" population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are 

generally conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence. 

The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. 

Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including 

the failure to sample a segment of the population, inability 

to obtain information for all respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct 

information, and errors made in the collection or processing 

of the data. 

For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the 

CPS and information on estimating standard errors, see 

"Reliability of estimates from the CPS" available online at: 

http://www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability. 

Concepts 

The first question asked of survey respondents to the 

CPS supplement was, "During the last 3 calendar years, that 

is, January 2005 through December 2007, did (you/name) 

lose a job or leave one because: (your/his/her) plant or 

company closed or moved, (your/his/her) position or shift 

was abolished, there was insufficient work, or another 

similar reason?" If the answer to that question was "yes," 

then the respondent was asked to identify which reason, 

among the following, best described the reason for the job 

loss: 

Plant or company closed down or moved 

Plant or company operating but lost or left job because of: 

Insufficient work 

Position or shift abolished 

Seasonal job completed 

Self-operated business failed 

Some other reason 

Respondents who provided one of the first three reasons—plant or company closed or moved, insufficient 

work, or position or shift abolished—were then asked 

questions about the lost job, including how many years it 

had been held; the year the job was lost; its earnings, 

industry, and occupation; and whether health insurance had 

been provided. Other questions were asked to determine 

what transpired before and after the job loss, such as: Was 

the respondent notified of the upcoming dismissal? How 

long did he/she go without work? Did he/she receive unemployment benefits? And, if so, were the benefits used 

up? Did the person move to another location after the job 

loss to take or look for another job? Information also was 

collected about current health insurance coverage (other 

than Medicare and Medicaid) and current earnings for those 

employed in January 2008. 
Table 1. Displaced workers 1 by age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and employment status in

January 2008

Age, sex, race, and Hispanic

or Latino ethnicity

Total

(thousands)

Percent distribution by employment status

Total Employed Unemployed Not in the

labor force

TOTAL

 Total, 20 years and over ......................... 3,641 100.0 67.1 18.0 15.0

20 to 24 years ............................................. 127 100.0 67.5 22.8 9.7

25 to 54 years ............................................. 2,602 100.0 72.6 17.4 10.0

55 to 64 years ............................................. 708 100.0 60.8 20.7 18.5

65 years and over ....................................... 204 100.0 18.4 12.6 69.0

Men

 Total, 20 years and over ......................... 2,024 100.0 69.9 18.8 11.2

20 to 24 years ............................................. 75 100.0 66.4 22.5 11.1

25 to 54 years ............................................. 1,490 100.0 74.4 19.1 6.5

55 to 64 years ............................................. 356 100.0 68.0 17.9 14.0

65 years and over ....................................... 103 100.0 14.4 15.4 70.2

Women

 Total, 20 years and over ......................... 1,617 100.0 63.5 16.9 19.6

20 to 24 years ............................................. 53 100.0 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 2 ( )

25 to 54 years ............................................. 1,112 100.0 70.1 15.1 14.8

55 to 64 years ............................................. 352 100.0 53.4 23.6 23.0

65 years and over ....................................... 101 100.0 22.4 9.8 67.8

White

 Total, 20 years and over ......................... 3,032 100.0 67.9 16.8 15.3

Men ............................................................. 1,684 100.0 70.8 18.2 11.0

Women ....................................................... 1,348 100.0 64.4 14.9 20.7

Black or African American

 Total, 20 years and over ......................... 408 100.0 58.6 28.2 13.3

Men ............................................................. 221 100.0 60.5 25.7 13.8

Women ....................................................... 187 100.0 56.3 31.1 12.6

Asian

 Total, 20 years and over ......................... 122 100.0 67.3 11.7 21.0

Men ............................................................. 65 100.0 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 2 ( )

Women ....................................................... 57 100.0 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 2 ( )

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

 Total, 20 years and over ......................... 423 100.0 68.4 17.4 14.1

Men ............................................................. 270 100.0 70.1 23.4 6.6

Women ....................................................... 153 100.0 65.5 6.9 27.6

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job

they had lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007

because of plant or company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the

abolishment of their positions or shifts. 2 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.

 NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not

presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
Table 2. Displaced workers 1 by age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and reason for job loss, January 2008

Age, sex, race, and Hispanic

or Latino ethnicity

Total

(thousands)

 Percent distribution by reason for job loss

Total

Plant or

company closed

down or moved

Insufficient work Position or shift

abolished

TOTAL

 Total, 20 years and over ........................................... 3,641 100.0 45.3 23.9 30.8

20 to 24 years ............................................................... 127 100.0 42.4 39.8 17.7

25 to 54 years ............................................................... 2,602 100.0 44.8 25.2 30.0

55 to 64 years ............................................................... 708 100.0 45.7 17.6 36.7

65 years and over ......................................................... 204 100.0 52.2 19.2 28.5

Men

 Total, 20 years and over ........................................... 2,024 100.0 43.6 27.9 28.5

20 to 24 years ............................................................... 75 100.0 34.2 52.6 13.2

25 to 54 years ............................................................... 1,490 100.0 42.0 29.1 28.9

55 to 64 years ............................................................... 356 100.0 49.7 18.7 31.6

65 years and over ......................................................... 103 100.0 52.3 24.3 23.4

Women

 Total, 20 years and over ........................................... 1,617 100.0 47.4 19.0 33.6

20 to 24 years ............................................................... 53 100.0 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 2 ( )

25 to 54 years ............................................................... 1,112 100.0 48.5 20.1 31.4

55 to 64 years ............................................................... 352 100.0 41.6 16.5 41.9

65 years and over ......................................................... 101 100.0 52.2 14.1 33.8

White

 Total, 20 years and over ........................................... 3,032 100.0 45.4 23.5 31.1

Men ............................................................................... 1,684 100.0 43.5 27.8 28.7

Women ......................................................................... 1,348 100.0 47.9 18.1 34.1

Black or African American

 Total, 20 years and over ........................................... 408 100.0 46.6 26.9 26.4

Men ............................................................................... 221 100.0 41.8 31.0 27.2

Women ......................................................................... 187 100.0 52.4 22.1 25.5

Asian

 Total, 20 years and over ........................................... 122 100.0 44.7 15.7 39.5

Men ............................................................................... 65 100.0 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 2 ( )

Women ......................................................................... 57 100.0 2 ( ) 2 ( ) 2 ( )

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

 Total, 20 years and over ........................................... 423 100.0 43.5 39.5 17.0

Men ............................................................................... 270 100.0 41.0 47.5 11.5

Women ......................................................................... 153 100.0 47.9 25.4 26.6

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they

had lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007 because of plant or

company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their

positions or shifts. 2 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.

 NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for

all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of

any race.
Table 3. Displaced workers 1 by whether they received written advance notice, reason for job loss, and employment

status in January 2008

Characteristic Total

(thousands)

Percent distribution by employment status

Total Employed Unemployed Not in the

labor force

TOTAL

 Total, 20 years and over 2 .................................................................. 3,641 100.0 67.1 18.0 15.0

Received written advance notice ............................................................ 1,581 100.0 68.8 17.2 14.0

Did not receive written advance notice ................................................... 2,009 100.0 65.8 18.6 15.6

Plant or company closed down or moved

 Total, 20 years and over 2 .................................................................. 1,648 100.0 70.0 13.5 16.5

Received written advance notice ............................................................ 892 100.0 71.2 13.1 15.6

Did not receive written advance notice ................................................... 740 100.0 68.2 14.2 17.6

Insufficient work

 Total, 20 years and over 2 .................................................................. 871 100.0 59.7 27.8 12.5

Received written advance notice ............................................................ 252 100.0 56.0 29.1 15.0

Did not receive written advance notice ................................................... 610 100.0 61.4 26.9 11.7

Position or shift abolished

 Total, 20 years and over 2 .................................................................. 1,121 100.0 68.6 16.9 14.5

