For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, May 16, 2012 USDL-12-0955 

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

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

EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS — FIRST QUARTER 2012 

Employers in the private nonfarm sector initiated 1,077 mass layoff events in the first quarter of 2012 

that resulted in the separation of 182,101 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, the U.S. Bureau of 

Labor Statistics reported today. Over the year, total extended mass layoff events and associated worker 

separations were down from 1,490 and 225,456, respectively. (See table A.) Total events reached their 

lowest first quarter levels since 2006, while manufacturing sector events and separations declined to 

their lowest levels in program history (with data available back to 1995.) First quarter 2012 layoff data 

are preliminary and are subject to revision. (See the Technical Note.) 

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

Over the year ending in the first quarter of 2012, the number of private nonfarm extended mass layoff 

events declined in 16 of the 18 major industry sectors. The manufacturing and the construction sectors 

experienced the largest declines in the numbers of worker separations over the year. Fourteen of the 21 

manufacturing subsectors experienced over-the-year decreases in the number of layoff events. 

(See table 1.) 

Events and separations in the manufacturing sector declined to their lowest levels in program history 

(210 and 28,393, respectively). Thirty-six percent of manufacturing employers with an extended mass 

layoff event in the first quarter of 2012 anticipated recalling at least some of the displaced workers. The 

construction sector had 225 extended mass layoff events and 26,795 separations, primarily due to 

contract completion. This sector accounted for 21 percent of the layoff events and 15 percent of the 

related separations during the first quarter of 2012. 

Reasons for Extended Layoffs

Business demand factors, primarily contract completion, accounted for 39 percent of the events and 44 

percent of related separations in the private nonfarm sector during the first quarter of 2012. Layoffs due 

to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 28 percent of extended mass layoff events and 24 

percent of related separations during the quarter. (See table 2 and the chart.) 

Movement of Work 

In the first quarter of 2012, 29 extended mass layoffs involved movement of work and were associated 

with 3,726 worker separations, a program low for both figures. Sixty-two percent of the events related to 

movement of work were from manufacturing industries. Employers cited organizational changes as the 
- 2 - 

economic reason for layoff in 52 percent of the events involving movement of work. Among workers 

affected by the movement of work, the largest proportions were in the West. (See tables 6-8.) 

The 29 events with movement of work for the first quarter involved 41 identifiable relocations of work 

actions. (See table 9.) Employers were able to provide information on the specific number of worker 

separations for 33 of these actions. Among these actions, most were domestic reassignments and 

involved work moving within the same company. (See table 10.) 

Recall Expectations

Forty-nine percent of the private nonfarm employers reporting an extended mass layoff in the first 

quarter of 2012 indicated they anticipated some type of recall. Of those employers expecting to recall 

workers, 22 percent indicated the offer would be extended to all displaced employees and 64 percent 

anticipated extending the offer to at least half of the workers. Among employers expecting to recall laidoff workers, 57 percent intend to do so within six months. Excluding extended mass layoff events due to 

seasonal work and vacation period, in which 86 percent of the employers expected a recall, employers 

anticipated recalling laid-off workers in 35 percent of the events. (See table 11.) 

Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity

Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants

2008

January-March..................... 1,340 230,098 259,292 

April-June............................ 1,756 354,713 339,630 

July-September.................... 1,581 290,453 304,340 

October-December.............. 3,582 641,714 766,780 

2009

January-March..................... 3,979 705,141 835,551 

April-June............................ 3,395 651,318 731,049 

July-September.................... 2,034 345,531 406,823 

October-December.............. 2,416 406,212 468,577 

2010

January-March..................... 1,870 314,512 368,664 

April-June............................ 2,008 381,622 396,441 

July-September.................... 1,370 222,357 260,077 

October-December.............. 1,999 338,643 390,584 

2011

January-March..................... 1,490 225,456 258,220 

April-Juner

 .......................... 1,810 317,546 342,530 

July-Septemberr 

................... 1,393 235,325 290,898 

October-Decemberr ............ 1,904 334,843 401,942 

2012

January-Marchp

 ................... 1,077 182,101 150,990 

 r

 = revised.

 p

 = preliminary.
- 3 - 

Size of Extended Layoffs

The average size of a layoff (as measured by the number of separations per layoff event) was 169 

workers during the first quarter of 2012. (See table 12.) Events were largely concentrated at the lower 

end of the extended layoff-size spectrum, with 69 percent involving fewer than 150 workers. 

Conversely, only 5 percent of layoff events involved 500 or more workers. (See table 13.) 

Initial Claimant Characteristics

A total of 150,990 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended mass 

layoffs in the first quarter. Of these claimants, 13 percent were black, 20 percent were Hispanic, 38 

percent were women, and 21 percent were 55 years of age or older. (See table 3.) In the entire civilian 

labor force for the same period, 12 percent of all persons were black, 16 percent were Hispanic, 47 

percent were women, and 21 percent were 55 years of age or older. 

 

Table B. Metropolitan areas with the largest number of initial claimants associated with

extended mass layoff events in the first quarter 2012, by residency of claimants

 Total, 372 metropolitan areas ................. 210,444 ... 126,315 ...

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. .... 29,144 1 24,286 1 

New York-Northern New Jersey-Long

 Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ................................ 17,904 2 11,025 2 

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. ......... 10,574 3 6,120 3 

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. ......... 7,893 5 6,015 4 

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. ....... 8,299 4 4,960 5 

San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. ........ 6,865 6 3,485 6 

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.

 -N.J.-Del.-Md. .......................................... 3,704 9 2,396 7 

Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich. ....................... 1,133 37 2,267 8 

Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, Calif. 3,913 8 2,259 9 

Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev. ............................. 566 64 2,139 10 

 r

 = revised.

 p

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: The geographic boundaries of the metropolitan areas shown in this table are defined in

 Office of Management and Budget Bulletin 10-02, December 1, 2009.

