For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, October 23, 2012 USDL-12-2120 

Technical information: (202) 691-6392 • mlsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/mls 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov 

MASS LAYOFFS — SEPTEMBER 2012 

Employers took 1,316 mass layoff actions in September involving 122,462 workers as measured by new 

filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

reported today. (Data are seasonally adjusted.) Each mass layoff involved at least 50 workers from a 

single employer. Mass layoff events in September increased by 49 from August, while the number of 

associated initial claims decreased by 4,992. In September, 366 mass layoff events were reported in the 

manufacturing sector resulting in 39,748 initial claims. Mass layoff data are identified using 

administrative data sources without regard to layoff duration. (See table 1 and the note at the end of this 

release.) 

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

Sep‐01 Sep‐02 Sep‐03 Sep‐04 Sep‐05 Sep‐06 Sep‐07 Sep‐08 Sep‐09 Sep‐10 Sep‐11 Sep‐12

Initial Claims Unemployment Rate

Total masslayoff initial claims Manufacturing mass layoff initial claims Unemployment rate

Chart 1. Masslayoff initial claims and unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted, September 2001‐September 2012   

The national unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in September, down from 8.1 percent the prior month 

and from 9.0 percent a year earlier. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 114,000 over the 

month and by 1,806,000 over the year. 

Industry Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted) 

The number of mass layoff events in September was 811, not seasonally adjusted, resulting in 70,570 

initial claims for unemployment insurance. (See table 2.) Over the year, the number of average weekly 

mass layoff events for September decreased by 35 to 203, and associated average weekly initial claims 

decreased by 5,803 to 17,643. Thirteen of the 19 major industry sectors in the private economy reported 

over-the-year decreases in average weekly initial claims, with the largest decrease occurring in 
- 2 - 

Table A. Six-digit NAICS industries with the largest number of mass layoff initial claims

in September 2012, private nonfarm, not seasonally adjusted

Temporary help services 1

 ........................................ 6,131 2001 12,752 

Motion picture and video production ........................ 3,647 1997 11,176 

Professional employer organizations 1

 ....................... 1,593 2008 4,520 

Heavy duty truck manufacturing ................................ 1,544 2000 4,198 

Warehouse clubs and supercenters ........................... 1,494 2009 1,705 

Food service contractors .......................................... 1,466 2001 1,631 

Supermarkets and other grocery stores ..................... 1,151 2005 4,873 

Light truck and utility vehicle manufacturing ............... ( 2 ) 2000 3,688 

Tire manufacturing, except retreading ........................ ( 2 ) 1996 1,249 

Discount department stores ...................................... 819 2005 3,550 

1

 See the Technical Note for more information on these industries.

2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

Industry Initial claims

September peak

Year Initial claims

construction. (See table 3.) In September 2012, the six-digit industry with the largest number of private 

nonfarm initial claims due to mass layoffs was temporary help services. (See table A.) 

In September, the manufacturing sector accounted for 29 percent of mass layoff events and 34 percent of 

associated initial claims in the private economy. Within manufacturing, the numbers of mass layoff 

claimants were highest in transportation equipment and in food. Eleven of the 21 manufacturing 

subsectors experienced over-the-year decreases in average weekly initial claims. (See table 3.) 

Geographic Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted) 

Among the census regions, the South registered the largest number of initial claims due to mass layoffs 

in September. Three of the 4 regions experienced over-the-year decreases in average weekly initial 

claims, with the largest decrease occurring in the West. (See table 4.) 

Among the states, California recorded the highest number of mass layoff initial claims in September, 

followed by Pennsylvania and New York. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia experienced 

over-the-year decreases in average weekly initial claims, led by California and Pennsylvania. (See 

table 4.) 

