Technical information: (202) 691-6392

http://www.bls.gov/mls/

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 06-1365

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Thursday, August 10, 2006

EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2006

In the second quarter of 2006, employers took 1,213 mass layoff actions in the private, nonfarm sector

that resulted in the separation of 251,341 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of exextended mass layoff actions and affected workers were both slightly higher than a year earlier. (See table

A.) The over-the-year increases were most notable in food and beverage stores, food manufacturing, and

general merchandise stores. In the second quarter of 2006, extended mass layoffs that involve the movement of work within the same company or to a different company, either domestically or outside the U.S.,

occurred in 9 percent of the nonseasonal layoff events and 13 percent of worker separations. (See table B.)

Among employers who anticipated recalling laid-off workers, 50 percent expected to extend the offer to all

laid-off workers, a smaller proportion than a year ago.

The completion of seasonal work accounted for 37 percent of all events and resulted in 125,688 separations during the period. Layoffs due to internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership

change, financial difficulty, and reorganization) represented 15 percent of events and resulted in 42,289

separations, 17 percent of total separations. Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 11 percent of

all events and affected 30,402 workers, with both figures higher than a year ago.

In the second quarter of 2006, the national unemployment rate was 4.6 percent, not seasonally adjusted;

this was down from 5.0 percent in the second quarter 2005. Private nonfarm payroll employment, not seasonally adjusted, increased by 1.7 million, or 1.5 percent, from April-June 2005 to April-June 2006.

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

Extended mass layoff separations occurred in 330 of the 1,105 detailed industries for which data are

available for the second quarter of 2006. Manufacturing industries accounted for 21 percent of private

nonfarm layoff events and 19 percent of separations during April-June 2006. (See table 1.) The number

of separations in manufacturing (48,969) was higher than in the second quarter of 2005. In the second

quarter of 2006, the highest number of separations in this sector were in food manufacturing (12,596),

followed by transportation equipment manufacturing (11,985).

Transportation and warehousing accounted for 10 percent of private nonfarm layoff events and 12 percent of separations, primarily in school and employee bus transportation. Layoffs in the accommodation and

food services sector made up 10 percent of events and 12 percent of separations, mostly in food services

and drinking places. The professional and technical services sector comprised 4 percent of events and 11
2

Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity

 2002

January-March .......... 1,611 299,266 292,998

 April-June ................. 1,624 344,606 299,598

July-September ......... 1,186 255,152 254,955

October-December ... 1,916 373,307 370,592

 2003

January-March .......... 1,502 286,947 297,608

April-June ................. 1,799 368,273 348,966

July-September ......... 1,190 236,333 227,909

October-December ... 1,690 325,333 326,328

 2004

January-March .......... 1,339 276,503 238,392

April-June ................. 1,358 278,831 254,063

July-September ......... 886 164,608 148,575

October-December.... 1,427 273,967 262,049

 2005

January-March .......... 1,142 186,506 185,486

April-June ................. 1,203 246,099 212,673

July-September ......... 1,136 201,878 190,180

October-December ... 1,400 250,178 246,169

 2006

January-March .......... 963 181,010 189,634

April-June ................. 1,213 251,341 184,543

 

 r = revised.

p = preliminary.

Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants

r

r

r

r

p

 percent of separations, mostly in tax preparation services. Cutbacks in arts, entertainment, and recreation

accounted for 4 percent of events and 8 percent of separations and were concentrated in amusements,

gambling, and recreation.

Information technology-producing industries (communications equipment, communications services,

computer hardware, and software and computer services) accounted for 2 percent of layoff events and

worker separations in the second quarter of 2006. In the second quarter of 2005, these industries accounted for 4 percent of layoff events and 3 percent of all separations. Layoffs in the information technology-producing industries in the second quarter of 2006 were most numerous in computer hardware,

with 2,900 separations, followed by software and computer services. (See table 6.)

