For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, January 27, 2010 USDL-10-0098 

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

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

MASS LAYOFFS – DECEMBER 2009

ANNUAL TOTALS – 2009 

Employers took 1,726 mass layoff actions in December that resulted in the separation of 153,127 

workers, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during 

the month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Each action involved at least 50 persons 

from a single employer. The number of mass layoff events in December decreased by 87 from the prior 

month, and the number of associated initial claims decreased by 10,696. Both figures reached their lowest level since July 2008. In December, 433 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 44,072 initial claims. Both figures decreased over the month to their 

lowest levels since November and August 2007, respectively. (See table 1.) 

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

Events

Manufacturing

Chart 1. Mass layoff events, seasonally adjusted,

January 2005-December 2009

Total

Private nonfarm

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

Claims

Total

Manufacturing

Chart 2. Mass layoff initial claims, seasonally adjusted,

January 2005-December 2009

Private nonfarm

Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Mass Layoff Data 

Seasonally adjusted mass layoff data have been revised using updated seasonal adjustment 

factors that incorporate 2009 data. Seasonally adjusted estimates back to January 2005 were 

subject to revision. Revised seasonally adjusted data from January 2006 forward are shown in 

table 1. The originally published and revised figures for January 2006-November 2009 are 

available at www.bls.gov/mls/mlssarevision.htm, along with additional information about the 

revisions. 
- 2 - 

Table A. Industries with the largest number of mass layoff initial claims in December 2009,

not seasonally adjusted

Year Initial claims

Food service contractors ................................... 14,565 2009 14,565 

Highway, street, and bridge construction ............ 13,893 2005 20,088 

School and employee bus transportation ............. 13,206 2006 14,747 

Temporary help services 1

 .................................. 10,339 2005 16,656 

Motion picture and video production .................. 4,439 1998 16,192 

Professional employer organizations 1

 ................. 3,630 2008 6,101 

Hotels and motels, except casino hotels .............. 3,460 2008 3,528 

Commercial building construction ....................... 3,120 2009 3,120 

Discount department stores ................................ 2,720 2006 3,255 

Ready-mix concrete manufacturing ..................... 2,683 2005 3,232 

 1 See the Technical Note for more information on these industries.

Industry Initial claims December peak

During the 25 months from December 2007 through December 2009, the total number of mass layoff 

events (seasonally adjusted) was 51,978, and the associated number of initial claims was 5,242,840. 

(December 2007 was the start of a recession as designated by the National Bureau of Economic 

Research.) 

In 2009, on a not seasonally adjusted basis, the total numbers of mass layoff events, at 28,030, and 

initial claims, at 2,796,456, reached their highest annual levels on record. (Annual data began in 1996. 

See table B.) Among the 19 major industry sectors in the private economy, 12 registered annual program 

highs for both mass layoff events and initial claims. All 4 regions, all 9 divisions, and 43 states and the 

District of Columbia experienced increases in total annual initial claims from 2008 to 2009. In addition, 

3 of the 4 regions, 6 of the 9 divisions, and 26 states recorded program highs in terms of initial claims 

activity in 2009. 

The national unemployment rate was 10.0 percent in December 2009, seasonally adjusted, unchanged 

from the prior month but up from 7.4 percent a year earlier. In December, nonfarm payroll employment 

decreased by 85,000 over the month and by 4,164,000 from a year earlier. 

Industry Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted) 

The number of mass layoff events in December was 2,310 on a not seasonally adjusted basis; the number of associated initial claims was 214,648. Over the year, the number of mass layoff events decreased 

by 1,067, and associated initial claims decreased by 136,657. (See table 2.) Thirteen of the 19 major 

industry sectors in the private economy reported over-the-year decreases in initial claimants, led by 

manufacturing (-107,989). (See table 3.) Three sectors reported December program highs in terms of 

average weekly initial claimants: retail trade; educational services; and accommodation and food services. (Average weekly analysis mitigates the effect of differing lengths of months. See the Technical 