Note 

The monthly data series in this release cover mass layoffs of 50 or more workers beginning in a given 

month, regardless of the duration of the layoffs. For private nonfarm establishments, information on the 

length of the layoff is obtained later and issued in a quarterly release that reports on mass layoffs lasting 

more than 30 days (referred to as "extended mass layoffs"). The quarterly release provides more 

information on the industry classification and location of the establishment and on the demographics of 

the laid-off workers. The monthly data series in this release are subjected to average weekly analysis, 
- 3 - 

which mitigates the effect of differing lengths of months. See the Technical Note for more detailed 

definitions and for a description of average weekly analysis. 

____________ 

The Extended Mass Layoffs news release for Third Quarter 2012 is scheduled to be released on 

Thursday, November 8, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EST). The Mass Layoffs news release for October is 

scheduled to be released on Tuesday, November 20, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EST). 
Technical Note 

The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federalstate program that uses a standardized automated approach to 

identifying, describing, and tracking the effects of major job 

cutbacks, using data from each state's unemployment 

insurance database. Each month, states report on employers 

which have at least 50 initial claims filed against them during 

a consecutive 5-week period. These employers then are 

contacted by the state agency to determine whether these 

separations lasted 31 days or longer, and, if so, other 

information concerning the layoff is collected. States report 

on layoffs lasting more than 1 month on a quarterly basis. 

The monthly data present preliminary mass layoff 

activity in the reference month and are not revised in 

subsequent months except in special circumstances (e.g., 

layoffs in states affected by Hurricane Katrina). Counts of 

initial claims associated with mass layoff events reflect 

activity through the end of the reference month. Additional 

mass layoff event and initial claims activity received after 

data for the reference month have been published by BLS are 

not updated in the monthly mass layoff series and, therefore, 

may not match revised mass layoff data issued in state 

publications. However, any additional mass layoff 

information meeting the extended mass layoff criteria will be 

reflected in BLS’ quarterly publication of extended mass 

layoff data. 

A given month contains an aggregation of the weekly 

unemployment insurance claims filings for the Sunday 

through Saturday weeks in that month. All weeks are 

included for the particular month, except if the first day of the 

month falls on Saturday. In this case, the week is included in 

the prior month's tabulations. This means that some months 

will contain 4 weeks and others, 5 weeks. The number of 

weeks in a given month may be different from year to year, 

and the number of weeks in a year may vary. Therefore, data 

users who intend to perform analysis of over-the-year change 

in the not seasonally adjusted series should use the average 

weekly mass layoff figures displayed in tables 3 and 4 of this 

release. The average weekly adjustment process produces a 

consistent series for each month across all years, permitting 

over-the-year analysis to be performed using strictly 

comparable data. 

The MLS program resumed operations in April 1995 

after it had been terminated in November 1992 due to lack of 

funding. Prior to April 1995, monthly layoff statistics were 

not available. 

Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 

(202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339 

Definitions 

Average weekly mass layoff events and initial claimants. 

The number of events and initial claimants in a given month 

divided by the number of weeks contained within that month.

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 administered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 

Industry. Employers are classified according to the 2007 

version of the North American Industry Classification System 

(NAICS). For temporary help and professional employer 

organization industries, monthly MLS-related statistics 

generally reflect layoffs related to underlying client 

companies in other industries. An individual layoff action at a 

client company can be small, but when initial claimants 

associated with many such layoffs are assigned to a 

temporary help or professional employer organization firm, a 

mass layoff event may trigger. 

Initial claimant. A person who files any notice of unemployment to initiate a request either for a determination of 

entitlement to and eligibility for compensation, or for a 

subsequent period of unemployment within a benefit year or 

period of eligibility. 

Mass layoff event. Fifty or more initial claims for 

unemployment insurance benefits filed against an employer 

during a 5-week period, regardless of duration. 

Seasonal adjustment 

Effective with the release of data for January 2005, BLS 

began publishing six seasonally adjusted monthly MLS 

series. The six series are the numbers of mass layoff events 

and mass layoff initial claims for the total, private nonfarm, 

and manufacturing sectors. 