Reasons for Extended Layoff

Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 37 percent of the extended layoff events

and resulted in 125,688 separations in the second quarter of 2006. (See table 2.) Seasonal layoffs were

most numerous in professional and technical services (tax preparation services) and in transit and ground

passenger transportation (school and employee bus transportation).
3

Table B. Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures,

second quarter 2006

Action Layoff events Separations

Total private nonfarm ............................. 1,213 251,341

 Total, excluding seasonal and ...........

 vacation events............................. 686 112,108

 Total events with movement

 of work ................................... 65 14,796

 Movement of work actions...... 93 (

3

)

With separations reported.... 60 8,802

With separations unknown ... 33 (

3

)

p

The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers when the reason for layoff

was either seasonal work or vacation period.

A layoff event can involve more than one movement of work action.

Data not available.

1

2

 1

 2

 3

Internal company restructuring (due to bankruptcy, business ownership change, financial difficulty, and

reorganization) accounted for 15 percent of layoff events and resulted in 42,289 separations. These layoffs

were mostly among workers in transportation equipment manufacturing, credit intermediation and related

activities, and food and beverage stores. Over half of both the internal company restructuring layoff events

and separations were due to reorganization within the company. Layoffs due to reorganization were primarily

in transportation equipment manufacturing, credit intermediation and related activities, and food manufacturing.

Movement of Work

In the second quarter of 2006, 65 extended mass layoff events involved the movement of work; this

was about 9 percent of total extended mass layoff events, excluding those for seasonal and vacation reasons.

(See table B.) These movements of work were to other U.S. locations or to locations outside of the U.S.,

and they occurred either within the same company or to other companies. The extended mass layoff events

involving movement of work were associated with the separation of 14,796 workers, about 13 percent of all

separations resulting from nonseasonal/nonvacation mass layoff events. A year earlier, 73 layoff events and

12,040 separations were associated with the movement of work. (See table 10.)

Among the 65 extended mass layoff events in the second quarter of 2006 with reported relocation of

work, 68 percent were permanent closures of worksites, which affected 10,159 workers. In comparison,

for the 1,213 total layoff events reported for the quarter, only 11 percent involved the permanent closure of

the worksites.

p = preliminary.
4

With separations reported ......... 60 8,802

 By location

Out of country .......................... 20 2,367

Within company ..................... 18 2,246

Different company.................. 2 121

 Domestic relocations ................ 40 6,435

Within company ..................... 34 5,743

Different company.................. 6 692

 By company

Within company ........................ 52 7,989

Domestic ............................... 34 5,743

Out of country ....................... 18 2,246

Different company..................... 8 813

Domestic ............................... 6 692

Out of country ....................... 2 121

 

1

 Only actions for which separations associated with the movement

of work were reported are shown.

p

 = preliminary.

Table C. Movement of work actions by type of separation where the

 number of separations is known by employers, second quarter 2006

Activities Actions Separations

p

Of the layoffs involving the movement of work, 66 percent of both the events and laid-off workers were

from manufacturing industries during the second quarter of 2006. (See table 7.) Among all private nonfarm

extended layoffs, manufacturing accounted for 21 percent of the events and 19 percent of the separations.

Internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change, financial difficulty, and reorganization) accounted for 83 percent of layoff events associated with work relocation and resulted in 11,908

separations during the second quarter. (See table 8.) Most of these were due to reorganization within the

company. In contrast, only 15 percent of the layoff events in the total private nonfarm economy were

because of internal company restructuring.

Among the regions, the Midwest and the West accounted for the largest proportions of workers in

extended mass layoffs associated with the movement of work, 33 and 32 percent, respectively. The South

had 26 percent of such layoffs, and the Northeast had 9 percent.

Some extended mass layoff events involve more than one relocation of work action. For example, an

extended mass layoff event at an establishment may involve job loss due to movement of work to both another domestic location of the company and a location out of the country. This would be counted as two

movement of work actions. The 65 extended layoff events with movement of work for the second quarter

of 2006 involved 93 identifiable relocations of work. (See table B.) An identifiable relocation of work