Note.) 
- 3 - 

Table B. Number of mass layoff events and initial claimants for

unemployment insurance, 1996-2009, not seasonally adjusted

Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

1996 ........................ 14,111 1,437,628 

1997 ........................ 14,960 1,542,543 

1998 ........................ 15,904 1,771,069 

1999 ........................ 14,909 1,572,399 

2000 ........................ 15,738 1,835,592 

2001 ........................ 21,467 2,514,862 

2002 ........................ 20,277 2,245,051 

2003 ........................ 18,963 1,888,926 

2004 ........................ 15,980 1,607,158 

2005 ........................ 16,466 1,795,341 

2006 ........................ 13,998 1,484,391 

2007 ........................ 15,493 1,598,875 

2008 ........................ 21,137 2,130,220 

2009 ........................ 28,030 2,796,456 

Year Layoff events

The manufacturing sector accounted for 27 percent of all mass layoff events and 30 percent of initial 

claims filed in December 2009. A year earlier, manufacturing made up 41 percent of events and 49 

percent of initial claims. Within manufacturing, the number of claimants in December was greatest in 

transportation equipment, machinery, and food. All 21 North American Industry Classification System 

(NAICS) manufacturing subsectors experienced over-the-year decreases in initial claims, led by transportation equipment (-50,799) and plastics and rubber products (-10,728). (See table 3.) 

The six-digit NAICS industry with the largest number of initial claims in December 2009 was food 

service contractors. Of the 10 six-digit industries with the largest number of mass layoff initial claims, 

food service contractors and commercial building construction reached program highs for the month of 

December. (See table A.) 

Geographic Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted) 

Among the four census regions, the Midwest registered the highest number of initial claims in December 

due to mass layoffs, followed by the South and the West. Initial claims decreased over the year in all of 

the regions, with the Midwest (-69,329) and the South (-46,059) experiencing the largest decreases. Of 

the nine geographic divisions, the East North Central had the highest number of initial claims due to 

mass layoffs in December, followed by the Pacific and Middle Atlantic. All 9 divisions experienced 

over-the-year decreases in initial claims, led by the East North Central (-56,114). (See table 5.)

California recorded the highest number of initial claims in December, followed by Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia experienced over-theyear decreases in initial claims, led by Ohio (-18,948) and Kentucky (-16,557). (See table 6.) In 2009, 
- 4 - 

Table C. Industries with the largest number of mass layoff initial claims in 2009,

not seasonally adjusted

Initial claims Rank Initial claims Rank

Temporary help services 1

 ...................................... 151,957 1 134,699 1

School and employee bus transportation ................. 92,324 2 79,083 2

Food service contractors ........................................ 68,888 3 54,677 3

Professional employer organizations 1

 ..................... 65,280 4 54,016 4

Elementary and secondary schools .......................... 62,774 5 28,996 10

Construction machinery manufacturing .................... 55,334 6 4,496 102

Motion picture and video production ...................... 53,275 7 45,394 6

Automobile manufacturing ...................................... 46,306 8 51,804 5

Light truck and utility vehicle manufacturing ............. 40,422 9 38,450 8

Highway, street, and bridge construction ................. 40,186 10 39,467 7

 1 See the Technical Note for more information on these industries.

Industry 2009 2008

three states reached December program highs for average weekly initial claims: Florida, New York, and 

Utah. 

Review of 2009 

For all of 2009, on a not seasonally adjusted basis, the total numbers of mass layoff events, at 28,030, 

and initial claims, at 2,796,456, reached their highest annual levels on record. (See table B.) Among the 

19 major industry sectors in the private economy, manufacturing had the most initial claims in 2009 

(1,137,106), followed by administrative and waste services (294,709) and construction (205,765). 

Manufacturing also had the largest over-the-year increase in total annual initial claims (+266,796), 

with retail trade (+57,283) and administrative and waste services (+48,039) experiencing the next 

largest increases. Among the major industry sectors, 12 registered series highs for both mass layoff 

events and initial claims in 2009: mining; construction; wholesale trade; retail trade; transportation 

and warehousing; finance and insurance; real estate and rental and leasing; management of companies 

and enterprises; administrative and waste services; health care and social assistance; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and accommodation and food services. 