Seasonal adjustment is the process of estimating and 

removing the effect on time series data of regularly recurring 

seasonal events such as changes in the weather, holidays, and 

the beginning and ending of the school year. The use of 

seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental 

changes in time series, particularly those associated with 

general economic expansions and contractions. 

The MLS data are seasonally adjusted using the X-12-

ARIMA seasonal adjustment method on a concurrent basis. 
Concurrent seasonal adjustment uses all available monthly 

estimates, including those for the current month, in 

developing seasonal adjustment factors. Revisions to the most 

recent 5 years of seasonally adjusted data will be made once a 

year with the issuance of December data. Before the data are 

seasonally adjusted, prior adjustments are made to the 

original data to adjust them for differences in the number of 

weeks used to calculate the monthly data. Because weekly 

unemployment insurance claims are aggregated to form 

monthly data, a particular month's value could be calculated 

with 5 weeks of data in 1 year and 4 weeks in another. The 

effects of these differences could seriously distort the 

seasonal factors if they were ignored in the seasonal 

adjustment process. These effects are modeled in the X-12-

ARIMA program and are permanently removed from the 

final seasonally adjusted series.
Table 1. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, October 2008 to September 2012,

seasonally adjusted

2008

October ........................................................ 2,201 226,853 2,043 213,454 698 93,252 

November .................................................... 2,406 239,239 2,247 225,404 907 103,836 

December .................................................... 2,437 244,889 2,261 230,621 935 116,181 

2009

January ........................................................ 2,254 235,371 2,083 221,653 726 92,293 

February ....................................................... 3,059 326,392 2,901 310,378 1,251 145,839 

March ........................................................... 2,999 299,322 2,800 282,414 1,230 154,168 

April .............................................................. 2,566 249,129 2,349 232,632 1,007 116,051 

May .............................................................. 2,710 284,468 2,516 267,869 1,181 147,184 

June ............................................................. 2,466 247,597 2,257 230,502 1,048 137,649 

July ............................................................... 2,186 222,941 1,979 203,911 636 75,728 

August .......................................................... 2,340 216,047 2,115 197,172 751 77,894 

September ................................................... 2,261 214,018 2,048 198,761 786 91,125 

October ........................................................ 1,969 195,752 1,772 178,172 571 65,217 

November .................................................... 1,757 164,454 1,588 151,172 472 52,855 

December .................................................... 1,719 155,056 1,543 140,835 424 44,096 

2010

January ........................................................ 1,707 168,044 1,529 154,187 471 53,817 

February ....................................................... 1,631 156,292 1,465 141,831 374 43,620 

March ........................................................... 1,676 149,816 1,469 134,518 356 40,705 

April .............................................................. 1,637 154,558 1,452 138,503 368 44,506 

May .............................................................. 1,608 150,996 1,357 130,273 302 29,932 

June ............................................................. 1,695 151,435 1,475 132,742 325 33,298 

July ............................................................... 1,519 138,091 1,316 122,162 304 32,253 

August .......................................................... 1,588 159,329 1,399 136,697 390 43,154 

September ................................................... 1,510 133,576 1,295 115,349 328 34,333 

October ........................................................ 1,654 149,589 1,446 132,146 354 38,937 

November .................................................... 1,592 161,145 1,410 145,494 360 39,977 

December .................................................... 1,477 135,849 1,271 121,171 322 36,267 

2011

January ........................................................ 1,536 148,952 1,348 131,869 337 37,477 

February ....................................................... 1,434 131,569 1,242 116,745 297 26,696 

March ........................................................... 1,275 115,391 1,118 102,722 251 28,988 

April .............................................................. 1,548 145,836 1,383 131,317 341 37,053 

May .............................................................. 1,600 144,412 1,404 127,793 374 39,180 

June ............................................................. 1,513 143,384 1,334 128,410 344 36,265 

July ............................................................... 1,562 145,078 1,348 125,285 346 36,312 

August .......................................................... 1,551 164,275 1,347 149,874 382 49,194 