Received written advance notice ............................................................ 437 100.0 71.2 18.6 10.2

Did not receive written advance notice ................................................... 658 100.0 67.0 16.0 17.0

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they had lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007 because of plant or company

closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their positions or shifts. 2 Includes a small number who did not report information on advance notice.
Table 4. Displaced workers 1 by industry and class of worker of lost job and employment status in January 2008

Industry and class of worker of lost job Total

(thousands)

Percent distribution by employment status

Total Employed Unemployed Not in the

labor force

 Total, 20 years and over 2 ................................................................. 3,641 100.0 67.1 18.0 15.0

Agriculture and related industries wage and salary workers .................. 19 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

Nonagricultural industries wage and salary workers .............................. 3,595 100.0 67.2 18.0 14.9

 Private nonagricultural wage and salary workers ................................. 3,484 100.0 66.9 18.1 15.0

 Mining ............................................................................................. 9 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Construction ................................................................................... 284 100.0 64.8 28.6 6.5

 Manufacturing ................................................................................. 876 100.0 64.3 18.2 17.4

 Durable goods manufacturing .................................................. 566 100.0 65.5 16.6 17.8

 Primary metals and fabricated metal products ...................... 57 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Machinery manufacturing ...................................................... 61 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Computers and electronic products ....................................... 107 100.0 66.7 12.6 20.7

 Electrical equipment and appliances ..................................... 25 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Transportation equipment ...................................................... 134 100.0 64.9 19.0 16.1

 Miscellaneous manufacturing ................................................ 77 100.0 63.3 13.5 23.2

 Other durable goods industries ............................................. 104 100.0 69.9 9.9 20.2

 Nondurable goods manufacturing ............................................ 310 100.0 62.2 21.1 16.7

 Food manufacturing ............................................................... 32 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Textiles, apparel, and leather ................................................ 74 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Paper and printing ................................................................. 91 100.0 63.8 26.9 9.3

 Other nondurable goods industries ....................................... 113 100.0 68.3 14.9 16.8

 Wholesale and retail trade .............................................................. 545 100.0 61.1 19.7 19.3

 Wholesale trade ......................................................................... 134 100.0 66.1 12.9 21.0

 Retail trade ................................................................................ 411 100.0 59.4 21.9 18.7

 Transportation and utilities 4 ........................................................... 157 100.0 72.9 11.6 15.5

 Transportation and warehousing ............................................... 131 100.0 70.9 12.9 16.2

 Information 4 ................................................................................... 177 100.0 69.9 21.4 8.7

 Telecommunications .................................................................. 72 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Financial activities .......................................................................... 387 100.0 65.2 22.4 12.4

 Finance and insurance .............................................................. 313 100.0 63.2 25.2 11.6

 Finance .................................................................................. 228 100.0 60.4 29.8 9.8

 Insurance ............................................................................... 86 100.0 70.6 13.0 16.4

 Real estate and rental and leasing ............................................ 73 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Professional and business services ............................................... 309 100.0 73.7 14.4 11.9

 Professional and technical services .......................................... 198 100.0 69.3 15.9 14.7

 Management, administrative, and waste services ..................... 112 100.0 81.5 11.6 6.9

 Education and health services ........................................................ 306 100.0 74.5 8.1 17.4

 Educational services .................................................................. 54 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Health care and social assistance 4 .......................................... 252 100.0 73.6 7.7 18.8

 Hospitals ................................................................................ 64 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Health services, except hospitals .......................................... 157 100.0 77.3 10.1 12.6

 Leisure and hospitality 4 ................................................................. 251 100.0 68.4 18.0 13.6

 Accommodation and food services 4 ......................................... 215 100.0 70.4 16.9 12.7

 Food services and drinking places ........................................ 169 100.0 74.3 13.6 12.1

 Other services ................................................................................ 180 100.0 72.6 11.0 16.3

 Government workers ............................................................................ 111 100.0 74.9 13.3 11.7

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they had

lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007 because of plant or

company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their

positions or shifts.