Metropolitan area

2011 Ir 2012 Ip

Initial 

claimants Rank Initial claimants Rank
- 4 - 

Geographic Distribution 

Among the four census regions, the West recorded the highest number of extended mass layoff events in 

the first quarter of 2012. Among the nine census divisions, the highest number of mass layoff events was 

in the Pacific. All regions and 8 of the 9 divisions registered fewer extended mass layoff events 

compared with the first quarter of 2011. (See table 4.) 

California recorded the largest number of extended mass layoff events in the first quarter of 2012, 

followed by New York, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Over the year, 33 states reported decreased 

numbers of extended mass layoff events for the first quarter. The largest declines were in California, 

Florida, and Pennsylvania. (See table 5.) 

Eighty-four percent of the initial claimants for unemployment insurance associated with extended mass 

layoff events in the first quarter of 2012 resided within metropolitan areas. Among the 372 metropolitan 

areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., reported the highest number of resident initial 

claimants. (See table B.) 

Note 

The quarterly series on extended mass layoffs cover layoffs of at least 31-days duration that involve 50 

or more individuals from a single employer filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a 

consecutive 5-week period. Approximately 30 days after a mass layoff is triggered, the employer is 

contacted for additional information. Data for the current quarter are preliminary and subject to revision. 

This release also includes revised data for previous quarters. Data are not seasonally adjusted, but survey 

data suggest that there is a seasonal pattern to layoffs. Thus, comparisons between consecutive quarters 

should not be used as an indicator of trend. For additional information about the program, see the 

Technical Note. 

________________ 

The Mass Layoffs news release for April is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at 

10:00 a.m. (EDT). 
Technical Note 

The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federalstate program which identifies, describes, and tracks the 

effects of major job cutbacks, using data from each state's 

unemployment insurance database. Employers which have at 

least 50 initial claims filed against them during a consecutive 

5-week 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 industry classification 

and location, and unemployment insurance claimants are 

identified by such demographic factors as age, race, gender, 

ethnic group, and place of residence. The program yields 

information on an individual's entire spell of unemployment, 

to the point when regular unemployment insurance benefits 

are exhausted. 

Definitions 

Domestic relocation. A movement of work from an 

establishment within the U.S. to a location also inside the 

U.S., either within the same company or to a different 

company altogether (domestic outsourcing). 

Employer. A firm covered by state unemployment 

insurance laws. Information on employers is obtained from 

the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) 

program, which is administered by the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics (BLS). 

Extended mass layoff event. A layoff defined by the 

filing of 50 or more initial claims for unemployment 

insurance benefits from an employer during a 5-week period, 

with at least 50 workers separated for more than 30 days. 

Such layoffs involve both persons subject to recall and those 

who are terminated. 

Initial claimant. A person who files any notice of 

unemployment to initiate a request either for a determination 

of entitlement to and eligibility for compensation, or for a 

subsequent period of unemployment within a benefit year or 

period of eligibility. 

Movement of work. The reassignment of work activities 

previously performed at the worksite by the company 

experiencing the layoff (1) to another worksite within the 

company; (2) to another company under formal contractual 

arrangements at the same worksite; or (3) to another company 

under formal contractual arrangements at another worksite 

either within or outside of the U.S. 

Outsourcing. A movement of work that was formerly 

conducted in-house by employees paid directly by a company 

to a different company under a contractual arrangement. 

Overseas relocation. A movement of work from an 

establishment within the U.S. to a location outside of the U.S. 

(offshoring), either within the same company or to a different 

company altogether (offshore outsourcing). 

Relocation of work action. A movement-of-work action 

where the employer provides information on the new location 

of work and/or the number of workers affected by the 

movement. Events may involve more than one action per 

employer if work is moved to more than one location. 

Separations. The number of individuals who have 

become displaced during an extended mass layoff event as 

provided by the employer, regardless of whether they file for 

unemployment insurance or not. 

Worksite closure. The complete closure of an employer 

or the partial closure of an employer with multiple locations 

where entire worksites affected by layoffs are closed. 

Revisions to preliminary data 

The latest quarterly data in this news release are 

considered preliminary. After the initial publication of 

quarterly information, more data are collected as remaining 

employer interviews for the quarter are completed and 

additional initial claimant information associated with 

extended layoff events is received. 

Movement of work concepts and questions 

Beginning in 2004, the economic reasons "domestic 

relocation" and "overseas relocation" were replaced by the 

movement of work concept. The movement of work data are 

not collected in the same way as the relocation reasons in 

releases prior to 2004; therefore, the movement of work data 

are not comparable to the data for those discontinued reasons. 

Questions on movement of work and location are asked 

for all layoff events when the reason for separation is other 

than “seasonal work” or “vacation period,” as these are 

unlikely. Movement of work questions are asked after the 

analyst verifies that a layoff in fact occurred and lasted more 

than 30 days. If the reason for layoff is other than seasonal or 

vacation, the employer was asked the following: 

(1) “Did this layoff include your company moving work 

from this location(s) to a different geographic location(s) 

within your company?” 

(2) “Did this layoff include your company moving work 

that was performed in-house by your employees to a different 

company, through contractual arrangements?” 
A “yes” response to either question is followed by: “Is 

the location inside or outside of the U.S.?” and “How many 

of the layoffs were a result of this relocation?” 

Layoff actions are classified as “domestic relocation” if 

the employer responds “yes” to questions 1 and/or 2 and 

indicates the location(s) was inside the U.S.; “overseas 

relocation” indicates that the location(s) was outside the U.S. 

Reliability of the data 

The identification of employers and layoff events in the 

MLS program and associated characteristics of claimants is 

based on administrative data on covered employers and 

unemployment insurance claims, and, therefore, is not subject 

to issues associated with sampling error. Nonsampling errors 

such as typographical errors may affect the identification of 

layoff events and associated claimants, but are not likely to 

be significant. 