September ................................................... 1,447 147,353 1,306 134,038 364 38,026 

October ........................................................ 1,335 118,924 1,205 107,330 341 33,926 

November .................................................... 1,332 131,627 1,192 120,760 324 36,563 

December .................................................... 1,384 145,648 1,238 130,583 351 39,081 

2012

January ........................................................ 1,434 129,920 1,298 119,102 341 33,597 

February ....................................................... 1,293 119,463 1,153 108,577 282 27,388 

March ........................................................... 1,273 121,310 1,125 109,421 261 26,348 

April .............................................................. 1,388 135,600 1,222 120,213 287 33,243 

May .............................................................. 1,380 130,191 1,222 117,654 264 29,675 

June ............................................................. 1,317 131,406 1,171 118,451 267 29,093 

July ............................................................... 1,340 137,420 1,208 127,092 364 44,920 

August .......................................................... 1,267 127,454 1,148 117,952 314 38,667 

September ................................................... 1,316 122,462 1,198 113,824 366 39,748 

Date

Total Private nonfarm Manufacturing

Events Initial

claimants Events Initial

claimants Events Initial

claimants
Table 2. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, October 2008 to September 2012,

not seasonally adjusted

2008

October ........................................................ 2,125 221,784 1,917 205,553 689 100,457 

November .................................................... 2,574 241,589 2,389 226,657 997 107,620 

December .................................................... 3,377 351,305 3,232 340,220 1,378 172,529 

2009

January ........................................................ 3,806 388,813 3,633 375,293 1,461 172,757 

February ....................................................... 2,262 218,438 2,173 210,755 945 103,588 

March ........................................................... 2,191 228,387 2,107 221,397 940 114,747 

April .............................................................. 2,547 256,930 2,385 243,321 887 100,872 

May .............................................................. 2,738 289,628 2,572 274,047 1,005 123,683 

June ............................................................. 2,519 256,357 2,051 216,063 674 85,726 

July ............................................................... 3,054 336,654 2,659 296,589 1,133 154,208 

August .......................................................... 1,428 125,024 1,334 117,193 436 41,151 

September ................................................... 1,371 123,177 1,258 115,141 448 51,126 

October ........................................................ 1,934 193,904 1,678 172,883 566 69,655 

November .................................................... 1,870 164,496 1,679 150,751 517 55,053 

December .................................................... 2,310 214,648 2,166 203,655 615 64,540 

2010

January ........................................................ 2,860 278,679 2,682 265,074 962 104,846 

February ....................................................... 1,183 102,818 1,091 96,022 282 30,728 

March ........................................................... 1,197 111,727 1,111 105,514 273 29,745 

April .............................................................. 1,840 199,690 1,697 184,654 424 55,178 

May .............................................................. 1,354 123,333 1,170 109,203 216 19,334 

June ............................................................. 1,861 171,190 1,355 125,872 212 21,083 

July ............................................................... 2,124 206,254 1,732 172,248 532 64,200 

August .......................................................... 976 92,435 897 83,021 230 23,088 

September ................................................... 920 77,654 806 67,987 187 19,403 

October ........................................................ 1,642 148,638 1,373 127,865 351 40,861 

November .................................................... 1,676 158,048 1,477 142,591 389 41,383 

December .................................................... 1,931 184,130 1,763 172,881 465 52,816 

2011

January ........................................................ 2,558 246,463 2,372 229,765 693 75,006 

February ....................................................... 1,024 85,585 919 78,718 222 18,471 

March ........................................................... 908 85,095 844 80,014 191 20,869 

April .............................................................. 1,750 189,919 1,625 176,478 397 47,104 

May .............................................................. 1,367 119,911 1,221 108,531 270 25,199 

June ............................................................. 1,661 159,930 1,238 122,821 226 22,986 

July ............................................................... 2,176 216,774 1,759 174,078 602 71,814 

August .......................................................... 961 99,213 875 93,159 228 26,916 

September ................................................... 1,189 117,232 1,095 107,300 296 32,058 