The manufacturing sector accounted for 36 percent of all mass layoff events and 43 percent of initial 

claims filed in the private economy in 2009; in 2008, manufacturing made up 34 percent of events and 

43 percent of initial claims. The number of manufacturing claimants in 2009 was highest in transportation equipment (304,693), followed by machinery (164,176) and fabricated metal products (84,702). 

Total initial claims for 18 of the 21 manufacturing subsectors increased from 2008 to 2009, with machinery experiencing the largest change (+110,503). Transportation equipment recorded the largest 

over-the-year decrease (-18,929). 

The six-digit NAICS industries with the largest total number of initial claims in 2009 were temporary 

help services, school and employee bus transportation, and food service contractors. Construction 

machinery manufacturing entered the top 10 in terms of initial claims, displacing heavy duty truck 

manufacturing. (See table C.) Of the top 10 industries, 6 reached program highs in 2009: construction 

machinery manufacturing; light truck and utility vehicle manufacturing; school and employee bus 
- 5 - 

transportation; professional employer organizations; elementary and secondary schools; and food 

service contractors. 

Among the 4 census regions, the Midwest reported the highest number of mass layoff initial claims filed 

during 2009 (892,202), followed by the West and the South. All 4 regions experienced over-the-year 

annual increases, with the largest increases taking place in the Midwest (+215,611). The Midwest, 

Northeast, and South also reached program highs for total initial claims in 2009. All 9 geographic divisions also experienced higher claimant activity in 2009 when compared with 2008, with the largest increases occurring in the East North Central (+167,804)—which also had the largest number of claims in 

2009, the Middle Atlantic (+119,644), and the South Atlantic (+118,688). Six of the 9 divisions reached 

program highs for total annual claims in 2009: East North Central, East South Central, Middle Atlantic, 

Mountain, South Atlantic, and West North Central. 

California recorded the largest number of initial claims during 2009 followed by Illinois, Pennsylvania, 

Michigan, and Ohio. Forty-three states and the District of Columbia experienced over-the-year annual 

increases in initial claims; Illinois reported the largest over-the-year increase in 2009 (+89,810), followed by California (+85,548) and Pennsylvania (+54,483). Of the 7 states with over-the-year decreases in initial claims in 2009, the largest were reported in Louisiana (-5,566), Mississippi (-3,702), 

and Kentucky (-2,632). Twenty-six states recorded series highs in mass layoff claimant activity in 2009: 

Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, 

Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, 

South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 

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. Because monthly figures include short-term layoffs of 30 days or less, the sum of the 

figures for the 3 months in a quarter will be higher than the quarterly figure for mass layoffs of more 

than 30 days. (See table 4.) See the Technical Note for more detailed definitions. 

____________ 

The Extended Mass Layoffs in the Fourth Quarter 2009 news release is scheduled to be released 

on Friday, February 12, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. (EST). The Mass Layoffs in January news release is 

scheduled to be released on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. (EST). 
Technical Note 

The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a 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. 

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, 

analysis of over-the-month and over-the-year change in not 

seasonally adjusted series should take this calendar effect into 

consideration. 

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 

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, January 2006 to December 2009,

seasonally adjusted

2006

January ........................................................ 1,110 112,550 979 102,802 289 34,737 

February ....................................................... 938 96,542 846 88,629 304 40,029 

March ........................................................... 1,069 117,725 965 109,241 312 45,687 

April .............................................................. 1,189 123,056 1,055 112,922 352 48,731 

May .............................................................. 1,121 117,834 1,003 107,929 302 40,703 

June ............................................................. 1,150 125,318 1,039 115,883 349 43,476 

July ............................................................... 1,182 121,056 1,056 111,432 373 51,691 

August .......................................................... 1,238 135,707 1,104 125,704 372 58,962 

September ................................................... 1,154 124,200 1,043 115,261 393 45,972 

October ........................................................ 1,208 123,691 1,094 115,102 409 53,957 

November .................................................... 1,244 135,465 1,128 125,976 413 58,509 