2 Total includes a small number of unpaid family workers and persons who

did not report industry or class of worker. 3 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000. 4 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
Table 5. Displaced workers 1 by occupation of lost job and employment status in January 2008

Occupation of lost job Total

(thousands)

Percent distribution by employment status

Total Employed Unemployed Not in the

labor force

 Total, 20 years and over 2 ................................................... 3,641 100.0 67.1 18.0 15.0

 Management, professional, and related occupations .............. 1,147 100.0 68.6 19.1 12.2

 Management, business, and financial operations

occupations ........................................................................ 605 100.0 64.2 23.1 12.7

 Professional and related occupations .................................... 542 100.0 73.5 14.7 11.7

 Service occupations ................................................................ 319 100.0 70.1 12.6 17.3

 Sales and office occupations ................................................... 987 100.0 65.0 16.1 18.8

 Sales and related occupations .............................................. 413 100.0 68.6 13.8 17.6

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................... 574 100.0 62.5 17.8 19.7

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance

occupations ........................................................................ 415 100.0 69.1 21.2 9.6

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................ 21 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................... 218 100.0 63.3 31.7 5.0

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................ 176 100.0 75.1 10.0 14.9

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 746 100.0 65.1 18.8 16.1

 Production occupations ......................................................... 536 100.0 64.5 20.0 15.4

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................. 210 100.0 66.5 15.6 17.8

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they

had lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007 because of plant

or company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their

positions or shifts. 2 Total includes a small number who did not report occupation. 3 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.
Table 6. Displaced workers 1 by selected characteristics and area of residence in January 2008

(In thousands)

Characteristic Total New

England

Middle

Atlantic

East

North

Central

West

North

Central

South

Atlantic

East

South

Central

West

South

Central

Mountain Pacific

Workers who lost jobs

 Total, 20 years and over ........................... 3,641 184 519 775 301 613 168 304 213 564

Men ............................................................... 2,024 107 257 445 153 354 101 174 145 288

Women ......................................................... 1,617 76 262 330 148 259 68 130 68 276

Reason for job loss

Plant or company closed down or moved ..... 1,648 84 267 347 138 294 73 103 83 262

Insufficient work ............................................ 871 46 114 157 55 130 49 75 78 167

Position or shift abolished ............................. 1,121 53 138 272 108 189 47 127 52 135

Industry and class of worker of lost job 2

Agriculture and related industries wage and

salary workers ........................................ 19 2 – 4 3 2 – 6 1 3

Nonagricultural industries wage and salary

workers ................................................... 3,595 178 519 762 296 605 168 298 212 557

 Private nonagricultural wage and salary

workers ................................................... 3,484 175 512 735 285 587 163 285 206 536

 Mining ................................................... 9 – – 6 – – – 3 – –

 Construction ......................................... 284 7 32 45 23 41 4 28 26 78

 Manufacturing ....................................... 876 48 96 232 88 132 58 60 50 111

 Durable goods ................................. 566 23 54 158 60 76 41 42 38 73

 Nondurable goods ........................... 310 25 41 73 28 56 18 18 12 38

 Wholesale and retail trade .................... 545 23 78 113 58 98 25 54 31 63

 Transportation and utilities ................... 157 6 22 49 5 28 11 7 4 26

 Information ............................................ 177 11 40 28 16 43 7 7 6 19

 Financial activities ................................ 387 22 84 55 34 55 17 22 25 73

 Professional and business services ..... 309 13 55 57 19 56 2 24 33 49

 Education and health services .............. 306 14 44 59 26 58 13 36 5 52

 Leisure and hospitality .......................... 251 23 37 50 7 49 15 20 15 34

 Other services ...................................... 180 7 24 41 10 28 10 18 11 31

 Government workers .................................. 111 3 6 27 11 17 6 14 6 21

Employment status

in January 2008

Employed ...................................................... 2,442 135 300 512 214 436 120 211 163 351

Unemployed ................................................. 654 30 117 165 51 102 17 41 32 99

Not in the labor force .................................... 545 19 101 99 36 75 31 52 18 114

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they had

lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007 because of plant or

company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their positions

or shifts. 2 Total includes a small number of unpaid family workers and persons who did

not report industry or class of worker.