October ........................................................ 1,101 96,914 950 83,748 265 28,447 

November .................................................... 1,393 127,750 1,245 117,474 349 37,799 

December .................................................... 2,433 263,665 2,258 247,916 658 75,033 

2012

January ........................................................ 1,705 141,703 1,587 132,754 415 38,021 

February ....................................................... 895 73,974 820 69,076 196 16,555 

March ........................................................... 1,125 117,817 1,040 110,954 242 24,241 

April .............................................................. 1,421 146,358 1,293 132,697 256 32,518 

May .............................................................. 1,201 109,259 1,081 100,434 186 18,800 

June ............................................................. 1,890 198,537 1,485 158,334 255 28,570 

July ............................................................... 1,515 157,753 1,321 144,340 559 74,963 

August .......................................................... 1,063 104,045 992 97,694 251 31,193 

September ................................................... 811 70,570 749 66,214 221 22,748 

Date

Total Private nonfarm Manufacturing

Events Initial

claimants Events Initial

claimants Events Initial

claimants
Table 3. Industry distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, not seasonally adjusted

September September September September September September September September

2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012

 Total 2

 ....................................................................... 1,189 811 117,232 70,570 238 203 23,446 17,643 

Total, private .................................................................. 1,108 768 108,119 67,323 222 192 21,624 16,831 

 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting .................... 13 19 819 1,109 3 5 164 277 

 Total, private nonfarm .................................................. 1,095 749 107,300 66,214 219 187 21,460 16,554 

 Mining ......................................................................... ( 3 ) 7 ( 3 ) 891 ( 3 ) 2 ( 3 ) 223 

 Utilities ........................................................................ 3 ( 3 ) 159 ( 3 ) 1 ( 3 ) 32 ( 3 )

 Construction ............................................................... 150 65 10,813 4,765 30 16 2,163 1,191 

 Construction of buildings ........................................ 27 17 1,933 1,174 5 4 387 294 

 Heavy and civil engineering construction ............... 38 13 3,353 1,104 8 3 671 276 

 Specialty trade contractors ..................................... 85 35 5,527 2,487 17 9 1,105 622 

 Manufacturing ............................................................ 296 221 32,058 22,748 59 55 6,412 5,687 

 Food ....................................................................... 58 41 6,532 3,143 12 10 1,306 786 

 Beverage and tobacco products ............................ 7 7 656 560 1 2 131 140 

 Textile mills ............................................................ 11 5 1,784 858 2 1 357 215 

 Textile product mills ............................................... ( 3 ) 4 ( 3 ) 318 ( 3 ) 1 ( 3 ) 80 

 Apparel ................................................................... 11 4 993 255 2 1 199 64 

 Leather and allied products .................................... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 )

 Wood products ....................................................... 21 8 1,662 660 4 2 332 165 

 Paper ...................................................................... 6 ( 3 ) 544 ( 3 ) 1 ( 3 ) 109 ( 3 )

 Printing and related support activities .................... 6 3 451 203 1 1 90 51 

 Petroleum and coal products ................................. ( 3 ) 3 ( 3 ) 235 ( 3 ) 1 ( 3 ) 59 

 Chemicals .............................................................. 5 7 376 541 1 2 75 135 

 Plastics and rubber products .................................. 14 7 1,011 1,180 3 2 202 295 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ................................. 3 8 363 547 1 2 73 137 

 Primary metals ....................................................... 8 17 869 1,877 2 4 174 469 

 Fabricated metal products ...................................... 20 12 2,010 1,007 4 3 402 252 

 Machinery ............................................................... 22 22 3,069 2,748 4 6 614 687 

 Computer and electronic products ......................... 19 12 1,235 711 4 3 247 178 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ...................... 17 14 1,872 1,739 3 4 374 435 

 Transportation equipment ...................................... 38 30 6,006 4,582 8 8 1,201 1,146 