With one exception, all employers in the private 

nonfarm sector identified as having a mass layoff based on 

administrative data are asked the interview questions. These 

employer responses are also subject to nonsampling error. 

Nonsampling errors can occur for many reasons, including 

the inability to obtain information for all respondents, 

inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct 

information, and errors made in the collection or processing 

of the data. 

Beginning with first quarter 2012 data, employers in 

California identified as having mass layoff events from the 

administrative and support services (NAICS 561) industry 

subsector are randomly selected to participate in the employer 

interview. Sampling weights are applied to data collected 

from these employer interviews, which represent responses 

for those employers not selected for employer contact. These 

data are subject to sampling errors which can result from the 

variation that occurs by chance because a sample is surveyed 

rather than the entire universe of NAICS 561 employers in 

California identified as having layoff events. 

For the first quarter of 2012, outright refusal to 

participate in the employer interview accounted for 5.4 

percent of all private nonfarm extended mass layoff events. 

Although included in the total number of instances involving 

the movement of work, employers in eight relocations were 

unable to provide the number of separations specifically 

associated with the movement of work.

Additional information 

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. 
Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2011 and 2012

Industry

I IV I I IV I I IV I

2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 .................................. 1,490 1,904 1,077 225,456 334,843 182,101 258,220 401,942 150,990 

 Mining ............................................................. 11 26 13 952 3,358 1,404 1,229 3,824 1,126 

 Utilities ............................................................ 5 ( 2 ) 3 502 ( 2 ) 416 555 ( 2 ) 577 

 Construction .................................................... 348 576 225 38,478 74,008 26,795 49,436 88,232 25,662 

 Manufacturing ................................................. 305 366 210 45,511 67,531 28,393 50,609 71,039 25,309 

 Food ........................................................... 72 94 46 13,585 19,028 6,591 13,307 18,497 6,626 

 Beverage and tobacco products ................ 7 11 3 950 1,829 485 1,195 2,633 189 

 Textile mills ................................................ 3 8 4 248 4,413 380 1,509 4,450 363 

 Textile product mills ................................... ( 2 ) 4 3 ( 2 ) 1,174 435 ( 2 ) 1,562 400 

 Apparel ....................................................... 4 6 6 1,911 989 1,330 1,953 1,496 1,273 

 Leather and allied products ........................ ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

 Wood products ........................................... 14 14 12 1,771 2,561 1,626 2,357 3,307 1,160 

 Paper ......................................................... 13 14 7 1,541 3,039 765 1,357 2,317 648 

 Printing and related support activities ........ 10 11 6 1,520 1,406 1,019 1,593 1,919 892 

 Petroleum and coal products ..................... 4 15 4 418 1,868 810 450 2,331 314 

 Chemicals ................................................. 17 8 8 2,527 1,788 1,046 2,424 1,839 886 

 Plastics and rubber products ..................... 9 13 9 924 2,409 905 904 2,341 648 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ..................... 35 41 19 3,248 5,549 1,904 4,125 6,025 1,925 

 Primary metals ........................................... 10 13 ( 2 ) 988 2,090 ( 2 ) 933 2,658 ( 2 )

 Fabricated metal products ......................... 16 18 11 1,864 2,064 978 2,245 2,297 862 

 Machinery .................................................. 17 16 10 2,054 3,639 782 2,037 4,025 1,342 

 Computer and electronic products ............. 13 29 16 1,966 5,255 1,546 2,110 3,672 1,231 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ......... 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,037 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,088 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Transportation equipment .......................... 36 28 25 6,423 5,837 5,107 8,222 6,526 4,433 

 Furniture and related products ................... 8 10 8 1,081 905 928 907 1,094 845 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing .................... 9 9 8 1,183 1,065 1,156 1,004 1,090 871 

 Wholesale trade .............................................. 36 25 22 4,592 3,742 2,391 4,457 3,204 1,933 

 Retail trade ...................................................... 153 96 112 29,382 24,237 25,530 35,430 29,866 22,882 

 Transportation and warehousing .................... 69 37 43 15,530 5,529 7,357 14,187 5,522 4,910 

 Information ...................................................... 58 74 51 12,053 24,160 15,617 20,181 44,157 13,505 

 Finance and insurance .................................... 39 40 28 4,543 7,687 5,667 8,489 8,655 3,876 

 Real estate and rental and leasing ................. 18 15 3 1,661 2,862 2,974 2,242 2,788 1,016 

 Professional and technical services ................ 63 95 46 8,772 18,663 8,963 10,989 25,239 6,702 

 Management of companies and enterprises ... 6 6 9 713 991 1,320 585 1,194 905 

 Administrative and waste services .................. 183 275 151 36,733 50,939 34,564 32,182 69,715 24,063 

 Educational services ....................................... 8 13 4 905 1,425 304 1,101 1,933 288 

 Health care and social assistance .................. 39 38 25 4,460 6,421 3,543 5,035 5,808 2,742 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ................. 53 69 40 6,241 11,944 4,912 7,110 11,186 4,667 

 Accommodation and food services ................. 83 133 77 12,853 28,046 10,417 12,739 26,050 9,340 

 Other services, except public administration .. 13 17 10 1,575 2,705 1,121 1,664 2,898 1,096 

 Unclassified ..................................................... – ( 2

 ) 5 – ( 2 ) 413 – ( 2 ) 391 

 1

 For the first quarter of 2012, data on layoffs were reported by employers r = revised.

in all states and the District of Columbia. p

 = preliminary.