December .................................................... 1,227 134,176 1,123 124,570 376 51,403 

2007

January ........................................................ 1,264 130,834 1,113 119,874 404 55,217 

February ....................................................... 1,191 121,289 1,075 112,607 374 54,581 

March ........................................................... 1,225 126,391 1,113 117,760 386 48,298 

April .............................................................. 1,268 129,098 1,135 118,175 362 43,205 

May .............................................................. 1,172 118,648 1,070 111,103 345 44,391 

June ............................................................. 1,241 131,394 1,125 122,123 338 37,931 

July ............................................................... 1,274 130,331 1,169 122,381 403 55,973 

August .......................................................... 1,247 126,108 1,158 118,575 323 34,902 

September ................................................... 1,255 123,632 1,160 116,744 436 51,814 

October ........................................................ 1,370 137,108 1,248 128,387 449 58,360 

November .................................................... 1,415 148,952 1,289 139,665 424 58,543 

December .................................................... 1,569 155,095 1,448 145,666 483 60,368 

2008

January ........................................................ 1,481 151,269 1,348 140,570 436 57,147 

February ....................................................... 1,578 162,152 1,432 150,712 470 60,276 

March ........................................................... 1,487 151,539 1,372 141,574 436 56,919 

April .............................................................. 1,327 133,318 1,201 122,651 460 59,377 

May .............................................................. 1,604 170,619 1,465 160,529 468 62,345 

June ............................................................. 1,674 170,329 1,523 158,084 501 68,403 

July ............................................................... 1,531 152,447 1,389 141,707 461 61,417 

August .......................................................... 1,845 189,798 1,711 179,737 607 78,172 

September ................................................... 2,222 235,755 2,049 220,832 634 81,989 

October ........................................................ 2,287 239,768 2,125 226,098 721 95,301 

November .................................................... 2,489 240,181 2,334 227,368 929 107,072 

December .................................................... 2,461 243,505 2,277 229,171 962 115,961 

2009

January ........................................................ 2,279 251,807 2,115 238,990 764 109,124 

February ....................................................... 2,737 289,162 2,592 274,040 1,186 141,264 

March ........................................................... 2,913 295,970 2,715 279,671 1,202 146,381 

April .............................................................. 2,663 263,162 2,461 247,329 1,033 125,093 

May .............................................................. 2,794 306,788 2,589 289,012 1,183 145,166 

June ............................................................. 2,598 260,596 2,371 241,864 1,072 135,844 

July ............................................................... 2,039 196,578 1,818 176,542 565 66,918 

August .......................................................... 2,480 238,911 2,244 218,425 798 87,201 

September ................................................... 2,326 221,639 2,109 204,462 783 90,440 

October ........................................................ 2,055 205,502 1,856 187,880 594 65,801 

November .................................................... 1,813 163,823 1,650 151,810 485 54,858 

December .................................................... 1,726 153,127 1,542 138,747 433 44,072 

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, January 2006 to December 2009,

not seasonally adjusted

2006

January ........................................................ 1,245 117,946 1,123 108,701 331 35,097 

February ....................................................... 719 66,555 658 62,208 210 24,892 

March ........................................................... 921 111,838 856 106,177 285 44,688 

April .............................................................. 1,140 121,589 1,038 112,964 296 39,538 

May .............................................................. 872 84,809 794 78,663 192 23,570 

June ............................................................. 1,489 164,761 1,224 140,687 319 41,095 

July ............................................................... 1,511 166,857 1,335 154,342 648 96,152 

August .......................................................... 708 72,844 656 69,054 203 28,494 

September ................................................... 865 87,699 785 81,274 296 39,076 

October ........................................................ 964 98,804 820 88,133 311 46,737 

November .................................................... 1,315 136,186 1,172 125,009 455 58,473 

December .................................................... 2,249 254,503 2,126 244,783 735 105,462 

2007

January ........................................................ 1,407 134,984 1,263 124,475 456 53,615 

February ....................................................... 935 86,696 861 82,097 273 36,170 

March ........................................................... 1,082 123,974 1,015 118,431 367 49,886 