1
5

Table D. Summary of employer expectations of a recall from extended

 layoff, second quarter 2005—second quarter 2006

 Anticipate a recall ............... 61.8 39.5 68.9 43.1 58.6

 Timeframe

 Within 6 months .................. 89.4 78.8 90.0 83.9 89.2

 Within 3 months................. 59.5 57.9 37.1 55.2 60.5

 Size

 At least half......................... 92.9 80.2 92.6 88.0 92.8

 All workers........................ 51.1 43.2 50.5 38.1 49.5

Nature of the recall II

2006

IV

2005

I

2006

III

2005

II

2005 r p

Percentage of events

r = revised.

p = preliminary.

occurs when the employer provides sufficient information on the new location of work and/or the number

of workers affected by the movement. Of the 93 relocations, employers were able to provide information

on the specific separations associated with the movement of work component of the layoff in 60 actions

involving 8,802 workers, or 65 percent of the 93 actions for the second quarter of 2006. Thus, a range

of 8,802 (separations in movement of work actions where the employer was able to provide specific detail)

to 14,796 (total separations in all layoff events that included movement of work) is established for separations

due to the movement of work in the second quarter. (See table 10.)

In the 60 actions where employers were able to provide more complete separations information, 87 percent of relocations (52 out of 60) occurred among establishments within the same company. (See table C.)

In 65 percent of these relocations (34 out of 52), the work activities were reassigned to places elsewhere in

the U.S.

Thirty-three percent of the movement-of-work relocations—both within the company and to other companies—involved out-of-country moves (20 out of 60). The separation of 2,367 workers was associated

with out-of-country relocations, 2 percent of all nonseasonal/nonvacation extended mass layoff separations.

Domestic relocation of work—both within the company and to other companies—affected 6,435 workers.

(See table 11.)

Recall Expectations

Fifty-nine percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the second quarter of 2006 indicated they

anticipated some type of recall. This compares with 62 percent of the employers anticipating a recall a year

earlier. (See table D.) Most employers not expecting a recall during the second quarter were from administrative and support services and specialty trade contracting.
6

 Number Percent Number

Size

 Total............ 1,213 100.0 251,341 100.0

50-99................ 515 42.5 37,136 14.8

100-149............ 257 21.2 29,534 11.8

150-199............ 144 11.9 24,233 9.6

200-299............ 119 9.8 27,908 11.1

300-499............ 99 8.2 36,683 14.6

500-999............ 49 4.0 32,651 13.0

1,000 or more.... 30 2.5 63,196 25.1

p = preliminary.

 Percent

Table E. Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff,

April-June 2006

Layoff events Separations

p

Among establishments expecting a recall, most employers expected to recall over one-half of the

separated employees and to do so within 6 months. Fifty percent of the employers expected to extend

the offer to all laid-off workers.

Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in which 96 percent of the employers

expected a recall), employers expected to recall laid-off workers in 29 percent of the events. A year earlier,

30 percent of employers expected a recall in nonseasonal and nonvacation events. In layoff events due to

internal company restructuring, employers anticipated a recall in only 4 percent of the events.

Size of Extended Layoff

Layoff events during the second quarter continued to be concentrated at the lower end of the extended

layoff-size spectrum, with 64 percent involving fewer than 150 workers. These events, however, accounted

for only 27 percent of all separations. (See table E.) Separations involving 500 or more workers, while

comprising 7 percent of the events, accounted for 38 percent of all separations, up from 36 percent in AprilJune 2005. The average size of layoffs (as measured by separations per layoff event) differed widely by

industry, ranging from a low of 71 separations in hospitals to a high of 788 in amusements, gambling, and

recreation.

Initial Claimant Characteristics

A total of 184,534 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended mass

layoffs in the second quarter of 2006. Of these claimants, 17 percent were black, 14 percent were Hispanic,

55 percent were women, 33 percent were 30 to 44 years of age, and 22 percent were 55 years of age or

older. (See table 3.) Among persons in the civilian labor force for the same period, 11 percent were black,

14 percent were Hispanic, 46 percent were women, 34 percent were age 30 to 44, and 17 percent were 55

years of age or older.