 2

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

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance
Table 2. Reason for layoff: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2011 and 2012

Reason for layoff

I IV I I IV I I IV I

2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ................................................... 1,490 1,904 1,077 225,456 334,843 182,101 258,220 401,942 150,990 

Business demand ............................................................. 564 634 423 77,265 111,350 79,615 102,028 171,283 64,975 

 Contract cancellation ..................................................... 30 22 17 5,591 3,598 3,502 5,916 4,984 2,167 

 Contract completion ....................................................... 271 428 273 43,563 80,896 57,682 58,530 132,960 45,717 

 Domestic competition ..................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Excess inventory/saturated market ................................ 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 434 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 329 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Import competition ......................................................... ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Slack work/insufficient demand/non-seasonal

 business slowdown ................................................. 256 181 129 26,926 26,419 16,831 36,544 32,956 15,924 

Organizational changes .................................................... 94 73 62 13,280 14,462 12,584 15,323 13,401 8,368 

 Business-ownership change .......................................... 22 18 14 2,679 3,806 3,780 2,015 2,995 1,218 

 Reorganization or restructuring of company .................. 72 55 48 10,601 10,656 8,804 13,308 10,406 7,150 

Financial issues ................................................................ 120 76 98 27,618 13,631 18,433 23,825 15,760 12,464 

 Bankruptcy ..................................................................... 14 15 12 4,114 3,975 1,626 2,120 2,199 1,072 

 Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ................ 73 33 46 11,217 5,630 8,864 15,719 6,733 6,630 

 Financial difficulty ........................................................... 33 28 40 12,287 4,026 7,943 5,986 6,828 4,762 

Production specific ............................................................ 24 ( 2

 ) 14 3,517 ( 2 ) 2,097 3,758 ( 2 ) 1,873 

 Automation/technological advances .............................. – ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Energy related ................................................................ ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Governmental regulations/intervention .......................... 6 ( 2 ) 3 429 ( 2 ) 528 538 ( 2 ) 388 

 Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike ..................... 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 761 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 608 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Material or supply shortage ............................................ 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 603 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 470 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Model changeover ......................................................... 3 4 ( 2 ) 990 820 ( 2 ) 1,319 696 ( 2 ) Plant or machine repair/maintenance ............................ 4 4 3 400 2,054 265 523 1,408 329 

 Product line discontinued ............................................... ( 2 ) 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,749 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,408 ( 2 )

Disaster/safety .................................................................. 7 ( 2

 ) 3 1,056 ( 2 ) 518 1,107 ( 2 ) 431 

 Hazardous work environment ........................................ – ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Natural disaster (not weather related) ............................ ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

 Non-natural disaster ....................................................... – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Extreme weather-related event ...................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Seasonal ........................................................................... 391 818 297 55,465 135,811 44,102 65,101 142,458 39,367 

 Seasonal ........................................................................ 387 811 297 55,201 134,900 44,102 64,587 140,678 39,367 

 Vacation period–school related or otherwise ................. 4 7 – 264 911 – 514 1,780 –

Other/miscellaneous ......................................................... 290 279 180 47,255 52,669 24,752 47,078 53,288 23,512 

 Other .............................................................................. 29 22 18 3,315 2,816 4,064 3,264 3,545 3,281 

 Data not provided: refusal .............................................. 72 75 59 12,829 17,887 7,550 12,829 17,806 7,546 

 Data not provided: does not know ................................. 189 182 103 31,111 31,966 13,138 30,985 31,937 12,685 

 1

 See footnote 1, table 1. p = preliminary.

 2

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

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance
Table 3. State and selected claimant characteristics: Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 

private nonfarm sector, fourth quarter, 2011 and first quarter, 2012

Total Percent of total

State

Layoff events initial

claimants Black Hispanic

origin Women Persons age 55and over

IV I IV I IV I IV I IV I IV I

 2011r 2012p 2011r 2012p 2011r 2012p 2011r 2012p 2011r 2012p 2011r 2012p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ........... 1,904 1,077 401,942 150,990 11.6 13.0 21.0 19.6 32.3 37.6 18.5 20.5 

Alabama ...................................... 4 ( 2

 ) 1,975 ( 2 ) 41.0 38.2 1.4 8.4 44.9 52.8 15.1 22.1 

Alaska .......................................... 14 3 2,627 258 4.9 8.1 11.2 4.3 22.3 40.7 20.3 12.0 

Arizona ........................................ 15 12 3,159 1,108 11.4 7.6 32.2 37.9 45.6 41.2 13.9 18.0 

Arkansas ..................................... 13 4 2,227 1,168 35.4 17.7 7.5 2.6 43.6 41.2 16.1 26.6 

California ..................................... 512 308 145,633 55,085 7.1 7.8 34.5 33.5 37.3 39.6 16.2 18.1 

Colorado ...................................... 19 8 2,326 1,158 4.1 5.9 42.5 47.5 18.0 24.3 21.5 25.3 

Connecticut ................................. 6 7 689 666 15.5 11.4 19.4 8.3 48.8 31.5 28.0 35.0 

Delaware ..................................... 4 3 572 339 30.8 36.0 7.0 4.1 39.5 65.2 26.4 25.1 

District of Columbia ..................... 3 3 543 234 64.1 72.6 11.6 7.3 42.5 61.5 18.0 25.2 

Florida ......................................... 35 18 4,640 2,199 22.9 24.4 25.8 28.1 42.8 45.2 23.7 25.4 

Georgia ........................................ 33 17 9,126 2,292 34.5 52.4 8.6 .5 36.8 31.7 19.6 17.8 

Hawaii .......................................... 4 ( 2 ) 842 ( 2 ) 1.2 .9 10.1 19.6 49.6 3.4 21.0 7.2 

Idaho ........................................... 18 5 2,602 501 .2 .2 9.9 13.4 25.7 37.9 19.9 24.4 

Illinois .......................................... 156 75 25,674 9,632 12.9 20.6 22.1 14.7 24.5 36.0 16.2 17.8 

Indiana ......................................... 29 18 5,695 2,063 6.9 9.0 4.6 2.6 17.6 30.7 17.2 19.6 