 NOTE: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,

and Vermont compose the New England Division; New Jersey, New York, and

Pennsylvania compose the Middle Atlantic Division; Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,

Ohio, and Wisconsin compose the East North Central Division; Iowa, Kansas,

Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota compose the

West North Central Division; Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia,

Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia compose

the South Atlantic Division; Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee

compose the East South Central Division; Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and

Texas compose the West South Central Division; Arizona, Colorado, Idaho,

Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming compose the Mountain

Division; Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington compose the Pacific

Division. Dash represents or rounds to zero.
Table 7. Displaced workers 1 who lost full-time wage and salary jobs and were reemployed in January 2008 by industry of

lost job and characteristics of new job

(In thousands)

Industry and class of worker of lost job

Reemployed in January 2008

Total

Wage and salary workers

Selfemployed

and

unpaid

family

workers

Part

time

Full time

Total 2

Earnings relative to those of lost job

20 percent

or more

below

Below, but

within 20

percent

Equal or

above, but

within 20

percent

20 percent

or more

above

 Total who lost full-time wage and salary jobs 3 ........ 2,183 235 1,725 362 283 488 306 224

Agriculture and related industries wage and salary

workers ................................................................... 9 – 5 1 – 2 3 4

Nonagricultural industries wage and salary workers .... 2,170 235 1,716 361 279 486 303 220

 Private nonagricultural wage and salary workers ....... 2,106 220 1,670 351 277 474 296 216

 Mining ................................................................... 3 – 3 – – – 3 –

 Construction ......................................................... 171 23 128 22 13 66 10 19

 Manufacturing ....................................................... 548 48 443 110 71 122 68 57

 Durable goods ................................................. 364 29 286 71 50 76 43 48

 Nondurable goods ........................................... 184 19 157 40 21 46 25 8

 Wholesale and retail trade .................................... 288 26 231 42 44 65 46 31

 Transportation and utilities ................................... 103 3 89 33 13 22 13 12

 Information ............................................................ 116 3 103 23 17 26 15 10

 Financial activities ................................................ 234 20 196 40 38 47 23 17

 Professional and business services ..................... 208 35 143 13 40 36 26 30

 Education and health services .............................. 192 35 143 30 24 53 21 13

 Leisure and hospitality .......................................... 130 20 95 15 5 18 35 15

 Other services ...................................................... 113 6 96 23 11 18 35 11

 Government workers .................................................. 64 14 46 10 2 12 7 4

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they had

lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007 because of plant or

company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their

positions or shifts.

2 Includes about 286,000 persons who did not report earnings on lost job. 3 Includes a small number who did not report industry.

 NOTE: Dash represents or rounds to zero.
Table 8. Total displaced workers 1 by selected characteristics and employment status in 

January 2008

Characteristic Total

(thousands)

Percent distribution by employment status

Total Employed Unemployed Not in the

labor force

Workers who lost jobs

 Total, 20 years and over ....................................................... 8,250 100.0 66.6 19.2 14.2

20 to 24 years ........................................................................... 956 100.0 69.9 16.8 13.3

25 to 54 years ........................................................................... 5,893 100.0 69.7 19.3 11.0

55 to 64 years ........................................................................... 1,117 100.0 59.2 22.1 18.6

65 years and over ..................................................................... 285 100.0 18.8 14.5 66.7

 Men ....................................................................................... 4,720 100.0 69.4 20.4 10.2

20 to 24 years ........................................................................... 600 100.0 72.4 20.1 7.5

25 to 54 years ........................................................................... 3,398 100.0 72.2 20.6 7.2

55 to 64 years ........................................................................... 582 100.0 62.7 20.1 17.1

65 years and over ..................................................................... 140 100.0 17.5 16.9 65.6

 Women ................................................................................. 3,531 100.0 62.7 17.6 19.7