Geographic Distribution

In the second quarter, the number of separations due to extended mass layoff events was highest in the

West (83,452), followed by the Midwest (69,331), the Northeast (52,461), and the South (46,097). (See
7

Total, nonmetropolitan areas............................... 158 154 28,749 28,678

Total, 367 metropolitan areas............................. 650 651 108,706 103,144

 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. .... 39 69 7,828 12,978

 Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis........... 40 42 9,236 8,106

 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long..........

 Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. .................................. 62 61 11,708 7,506

 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, ...................

 Pa.-N.J.-De.-Md. ........................................ 27 23 2,958 4,008

 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif. .......... 5 13 453 3,046

 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach, Fla. ..... 17 15 4,106 3,030

 Salt Lake City, Utah....................................... 5 6 2,620 2,877

 Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich. ....................... 26 28 3,065 2,835

 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. ........ 7 12 2,139 2,550

 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. .......... 13 22 1,355 2,511

 p = preliminary.

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

Office of Management and Budget Bulletin 06-01, December 5, 2005.

Events Separations

Metropolitan area

Table F. Mass layoff events and separations, selected metropolitan areas

II

2005

II

2005

II

2006

II

2006

table 4.) Separations in the West were mainly in the amusements, gambling, and recreation industry and in

the professional and technical services industry.

The West region reported the only over-the-year increase (+20,953) in separations. The other three

regions reported over-the-year decreases in separations, with the largest decrease occurring in the Midwest

(-6,452), followed by the Northeast (-4,810) and the South (-4,449). Four of the nine geographic divisions

reported over-the-year increases in laid-off workers, with the largest increases occurring in the Pacific

(+26,949) and New England (+3,579) divisions. The Middle Atlantic division reported the largest decline

in separations (-8,389), followed by the East North Central division (-7,575).

Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the largest number of worker separations occurred in

California (51,740), followed by Illinois (23,798), Florida (21,520), and New Jersey (16,190). These four

states accounted for 40 percent of total layoff events and 45 percent of separations during the second quarter

of 2006. They were followed by Michigan (12,655), New York (12,617), Colorado (12,566), and Ohio

(12,344). (See table 5.) After excluding the substantial impact of seasonal work, California reported the

most laid-off workers (30,235), largely due to layoffs in computer and electronic product manufacturing and

specialty trade contractors.

r p r p

 r = revised.
8

Over the year, California reported the greatest increase in workers laid off for all reasons during the

second quarter (+25,877), followed by Connecticut (+3,055). The largest decreases occurred in New

York (-5,978), Illinois (-4,192), and Indiana (-3,234).

Fifty-four percent of events and 41 percent of separations (103,144) occurred in metropolitan areas in

the second quarter of 2006, compared with 54 percent of events and 44 percent of separations (108,706)

during the second quarter of 2005. Among the 367 metropolitan areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa

Ana, Calif., reported the highest number of separations, 12,978, in the second quarter of 2006. Next was

Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis., with 8,106 separations, and New York-Northern New Jersey-Long

Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., with 7,506 separations. (See table F.) Employers located in nonmetropolitan areas

separated 28,678 workers in mass layoffs, down from 28,749 workers in the second quarter of 2005.

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 establishment filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a

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

employer is contacted for additional information. Data for the second 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 report on Mass Layoffs in July 2006 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 23, 2006.
Technical Note

The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state

program which identifies, describes, and tracks the effects of

major job cutbacks, using data from each state’s unemployment

insurance database. Establishments 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.

Establishments 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

Establishment. A unit at a single physical location at which

predominantly one type of economic activity is conducted.

Extended layoff event. Fifty or more initial claims for

unemployment insurance benefits from an establishment during

a 5-week period, with at least 50 workers separated for more than

30 days.

Initial claimant. A person who files any notice of

unemployment to initiate a request either for a determination of

entitlement to and eligibility for compensation, or for a

subsequent period of unemployment within a benefit year or

period of eligibility.

Layoff. The separation of persons from an employer as part

of a mass layoff event. (See below.) Such layoffs involve both

persons subject to recall and those who are terminated by the

establishment.

Mass layoff. Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment

insurance benefits from an establishment beginning in a given

month, regardless of duration.

Worksite closure. The complete closure of either multi-unit

or single-unit establishments or the partial closure of a multiunit establishment where entire worksites affected by layoffs

are closed or planned to be closed.