Iowa ............................................. 12 – 3,313 – 3.4 – 6.4 – 21.8 – 24.0 –

Kansas ........................................ 5 5 660 486 3.3 14.8 14.1 1.2 29.7 46.3 23.8 12.1 

Kentucky ...................................... 31 28 3,326 3,057 6.9 17.4 .1 .1 19.0 35.8 18.5 14.6 

Louisiana ..................................... 22 10 3,330 1,460 42.0 43.4 5.3 6.2 22.2 42.6 24.4 27.4 

Maine ........................................... 10 6 1,310 737 .6 5.0 .3 .5 29.7 42.2 25.3 26.5 

Maryland ...................................... 15 4 2,229 391 41.9 35.8 1.7 2.3 28.9 2.6 30.0 30.4 

Massachusetts ............................ 17 19 2,201 2,346 11.1 12.2 1.5 .9 42.9 37.7 25.2 18.0 

Michigan ...................................... 55 29 8,794 4,609 9.2 17.4 9.5 2.5 22.3 38.6 16.0 25.2 

Minnesota .................................... 68 18 10,397 1,897 4.4 2.5 8.1 3.7 15.6 28.4 19.1 21.8 

Mississippi ................................... 9 8 857 787 55.9 61.5 4.0 2.9 28.0 46.0 16.3 29.1 

Missouri ....................................... 34 21 5,508 1,588 10.9 12.5 1.6 3.0 35.2 39.1 25.9 20.8 

Montana ...................................... 13 ( 2

 ) 1,350 ( 2 ) .2 – 3.9 4.1 13.6 6.5 21.7 37.4 

Nebraska ..................................... 7 ( 2 ) 805 ( 2 ) 4.2 9.2 16.1 18.4 17.0 42.1 26.1 19.7 

Nevada ........................................ 34 20 7,389 2,653 9.4 9.9 32.3 29.2 45.7 41.7 21.0 21.2 

New Hampshire ........................... ( 2 ) 7 ( 2 ) 544 .7 1.1 1.7 13.6 6.6 20.6 28.7 27.2 

New Jersey .................................. 54 37 9,838 4,964 16.8 21.3 11.1 4.3 41.0 44.3 22.8 21.7 

New Mexico ................................. 10 6 1,154 550 1.5 .5 59.7 55.3 28.4 20.7 17.8 17.8 

New York ..................................... 133 86 27,228 11,941 11.2 15.0 13.9 19.1 32.9 37.4 21.2 25.0 

North Carolina ............................. 28 15 5,444 1,406 45.7 22.9 7.0 8.3 36.5 30.1 21.3 23.9 

North Dakota ............................... 10 ( 2 ) 1,384 ( 2 ) .7 – 4.0 1.0 7.4 12.9 22.9 33.7 

Ohio ............................................. 94 62 16,179 7,036 11.0 13.9 4.5 2.9 22.3 31.1 17.4 21.4 

Oklahoma .................................... 9 4 995 309 13.3 4.9 6.1 8.7 34.5 33.3 18.2 24.6 

Oregon ........................................ 33 20 9,257 3,378 1.5 2.5 26.6 16.2 40.3 46.9 19.4 19.4 

Pennsylvania ............................... 81 60 15,908 6,864 8.6 7.3 3.6 4.3 20.0 31.8 21.2 28.2 

Rhode Island ............................... 4 – 307 – 3.3 – 11.1 – 29.6 – 25.4 –

South Carolina ............................. 8 8 1,988 792 64.7 48.1 4.7 1.8 43.1 51.4 11.6 16.7 

South Dakota ............................... – – – – – – – – – – – –

Tennessee ................................... 24 12 3,486 1,603 12.0 16.0 .1 .1 30.1 51.7 27.6 21.5 

Texas ........................................... 35 26 9,662 4,003 16.8 15.0 39.2 45.4 32.5 23.9 19.4 17.4 

Utah ............................................. 12 5 2,019 479 1.1 2.1 14.3 14.8 10.5 15.4 16.2 10.2 

Vermont ....................................... 3 ( 2 ) 840 ( 2 ) 1.4 .7 .7 – 49.2 4.1 24.2 26.2 

Virginia ........................................ 31 15 8,055 1,678 49.0 38.6 4.7 4.1 45.7 49.8 18.2 26.5 

Washington ................................. 48 23 9,510 2,857 4.2 5.1 25.9 7.7 30.8 42.5 18.8 19.2 

West Virginia ............................... 4 4 710 554 .3 .2 – – 6.3 17.7 10.6 25.5 

Wisconsin .................................... 81 28 17,154 4,148 6.7 4.8 7.0 9.8 22.2 36.2 18.7 20.4 

Wyoming ..................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1.6 3.2 3.6 20.6 42.6 23.2 29.2 16.1 

Puerto Rico .................................. 12 12 5,156 3,381 .1 .1 99.3 99.6 59.4 60.2 8.0 8.8 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. p

 = preliminary.

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

 r

 = revised.
Table 4. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2011 and 2012

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

I IV I I IV I I IV I

2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 

 United States1 .................................. 1,490 1,904 1,077 225,456 334,843 182,101 258,220 401,942 150,990 

Northeast ................................................. 341 311 224 46,608 38,569 30,283 56,934 58,729 28,207 

 New England ........................................ 53 43 41 10,831 6,209 5,749 7,343 5,755 4,438 

 Middle Atlantic ...................................... 288 268 183 35,777 32,360 24,534 49,591 52,974 23,769 

South ........................................................ 304 308 181 46,057 53,842 29,918 51,648 59,165 22,607 

 South Atlantic ....................................... 181 161 87 25,162 29,135 10,683 30,163 33,307 9,885 

 East South Central ............................... 65 68 50 10,997 10,089 10,269 10,137 9,644 5,782 

 West South Central .............................. 58 79 44 9,898 14,618 8,966 11,348 16,214 6,940 

Midwest .................................................... 323 551 258 48,474 94,348 35,889 50,187 95,563 31,636 

 East North Central ............................... 252 415 212 37,567 70,961 30,848 41,330 73,496 27,488 

 West North Central .............................. 71 136 46 10,907 23,387 5,041 8,857 22,067 4,148 

West ......................................................... 522 734 414 84,317 148,084 86,011 99,451 188,485 68,540 

 Mountain .............................................. 40 123 59 7,601 24,305 8,254 6,644 20,616 6,727 

 Pacific .................................................. 482 611 355 76,716 123,779 77,757 92,807 167,869 61,813 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. West Virginia; East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and 

 r = revised. Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and

 p = preliminary. Texas; East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin;

 NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North

census divisions are: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana,

New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California,

New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.

Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and
Table 5. State distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2011 and 2012

State

I IV I I IV I I IV I

2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ........................ 1,490 1,904 1,077 225,456 334,843 182,101 258,220 401,942 150,990 

Alabama ................................................... 10 4 ( 2

 ) 2,590 1,763 ( 2 ) 2,901 1,975 ( 2 )

Alaska ...................................................... 4 14 3 2,812 4,774 432 1,478 2,627 258 

Arizona ..................................................... 12 15 12 2,291 2,823 1,684 2,783 3,159 1,108 

Arkansas .................................................. 3 13 4 1,442 1,856 670 392 2,227 1,168 

California .................................................. 420 512 308 66,824 101,452 70,778 79,215 145,633 55,085 

Colorado .................................................. 3 19 8 380 2,935 1,419 366 2,326 1,158 

Connecticut .............................................. 10 6 7 3,544 689 666 1,341 689 666 

Delaware .................................................. 3 4 3 493 398 200 763 572 339 

District of Columbia .................................. 3 3 3 302 471 234 293 543 234 

Florida ...................................................... 65 35 18 9,834 5,053 2,777 10,029 4,640 2,199 

Georgia .................................................... 22 33 17 1,770 8,538 2,292 4,129 9,126 2,292 

Hawaii ...................................................... ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 975 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 842 ( 2 ) Idaho ........................................................ 5 18 5 548 3,570 529 621 2,602 501 

Illinois ....................................................... 99 156 75 15,821 24,908 11,850 15,334 25,674 9,632 

Indiana ..................................................... 26 29 18 2,607 3,344 2,201 3,822 5,695 2,063 

Iowa ......................................................... 7 12 – 1,421 1,071 – 1,296 3,313 –

Kansas ..................................................... 12 5 5 2,202 662 627 1,607 660 486 

Kentucky .................................................. 20 31 28 4,063 4,037 6,685 2,651 3,326 3,057 

Louisiana .................................................. 16 22 10 2,681 4,802 2,314 2,956 3,330 1,460 

Maine ....................................................... 5 10 6 1,528 1,271 1,655 751 1,310 737 

Maryland .................................................. 26 15 4 3,182 1,728 410 2,829 2,229 391 

Massachusetts ......................................... 25 17 19 4,431 2,844 2,477 4,200 2,201 2,346 

Michigan ................................................... 29 55 29 3,351 7,415 4,779 3,916 8,794 4,609 

Minnesota ................................................ 21 68 18 3,105 13,023 2,495 2,844 10,397 1,897 

Mississippi ................................................ 13 9 8 1,569 1,015 1,189 1,735 857 787 

Missouri .................................................... 23 34 21 3,322 6,044 1,773 2,202 5,508 1,588 

Montana ................................................... ( 2

 ) 13 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,674 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,350 ( 2 )

Nebraska .................................................. 6 7 ( 2 ) 587 1,628 ( 2 ) 628 805 ( 2 )

Nevada ..................................................... 5 34 20 1,650 6,546 2,641 876 7,389 2,653 

New Hampshire ....................................... 4 ( 2 ) 7 382 ( 2 ) 807 322 ( 2 ) 544 

New Jersey .............................................. 64 54 37 10,283 9,819 6,474 10,058 9,838 4,964 

New Mexico ............................................. 5 10 6 740 2,461 1,165 729 1,154 550 

New York ................................................. 122 133 86 14,498 13,400 12,008 21,178 27,228 11,941 

North Carolina .......................................... 22 28 15 2,509 3,062 1,253 4,958 5,444 1,406 

North Dakota ............................................ ( 2 ) 10 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 959 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,384 ( 2 ) Ohio ......................................................... 66 94 62 10,086 17,100 7,949 12,151 16,179 7,036 

Oklahoma ................................................. 3 9 4 359 1,247 553 273 995 309 

Oregon ..................................................... 19 33 20 3,754 9,257 4,070 4,932 9,257 3,378 

Pennsylvania ............................................ 102 81 60 10,996 9,141 6,052 18,355 15,908 6,864 

Rhode Island ............................................ 6 4 – 555 306 – 504 307 –

South Carolina ......................................... 6 8 8 1,056 2,902 876 1,018 1,988 792 

South Dakota ........................................... – – – – – – – – –

Tennessee ............................................... 22 24 12 2,775 3,274 1,955 2,850 3,486 1,603 

Texas ....................................................... 36 35 26 5,416 6,713 5,429 7,727 9,662 4,003 

Utah ......................................................... 8 12 5 1,311 1,876 487 1,095 2,019 479 

Vermont ................................................... 3 3 ( 2 ) 391 804 ( 2 ) 225 840 ( 2 )

Virginia ..................................................... 27 31 15 4,987 6,193 1,782 5,117 8,055 1,678 

Washington .............................................. 37 48 23 3,015 7,321 2,422 6,888 9,510 2,857 

West Virginia ............................................ 7 4 4 1,029 790 859 1,027 710 554 

Wisconsin ................................................. 32 81 28 5,702 18,194 4,069 6,107 17,154 4,148 

Wyoming .................................................. ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Puerto Rico .............................................. 10 12 12 1,395 2,370 1,953 4,194 5,156 3,381 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. p

 = preliminary.