April .............................................................. 1,219 127,444 1,115 118,040 309 35,229 

May .............................................................. 923 85,816 856 81,153 224 26,527 

June ............................................................. 1,599 172,810 1,318 148,669 313 36,571 

July ............................................................... 1,599 175,419 1,450 164,939 684 101,390 

August .......................................................... 963 93,458 908 88,345 220 23,361 

September ................................................... 717 67,385 667 64,026 246 29,381 

October ........................................................ 1,083 108,455 929 97,716 338 50,918 

November .................................................... 1,799 198,220 1,593 181,184 514 75,413 

December .................................................... 2,167 224,214 2,071 216,898 699 91,754 

2008

January ........................................................ 1,647 154,503 1,520 144,191 488 54,418 

February ....................................................... 1,269 119,508 1,178 113,587 361 42,527 

March ........................................................... 1,089 114,541 1,039 110,147 333 43,740 

April .............................................................. 1,272 130,810 1,172 121,625 394 48,188 

May .............................................................. 1,552 159,471 1,438 150,462 388 51,698 

June ............................................................. 1,622 166,742 1,315 140,916 309 42,097 

July ............................................................... 1,891 200,382 1,687 186,018 760 108,733 

August .......................................................... 1,427 139,999 1,343 133,146 414 51,912 

September ................................................... 1,292 129,586 1,202 122,505 361 46,391 

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 

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

Mass layoff events Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

December October November December December October November December

2008 2009 2009 2009 2008 2009 2009 2009

Seasonally adjusted

 Total ............................................................... 2,461 2,055 1,813 1,726 243,505 205,502 163,823 153,127 

 Total, private nonfarm ........................................ 2,277 1,856 1,650 1,542 229,171 187,880 151,810 138,747 

 Manufacturing .................................................. 962 594 485 433 115,961 65,801 54,858 44,072 

Not seasonally adjusted

 Total 1

 ............................................................ 3,377 1,934 1,870 2,310 351,305 193,904 164,496 214,648 

Total, private ........................................................ 3,278 1,806 1,791 2,219 343,963 181,476 158,146 206,930 

 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ......... 46 128 112 53 3,743 8,593 7,395 3,275 

 Total, private nonfarm ........................................ 3,232 1,678 1,679 2,166 340,220 172,883 150,751 203,655 

 Mining .............................................................. 43 15 22 34 4,191 1,038 1,551 2,807 

 Utilities ............................................................. 6 6 3 6 355 550 206 444 

 Construction .................................................... 544 205 308 485 40,579 15,258 23,902 35,718 

 Manufacturing .................................................. 1,378 566 517 615 172,529 69,655 55,053 64,540 

 Food ............................................................ 77 91 61 63 7,797 8,999 6,631 6,447 

 Beverage and tobacco products .................. 12 12 9 5 1,222 1,001 682 396 

 Textile mills .................................................. 44 9 12 14 4,725 1,407 1,337 2,242 

 Textile product mills ..................................... 7 3 – 3 672 419 – 300 

 Apparel ........................................................ 22 7 17 19 2,479 438 1,361 1,661 

 Leather and allied products ......................... 4 – ( 2 ) 5 800 – ( 2 ) 324 

 Wood products ............................................ 86 41 40 40 8,465 4,326 3,505 3,218 

 Paper ........................................................... 34 14 ( 2 ) 12 4,384 1,216 ( 2 ) 850 

 Printing and related support activities .......... 20 17 10 14 1,904 1,337 888 1,659 

 Petroleum and coal products ....................... 12 3 11 10 1,124 312 852 866 

 Chemicals .................................................... 23 8 13 10 2,046 533 1,239 768 

 Plastics and rubber products ....................... 136 35 29 35 14,215 2,672 2,802 3,487 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ...................... 89 16 30 59 9,104 1,172 2,514 4,990 

 Primary metals ............................................. 83 44 38 34 8,558 4,703 3,426 3,456 

 Fabricated metal products ........................... 145 49 36 54 12,576 4,702 2,764 4,387 