 Furniture and related products ............................... 18 9 1,342 942 4 2 268 236 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing ................................. 7 3 912 314 1 1 182 79 

 Wholesale trade ......................................................... 16 20 1,316 1,646 3 5 263 412 

 Retail trade 4

 ............................................................. 120 86 12,805 6,930 24 22 2,561 1,733 

 Building material and garden supply stores ........... 10 8 1,331 741 2 2 266 185 

 Food and beverage stores ..................................... 26 19 2,104 1,219 5 5 421 305 

 Clothing and clothing accessories stores ............... 7 7 613 399 1 2 123 100 

 General merchandise stores .................................. 34 36 5,644 3,433 7 9 1,129 858 

 Transportation and warehousing 4

 ............................. 49 29 4,611 2,132 10 7 922 533 

 Truck transportation ............................................... 5 4 673 211 1 1 135 53 

 Transit and ground passenger transportation ........ 26 10 1,970 792 5 3 394 198 

 Support activities for transportation ........................ 5 3 890 166 1 1 178 42 

 Information ................................................................. 36 33 6,431 4,673 7 8 1,286 1,168 

 Finance and insurance ............................................... 22 13 1,821 1,085 4 3 364 271 

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

 Professional and technical services ........................... 39 24 6,476 1,793 8 6 1,295 448 

 Management of companies and enterprises .............. 3 6 182 638 1 2 36 160 

 Administrative and waste services ............................. 186 131 17,285 10,087 37 33 3,457 2,522 

 Educational services .................................................. 12 5 791 294 2 1 158 74 

 Health care and social assistance .............................. 39 28 2,711 1,962 8 7 542 491 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ............................ 27 30 2,092 2,173 5 8 418 543 

 Accommodation and food services ............................ 82 43 6,357 3,635 16 11 1,271 909 

 Accommodation ..................................................... 33 19 3,079 1,268 7 5 616 317 

 Food services and drinking places ......................... 49 24 3,278 2,367 10 6 656 592 

 Other services, except public administration .............. 12 4 1,067 451 2 1 213 113 

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

Government ................................................................... 81 43 9,113 3,247 16 11 1,823 812 

 Federal ....................................................................... 17 1 1,685 85 3 - 337 21 

 State ........................................................................... 33 11 2,857 949 7 3 571 237 

 State government education ................................. 13 4 1,171 463 3 1 234 116 

 Local ........................................................................... 31 31 4,571 2,213 6 8 914 553 

 Local government education ................................. 20 22 3,741 1,711 4 6 748 428 

 1

 Average weekly analysis mitigates the effect of differing 2 Data were reported by all states and the District of Columbia.

 lengths of months. There were 5 weeks in September 2011 3

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

 and 4 weeks in September 2012. Average weekly events 4

 Includes other industries not shown.

 and initial claimants may not sum to subtotals and totals NOTE: Dash represents zero.

 due to rounding.

Industry

Mass layoff totals Average weekly mass layoffs1

Events Initial claimants Events Initial claimants
Table 4. Region and state distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,

not seasonally adjusted

September September September September September September September September

2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012

 Total 2 ................................................ 1,189 811 117,232 70,570 238 203 23,446 17,643

Northeast ............................................. 286 143 26,131 12,110 57 36 5,226 3,028

 Connecticut ...................................... 4 3 242 200 1 1 48 50

 Maine ............................................... 3 - 194 - 1 - 39 -

 Massachusetts ................................. 8 4 617 418 2 1 123 105

 New Hampshire ............................... ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) -

 New Jersey ...................................... 40 26 3,922 2,156 8 7 784 539

 New York ......................................... 91 46 7,664 4,140 18 12 1,533 1,035

 Pennsylvania ................................... 132 61 12,300 5,026 26 15 2,460 1,257

 Rhode Island .................................... ( 3 ) 3 ( 3 ) 170 ( 3 ) 1 ( 3 ) 43

 Vermont ........................................... 4 - 537 - 1 - 107 -

South ................................................... 311 253 28,956 23,427 62 63 5,791 5,857