20 to 24 years ........................................................................... 356 100.0 65.6 11.3 23.2

25 to 54 years ........................................................................... 2,495 100.0 66.4 17.4 16.2

55 to 64 years ........................................................................... 534 100.0 55.5 24.3 20.3

65 years and over ..................................................................... 145 100.0 20.1 12.2 67.8

White ........................................................................................ 6,510 100.0 68.0 17.6 14.3

Black or African American ........................................................ 1,183 100.0 58.4 28.1 13.5

Asian ......................................................................................... 285 100.0 62.9 14.4 22.7

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity ....................................................... 1,257 100.0 67.0 19.6 13.4

Reason for job loss

Plant or company closed down or moved ................................. 3,064 100.0 69.4 14.9 15.7

Insufficient work ........................................................................ 3,028 100.0 61.5 25.1 13.4

Position or shift abolished ......................................................... 2,158 100.0 69.7 17.0 13.4

Occupation of lost job 2

 Management, professional, and related occupations .............. 2,156 100.0 72.1 17.6 10.4

 Management, business, and financial operations

occupations ........................................................................ 1,026 100.0 69.2 20.4 10.4

 Professional and related occupations .................................... 1,130 100.0 74.7 15.0 10.3

 Service occupations ................................................................ 905 100.0 61.9 18.7 19.4

 Sales and office occupations ................................................... 2,107 100.0 66.1 16.1 17.8

 Sales and related occupations .............................................. 885 100.0 69.8 15.1 15.2

 Office and administrative support occupations ...................... 1,221 100.0 63.4 16.9 19.7

 Natural resources, construction, and maintenance

occupations ........................................................................ 1,291 100.0 68.7 22.6 8.8

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................ 40 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Construction and extraction occupations ............................... 840 100.0 65.3 26.2 8.6

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................ 412 100.0 73.9 16.8 9.3

 Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 1,552 100.0 62.3 22.1 15.6

 Production occupations ......................................................... 950 100.0 63.3 22.5 14.2

 Transportation and material moving occupations .................. 603 100.0 60.7 21.5 17.8

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 8. Total displaced workers 1 by selected characteristics and employment status in 

January 2008 — Continued

Characteristic Total

(thousands)

Percent distribution by employment status

Total Employed Unemployed Not in the

labor force

Industry and class of worker of lost job 2

Agriculture and related industries wage and salary workers .... 37 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

Nonagricultural industries wage and salary workers ................ 7,985 100.0 66.8 19.1 14.2

 Private nonagricultural wage and salary workers ................... 7,735 100.0 66.7 19.1 14.2

 Mining ............................................................................... 28 100.0 3 ( ) 3 ( ) 3 ( )

 Construction ..................................................................... 1,016 100.0 69.7 22.6 7.7

 Manufacturing ................................................................... 1,549 100.0 65.0 20.3 14.6

 Durable goods ............................................................. 1,004 100.0 67.3 18.7 14.0

 Nondurable goods ....................................................... 546 100.0 61.0 23.3 15.7

 Wholesale and retail trade ................................................ 1,206 100.0 61.8 20.9 17.3

 Transportation and utilities ............................................... 343 100.0 69.5 13.6 16.9

 Information ........................................................................ 277 100.0 70.8 16.1 13.1

 Financial activities ............................................................ 694 100.0 69.5 19.0 11.5

 Professional and business services ................................. 920 100.0 66.5 19.9 13.6

 Education and health services .......................................... 687 100.0 70.1 13.9 16.0

 Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 635 100.0 65.2 18.9 16.0

 Other services .................................................................. 368 100.0 68.3 13.8 17.9

 Government workers .............................................................. 250 100.0 70.3 17.2 12.5

1 Data refer to all persons (regardless of years of tenure on lost job)

who had lost or left a job between January 2005 and December 2007

because of plant or company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the

abolishment of their positions or shifts. 2 Total includes a small number of unpaid family workers and

persons who did not report occupation, industry, or class of worker.

3 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.

 NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not

presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.