 Machinery .................................................... 75 51 44 53 7,531 10,892 5,080 6,827 

 Computer and electronic products ............... 53 29 25 23 5,245 2,169 2,788 1,429 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ........... 51 29 18 19 9,049 3,394 1,379 2,191 

 Transportation equipment ............................ 352 72 86 106 64,336 17,069 13,806 13,537 

 Furniture and related products .................... 37 22 19 28 4,764 1,865 2,407 4,617 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing ...................... 16 14 11 9 1,533 1,029 931 888 

 Wholesale trade ............................................... 60 50 33 50 5,374 4,645 2,389 3,858 

 Retail trade ...................................................... 142 124 99 121 12,104 12,914 7,083 12,300 

 Transportation and warehousing ..................... 196 61 83 157 22,751 5,541 6,651 17,909 

 Information ....................................................... 71 57 52 51 9,138 9,567 5,414 7,042 

 Finance and insurance .................................... 40 49 33 30 2,998 3,716 2,691 2,357 

 Real estate and rental and leasing .................. 16 13 13 12 1,382 870 963 763 

 Professional and technical services ................ 76 57 55 47 6,280 5,974 4,651 3,746 

 Management of companies and enterprises ... 17 6 3 5 2,433 812 290 545 

 Administrative and waste services .................. 348 260 220 253 31,069 25,694 18,219 21,653 

 Educational services ........................................ 11 3 6 12 634 226 453 755 

 Health care and social assistance ................... 36 37 38 38 2,626 2,165 2,886 2,653 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ................. 23 34 45 19 1,503 2,435 3,705 1,734 

 Accommodation and food services .................. 199 126 129 214 22,312 11,346 13,264 23,507 

 Other services, except public administration ... 24 9 20 16 1,821 477 1,380 1,171 

 Unclassified .................................................... 2 – – 1 141 – – 153 

Government ......................................................... 99 128 79 91 7,342 12,428 6,350 7,718 

 Federal ............................................................ 10 28 12 11 1,011 2,550 1,155 921 

 State ................................................................ 19 32 25 26 1,296 3,433 2,213 2,560 

 Local ................................................................ 70 68 42 54 5,035 6,445 2,982 4,237 

 1

 Data were reported by all states and the District of Columbia. NOTE: Dash represents zero.

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

Industry
Table 4. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, October 2007 to December 2009,

not seasonally adjusted

Extended mass layoffs 

lasting more than 30 days Realization rates 1

Events Initial

claimants Events Initialclaimants Events Initialclaimants Events Initialclaimants

2007

October ...................................... 1,083 108,455 929 97,716 

November .................................. 1,799 198,220 1,593 181,184 

December .................................. 2,167 224,214 2,071 216,898 

Fourth Quarter ........................... 5,049 530,889 4,593 495,798 1,814 347,151 39.5 70.0 

2008

January ...................................... 1,647 154,503 1,520 144,191 

February .................................... 1,269 119,508 1,178 113,587 

March ......................................... 1,089 114,541 1,039 110,147 

First Quarter ............................... 4,005 388,552 3,737 367,925 1,340 259,292 35.9 70.5 

April ............................................ 1,272 130,810 1,172 121,625 

May ............................................ 1,552 159,471 1,438 150,462 

June ........................................... 1,622 166,742 1,315 140,916 

Second Quarter ......................... 4,446 457,023 3,925 413,003 1,756 339,630 44.7 82.2 

July ............................................ 1,891 200,382 1,687 186,018 

August ........................................ 1,427 139,999 1,343 133,146 

September ................................. 1,292 129,586 1,202 122,505 

Third Quarter ............................. 4,610 469,967 4,232 441,669 1,581 304,340 37.4 68.9 

October ...................................... 2,125 221,784 1,917 205,553 

November .................................. 2,574 241,589 2,389 226,657 

December .................................. 3,377 351,305 3,232 340,220 

Fourth Quarter ........................... 8,076 814,678 7,538 772,430 3,582 766,592 47.5 99.2 