 Alabama ........................................... 14 9 1,419 1,396 3 2 284 349

 Arkansas .......................................... 9 5 825 598 2 1 165 150

 Delaware .......................................... ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) -

 District of Columbia .......................... ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) -

 Florida .............................................. 69 57 4,538 3,549 14 14 908 887

 Georgia ............................................ 28 18 3,256 1,477 6 5 651 369

 Kentucky .......................................... 20 19 2,202 1,556 4 5 440 389

 Louisiana ......................................... 16 27 1,554 2,039 3 7 311 510

 Maryland 4

 ........................................ 9 11 617 919 2 3 123 230

 Mississippi ....................................... 8 12 521 910 2 3 104 228

 North Carolina .................................. 44 37 5,449 3,622 9 9 1,090 906

 Oklahoma ........................................ 3 ( 3 ) 372 ( 3 ) 1 ( 3 ) 74 ( 3 ) South Carolina ................................. 20 5 1,944 758 4 1 389 190

 Tennessee ....................................... 10 ( 3 ) 846 ( 3 ) 2 ( 3 ) 169 ( 3 ) Texas ............................................... 48 37 4,470 3,485 10 9 894 871

 Virginia ............................................. 8 12 569 2,615 2 3 114 654

 West Virginia .................................... ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) -

Midwest ................................................ 219 156 21,885 14,914 44 39 4,377 3,729

 Illinois ............................................... 48 27 5,092 2,481 10 7 1,018 620

 Indiana ............................................. 22 15 2,179 1,317 4 4 436 329

 Iowa ................................................. 8 9 741 919 2 2 148 230

 Kansas ............................................. 3 6 334 798 1 2 67 200

 Michigan .......................................... 31 23 2,186 1,808 6 6 437 452

 Minnesota ........................................ 6 6 419 507 1 2 84 127

 Missouri ........................................... 21 13 1,520 1,908 4 3 304 477

 Nebraska ......................................... 3 ( 3 ) 578 ( 3 ) 1 ( 3 ) 116 ( 3 ) North Dakota .................................... - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) Ohio ................................................. 37 30 4,985 2,532 7 8 997 633

 South Dakota ................................... - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) - ( 3 ) Wisconsin ........................................ 40 21 3,851 1,742 8 5 770 436

West ..................................................... 373 259 40,260 20,119 75 65 8,052 5,030

 Alaska .............................................. 6 ( 3 ) 532 ( 3 ) 1 ( 3 ) 106 ( 3 ) Arizona ............................................. 9 3 678 207 2 1 136 52

 California .......................................... 297 213 33,690 16,581 59 53 6,738 4,145

 Colorado .......................................... 7 4 680 307 1 1 136 77

 Hawaii .............................................. ( 3 ) 4 ( 3 ) 296 ( 3 ) 1 ( 3 ) 74

 Idaho ................................................ 5 ( 3 ) 365 ( 3 ) 1 ( 3 ) 73 ( 3 ) Montana ........................................... 3 ( 3 ) 228 ( 3 ) 1 ( 3 ) 46 ( 3 ) Nevada ............................................ 13 7 1,274 574 3 2 255 144

 New Mexico ..................................... ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) Oregon ............................................. 14 9 1,178 632 3 2 236 158

 Utah ................................................. 4 ( 3 ) 329 ( 3 ) 1 ( 3 ) 66 ( 3 ) Washington ...................................... 11 13 1,006 1,082 2 3 201 271

 Wyoming .......................................... --------

 Puerto Rico ...................................... 33 3 2,823 446 7 1 565 112

1

 See footnote 1, table 3. 4 Data starting in June 2012 may not be comparable to prior data 2

 See footnote 2, table 3. due to a change in MLS unemployment insurance procedures. 3

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. NOTE: Dash represents zero.

Census region and state

Mass layoff totals Average weekly mass layoffs1

Events Initial Claimants Events Initial Claimants