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

 r = revised.

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance
Table 6. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,

selected quarters, 2011 and 2012

I IVI IIV I

2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ............................................... 50 36 29 10,789 6,513 3,726 

 Mining .......................................................................... ––––––

 Utilities ......................................................................... – – – – – –

 Construction ................................................................. – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Manufacturing .............................................................. 29 23 18 6,334 4,187 2,476 

 Food ........................................................................ ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 431 ( 2 )

 Beverage and tobacco products ............................. – – – – – –

 Textile mills ............................................................. – – – – – –

 Textile product mills ................................................ ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Apparel ................................................................... – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Leather and allied products .................................... – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Wood products ........................................................ ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Paper ...................................................................... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 )

 Printing and related support activities ..................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Petroleum and coal products .................................. – – – – – –

 Chemicals .............................................................. 4 – ( 2

 ) 345 – ( 2 )

 Plastics and rubber products .................................. ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 529 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ................................. ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Primary metals ........................................................ – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Fabricated metal products ...................................... ( 2 ) 3 – ( 2 ) 487 –

 Machinery ............................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Computer and electronic products .......................... ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 610 ( 2 )

 Electrical equipment and appliances ...................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

 Transportation equipment ....................................... 5 ( 2 ) 3 1,653 ( 2 ) 607 

 Furniture and related products ................................ ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

 Miscellaneous manufacturing ................................. ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Wholesale trade ........................................................... 3 ( 2

 )( 2 ) 1,422 ( 2 )( 2 )

 Retail trade .................................................................. 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,327 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Transportation and warehousing ................................. ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Information ................................................................... 3 3 ( 2 ) 510 613 ( 2 )

 Finance and insurance ................................................ – ( 2 ) 5 – ( 2 ) 593 

 Real estate and rental and leasing .............................. – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Professional and technical services ............................. ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Management of companies and enterprises ............... – – – – – –

 Administrative and waste services ............................... 4 3 – 447 198 –

 Educational services .................................................... – – – – – –

 Health care and social assistance ............................... ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ............................. – – – – – –

 Accommodation and food services .............................. – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

 Other services, except public administration ............... ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Unclassified ................................................................. ––––––

 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. p = preliminary.

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

 r = revised.

Industry

Layoff events Separations
Table 7. Reason for layoff: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work, 

selected quarters, 2011 and 2012

Reason for layoff

I IV I I IV I

2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ................................................... 50 36 29 10,789 6,513 3,726 

Business demand ............................................................. 10 ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 3,654 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Contract cancellation ..................................................... ( 2

 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Contract completion ....................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Domestic competition ..................................................... – – – – – –

 Excess inventory/saturated market ................................ – – – – – –

 Import competition ......................................................... ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Slack work/insufficient demand/non-seasonal

 business slowdown ................................................. 5 ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 1,341 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Organizational changes .................................................... 21 18 15 3,112 3,940 1,973 

 Business-ownership change .......................................... 3 3 3 250 998 388 

 Reorganization or restructuring of company .................. 18 15 12 2,862 2,942 1,585 

Financial issues ................................................................ 12 8 9 2,890 952 1,279 

 Bankruptcy ..................................................................... ( 2

 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ................ ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Financial difficulty ........................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Production specific ............................................................ ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Automation/technological advances .............................. – – ( 2

 ) – – ( 2 )

 Energy related ................................................................ – – – – – –

 Governmental regulations/intervention .......................... – – – – – –

 Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike ..................... ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Material or supply shortage ............................................ ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Model changeover ......................................................... – – – – – –

 Plant or machine repair/maintenance ............................ – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Product line discontinued ............................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

Disaster/safety .................................................................. ––––––

 Hazardous work environment ........................................ ––––––

 Natural disaster (not weather related) ............................ – – – – – –

 Non-natural disaster ....................................................... – – – – – –

 Extreme weather-related event ...................................... – – – – – –

Other/miscellaneous ......................................................... ( 2

 ) 5 – ( 2 ) 801 –

 Other .............................................................................. ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

 Data not provided: refusal .............................................. – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Data not provided: does not know ................................. ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. p = preliminary.

 2

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

 r

 = revised.

Layoff events Separations
Table 8. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,

selected quarters, 2011 and 2012

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations

I IVI IIV I

2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 

 United States1 ...................................... 50 36 29 10,789 6,513 3,726 

Northeast ..................................................... 15 6 7 4,332 830 764 

 New England ............................................ 7 ( 2

 ) – 2,421 ( 2 ) –

 Middle Atlantic .......................................... 8 ( 2 ) 7 1,911 ( 2 ) 764 

South ............................................................ 14 8 7 1,610 1,207 750 

 South Atlantic ........................................... 8 ( 2

 )( 2 ) 1,046 ( 2 )( 2 )

 East South Central ................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 433 

 West South Central .................................. ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 706 ( 2 )

Midwest ........................................................ 13 11 6 3,022 2,201 829 

 East North Central ................................... 9 8 ( 2

 ) 1,782 1,876 ( 2 )

 West North Central .................................. 4 3 ( 2 ) 1,240 325 ( 2 )

West ............................................................. 8 11 9 1,825 2,275 1,383 

 Mountain .................................................. ( 2

 ) – 3 ( 2 ) – 479 

 Pacific ...................................................... ( 2 ) 11 6 ( 2 ) 2,275 904 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South 

 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; East South Central: Alabama, 

 r = revised. Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas,

 p = preliminary. Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, 

 NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, 

 the census divisions are: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massa- Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: 

chusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and 

New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.