2009

January ...................................... 3,806 388,813 3,633 375,293 

February .................................... 2,262 218,438 2,173 210,755 

March ......................................... 2,191 228,387 2,107 221,397 

First Quarter ............................... 8,259 835,638 7,913 807,445 3,979 835,017 50.3 103.4 

April ............................................ 2,547 256,930 2,385 243,321 

May ............................................ 2,738 289,628 2,572 274,047 

June ........................................... 2,519 256,357 2,051 216,063 

Second Quarter ......................... 7,804 802,915 7,008 733,431 3,396 727,494 48.5 99.2 

July ............................................ 3,054 336,654 2,659 296,589 

August ........................................ 1,428 125,024 1,334 117,193 

September ................................. 1,371 123,177 1,258 115,141 

Third Quarter ............................. 5,853 584,855 5,251 528,923 2,p 1,776 2,p 266,938 p

 33.8 p 50.5 

October ...................................... 1,934 193,904 1,678 172,883 

November .................................. 1,870 164,496 1,679 150,751 

December .................................. 2,310 214,648 2,166 203,655 

Fourth Quarter ........................... 6,114 573,048 5,523 527,289 

 1

 The event realization rate is the percentage of all private nonfarm data on these layoffs become available. Experience suggests that the

mass layoff events lasting more than 30 days. The initial claimant realization number of extended mass layoff events is generally revised upwards

rate is the percentage of all private nonfarm mass layoff initial claimants by less than 10 percent and the number of initial claimants associated

associated with layoffs lasting more than 30 days. with such events increases by 25-40 percent.

 2 These quarterly numbers are provisional and will be revised as more p = preliminary.

Date

Total mass layoffs

Private nonfarm

Mass layoffs
Table 5. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance by census region and division,

not seasonally adjusted

Mass layoff events Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

December October November December December October November December

2008 2009 2009 2009 2008 2009 2009 2009

 United States 1

 ......................................... 3,377 1,934 1,870 2,310 351,305 193,904 164,496 214,648 

Northeast .......................................................... 491 260 285 461 44,901 22,709 26,974 41,913 

 New England ................................................ 70 30 40 71 7,024 2,134 3,750 6,743 

 Middle Atlantic .............................................. 421 230 245 390 37,877 20,575 23,224 35,170 

South ................................................................ 815 499 413 494 94,307 45,772 37,708 48,248 

 South Atlantic ............................................... 362 279 207 284 33,456 23,144 19,029 25,236 

 East South Central ....................................... 296 87 83 115 42,388 9,545 6,656 13,749 

 West South Central ...................................... 157 133 123 95 18,463 13,083 12,023 9,263 

Midwest ............................................................ 1,278 483 530 739 146,155 60,792 51,989 76,826 

 East North Central ........................................ 961 375 382 508 108,017 49,277 39,265 51,903 

 West North Central ....................................... 317 108 148 231 38,138 11,515 12,724 24,923 

West ................................................................. 793 692 642 616 65,942 64,631 47,825 47,661 

 Mountain ....................................................... 139 103 98 126 12,780 9,020 9,393 10,700 

 Pacific ........................................................... 654 589 544 490 53,162 55,611 38,432 36,961 

 1

 See footnote 1, table 3. Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas, 

 NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; East North Central: Illinois, Indiana,

comprise the census divisions are: New England: Connecticut, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West North Central: Iowa, Kansas,

Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota;

and Vermont; Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, and Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, 

Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon,

Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Washington.

Virginia, and West Virginia; East South Central: Alabama,

Census region and division
Table 6. State distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,

not seasonally adjusted

Mass layoff events Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

December October November December December October November December

2008 2009 2009 2009 2008 2009 2009 2009

 Total 1

 .............................................. 3,377 1,934 1,870 2,310 351,305 193,904 164,496 214,648 

Alabama ............................................. 88 27 16 36 14,160 3,179 1,266 4,592 

Alaska ................................................. ( 2 ) 8 3 7 ( 2 ) 755 361 650 

Arizona ............................................... 13 20 9 9 1,213 1,666 709 817 

Arkansas ............................................. 25 17 9 7 2,517 1,954 973 581 