Table 9. Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, selected quarters, 2011 and 2012

I IVI IIV I

2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p

Total, private nonfarm1 ................................. 1,490 1,904 1,077 225,456 334,843 182,101 

 Total, excluding seasonal

 and vacation events2

 ........................... 1,099 1,086 780 169,991 199,032 137,999 

 Total, movement of work3

 .................... 50 36 29 10,789 6,513 3,726 

 Movement of work actions .............. 74 56 41 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 )

 With separations reported .......... 34 26 33 5,951 2,183 2,219 

 With separations unknown ......... 40 30 8 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 )

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. 4 Data are not available.

 2 The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers r = revised.

when the reason for layoff was either seasonal work or vacation period. p = preliminary.

 3 Movement of work can involve more than one action.

Action

Layoff events Separations
Table 10. Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by employers,

selected quarters, 2011 and 2012

I IV I IIV I

2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p

With separations reported2 ................. 34 26 33 5,951 2,183 2,219 

By location

 Out-of-country relocations ................ 11 5 2 2,409 316 147 

 Within company ............................ 10 5 2 2,309 316 147 

 Different company ........................ 1 – – 100 – –

 Domestic relocations ........................ 22 21 31 3,395 1,867 2,072 

 Within company ............................ 17 16 29 3,186 896 1,872 

 Different company ........................ 5 5 2 209 971 200 

 Unable to assign place of 

 relocation ....................................... 1 – – 147 – –

By company

 Within company ................................ 28 21 31 5,642 1,212 2,019 

 Domestic ...................................... 17 16 29 3,186 896 1,872 

 Out of country ............................... 10 5 2 2,309 316 147 

 Unable to assign ........................... 1 – – 147 – –

 Different company ............................ 6 5 2 309 971 200 

 Domestic ...................................... 5 5 2 209 971 200 

 Out of country ............................... 1 – – 100 – – Unable to assign ........................... – – – – – –

 1 Only actions for which separations associated with the r= revised.

movement of work were reported are shown. p = preliminary.

 2

 See footnote 1, table 1. Note: Dash represents zero.

Table 11. Summary of employer expectations of a recall from extended mass layoffs, private nonfarm sector, 

selected quarters, 2011 and 2012

I IVI IIVI IIV I

2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p 2011 2011r 2012p

Anticipate a recall ............................... 46.6 62.3 49.0 90.0 93.9 85.9 31.1 38.6 35.0

 Timeframe

Within 6 months .................................. 60.1 71.3 57.0 81.3 87.6 76.1 38.3 41.3 39.2

 Within 3 months ............................ 42.1 30.0 40.7 52.3 29.0 49.0 31.6 31.7 33.0

 Size of recall

At least half ......................................... 63.1 75.3 63.6 88.4 92.8 89.4 37.1 43.2 39.6

 All workers .................................... 24.8 31.7 21.8 37.8 42.7 36.1 11.4 11.5 8.4

 1

 See footnote 1, table 1.

 r

 = revised.

 p

 = preliminary.

Percent of layoff events, excluding 

those due to seasonal and vacation 

Activities

Actions1 Separations

Nature of recall

Percent of total layoff events1 Percent of layoff events due to 

seasonal work and vacation period
measures, private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2011 and 2012

I IV I

2011 2011r 2012p

 Total, private nonfarm1 .................................................. 151 176 169 

Industry

Mining .................................................................................. 87 129 108 

Utilities ................................................................................. 100 263 139 

Construction ........................................................................ 111 128 119 

Manufacturing ...................................................................... 149 185 135 

Wholesale trade ................................................................... 128 150 109 

Retail trade .......................................................................... 192 252 228 

Transportation and warehousing ......................................... 225 149 171 

Information ........................................................................... 208 326 306 

Finance and insurance ........................................................ 116 192 202 

Real estate and rental and leasing ...................................... 92 191 991 

Professional and technical services .................................... 139 196 195 

Management of companies and enterprises ....................... 119 165 147 

Administrative and waste services ...................................... 201 185 229 

Educational services ............................................................ 113 110 76 

Health care and social assistance ....................................... 114 169 142 

Arts, entertainment, and recreation ..................................... 118 173 123 

Accommodation and food services ...................................... 155 211 135 

Other services, except public administration ....................... 121 159 112 

Unclassified establishments ................................................ – 70 83 

Reason for layoff groupings

Business demand ................................................................ 137 176 188 

Organizational changes ....................................................... 141 198 203 

Financial issues ................................................................... 230 179 188 

Production specific .............................................................. 147 311 150 

Disaster/Safety .................................................................... 151 175 173 

Seasonal .............................................................................. 142 166 148 

Other/miscellaneous ............................................................ 163 189 138 

 1

 See footnote 1, table 1. p = preliminary.

 r

 = revised. NOTE: Dash represents zero.

Table 13. Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff, private nonfarm sector, 

first quarter 2012p

Number Percent Number Percent

 Total ........................................................................ 1,077 100.0 182,101 100.0 

 50-99 ..................................................................... 481 44.7 34,426 18.9 

 100-149 ................................................................. 265 24.6 31,011 17.0 

 150-199 .................................................................. 117 10.9 19,574 10.7 

 200-299 .................................................................. 107 9.9 25,142 13.8 

 300-499 .................................................................. 51 4.7 18,924 10.4 

 500-999 .................................................................. 39 3.6 24,682 13.6 

 1,000 or more ......................................................... 17 1.6 28,342 15.6 

 p

 = preliminary.

Table 12. Average number of separations in extended mass layoff events by selected

Measure

Average number of separations

Size Layoff events Separations
Extended Mass Layoff Events by Reason Categories

First quarters, 2006-12

20002200240016001800100012001400

400600800

0

200

2006:1 2007:1 2008:1 2009:1 2010:1 2011:1 

Seasonal Business demand Organizational changes Financial issues Production specific Disa

1 The chart excludes information on layoffs due to other/miscellaneous reasons.p = preliminary.