California ............................................ 546 514 472 412 43,265 48,169 31,922 30,229 

Colorado ............................................. 24 19 14 24 2,023 1,554 1,064 1,941 

Connecticut ......................................... 10 9 5 8 799 671 424 890 

Delaware ............................................ 8 3 6 5 817 251 347 266 

District of Columbia ............................ ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 301 

Florida ................................................. 104 167 86 96 6,931 11,851 6,010 7,715 

Georgia ............................................... 83 39 26 56 8,508 3,880 3,225 5,244 

Hawaii ................................................. 15 7 7 7 1,650 630 488 637 

Idaho ................................................... 25 10 19 16 2,347 1,088 2,071 1,099 

Illinois .................................................. 202 93 101 142 25,885 12,917 10,794 17,639 

Indiana ................................................ 156 37 43 57 16,762 4,759 4,323 6,256 

Iowa .................................................... 82 35 25 51 10,005 4,732 2,648 6,087 

Kansas ................................................ 38 13 8 28 7,949 1,562 741 4,878 

Kentucky ............................................. 131 36 41 44 21,570 4,656 3,649 5,013 

Louisiana ............................................ 17 24 35 22 2,430 2,169 2,795 1,641 

Maine .................................................. 7 3 6 3 530 177 674 204 

Maryland ............................................. 15 6 6 16 1,002 479 486 1,251 

Massachusetts .................................... 38 9 11 28 4,289 596 803 2,990 

Michigan ............................................. 248 70 78 119 24,508 9,543 8,549 10,913 

Minnesota ........................................... 67 24 55 45 7,374 1,985 4,905 3,690 

Mississippi .......................................... 27 10 9 12 2,399 602 512 1,000 

Missouri .............................................. 107 31 48 86 10,625 2,556 3,195 8,373 

Montana .............................................. 8 11 10 12 630 1,062 758 896 

Nebraska ............................................ 12 4 6 12 1,334 559 611 1,166 

Nevada ............................................... 41 19 33 36 4,303 1,361 3,891 3,677 

New Hampshire .................................. 4 3 4 11 255 263 279 867 

New Jersey ......................................... 80 37 52 67 6,910 2,850 5,277 6,716 

New Mexico ........................................ 16 11 7 12 1,170 761 476 954 

New York ............................................ 111 68 75 126 10,511 6,961 6,281 12,704 

North Carolina .................................... 33 19 30 18 3,314 1,672 4,273 1,455 

North Dakota ...................................... 8 ( 2 ) 5 7 666 ( 2 ) 557 595 

Ohio .................................................... 224 75 59 91 27,836 10,569 5,233 8,888 

Oklahoma ........................................... 20 7 10 10 3,210 582 1,438 893 

Oregon ................................................ 51 35 35 29 4,413 3,936 3,464 2,617 

Pennsylvania ...................................... 230 125 118 197 20,456 10,764 11,666 15,750 

Rhode Island ...................................... 7 ( 2

 ) 3 6 820 ( 2 ) 297 713 

South Carolina .................................... 84 19 20 45 9,381 2,692 1,456 4,780 

South Dakota ...................................... 3 – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 185 – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Tennessee .......................................... 50 14 17 23 4,259 1,108 1,229 3,144 

Texas .................................................. 95 85 69 56 10,306 8,378 6,817 6,148 

Utah .................................................... 12 9 4 16 1,094 1,058 256 1,256 

Vermont .............................................. 4 3 11 15 331 254 1,273 1,079 

Virginia ................................................ 27 22 31 40 2,782 1,955 3,021 3,903 

Washington ......................................... 40 25 27 35 3,663 2,121 2,197 2,828 

West Virginia ...................................... 6 3 ( 2 ) 4 416 250 ( 2 ) 321 

Wisconsin ........................................... 131 100 101 99 13,026 11,489 10,366 8,207 

Wyoming ............................................. – 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – 470 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Puerto Rico ......................................... 16 12 22 11 1,285 1,079 2,177 1,093 

 1 See footnote 1, table 3. NOTE: Dash represents zero. 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

State