Movement of work concepts and questions

Because of the employer interview component, the BLS

decided to use the MLS program as a vehicle for collecting

additional information on offshoring and outsourcing

associated with job loss, by adding questions that address

movement of work. The term “moving work” means that the

company experiencing the layoff has reassigned work activities

that were performed at a worksite by the company’s employees

(1) to another worksite within the company; (2) to another

company under formal arrangements at the same worksite; or (3)

to another company under formal arrangements at another

worksite. The type of work activities subject to movement can

include accounting, customer service, cleaning, warehousing, etc.

 “Overseas relocation” is the movement of work from within

the U.S. to locations outside of the U.S. “Overseas relocation”

can occur within the same company and involve movement of

work to a different location of that company outside of the U.S.,

or to a different company altogether.

“Domestic relocation” is the movement of work to other

locations inside the U.S., either within the same company or to

a different company.

 “Overseas relocation” and “domestic relocation” are no

longer used in the same way as they were in earlier extended

mass layoff news releases. Therefore, the data presented in this

news release are not comparable to those that were presented

in earlier news releases.

 Questions on movement of work and location are asked for

all identified layoff events when the reason for separation is

other than “seasonal work” or “vacation period.” Seasonal and

vacation layoff events were excluded because movement of

work appears unlikely.

Questions on movement of work are asked after the analyst

verifies that a layoff in fact occurred and lasted more than 30

days, and obtained the total number of workers separated from

jobs, the date the layoff began, and the economic reason for the

layoff. If the reason for layoff is other than seasonal or vacation,

the employer was asked the following:

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

this 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 “overseas relocation” if the

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

that the location(s) was outside of the U.S. Domestic relocation

is determined if the employer responds “yes” to questions 1

and/or 2 and indicates that the location(s) was within the U.S.

After asking the movement of work questions, the employer

interview continues and responses are obtained for questions

on recall expectations and open/closed status of the worksite.

Reliability of the data

The identification of establishments and layoff events in the

MLS program and associated characteristics of claimants is
based on administrative data on covered establishments and

unemployment insurance claims, and, therefore, is not subject

to issues associated with sampling error. Nonsampling errors

such as typographical errors may occur but are not likely to be

significant. While the MLS establishments and layoff events

are not subject to sampling error, and all such employers are

asked the employer interview questions, the employer

responses are subject to nonsampling error. Nonsampling error

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. For the second quarter

of 2006, outright refusal to participate in the employer interview

accounted for 3.6 percent of all private nonfarm events.

Although included in the total number of instances involving

the movement of work, for the second quarter, employers in 33

relocations were unable to provide the number of separations

specifically associated with the movement of work, 5 of which

involved out-of-country moves.

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200;

TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339.
Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2005 and 2006

Industry

II I II II I II II I II

2005 2006r 2006p 2005r 2006r 2006p 2005r 2006r 2006p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 .................................. 1,203 963 1,213 246,099 181,010 251,341 212,673 189,634 184,534 

 Mining .............................................................. – ( 2

 ) 4 – ( 2 ) 597 – ( 2 ) 431 

 Utilities ............................................................. 5 ( 2 ) 3 771 ( 2 ) 509 683 ( 2 ) 432 

 Construction .................................................... 110 192 145 15,242 21,341 15,314 17,867 25,850 15,314 

 Manufacturing ................................................. 269 301 256 44,231 60,980 48,969 48,069 74,001 39,857 

 Food ........................................................... 60 58 62 9,496 10,916 12,596 10,273 12,072 8,121 

 Beverage and tobacco products ................ ( 2 ) 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,515 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,531 ( 2 )

 Textile mills ................................................ ( 2 ) 9 13 ( 2 ) 849 1,687 ( 2 ) 996 1,865 

 Textile product mills ................................... 3 4 4 243 285 465 275 496 631 

 Apparel ....................................................... 13 16 9 1,594 2,290 1,357 1,656 2,214 1,047 

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

 Wood products ........................................... 6 12 8 690 1,255 1,118 780 1,678 861 

 Paper .......................................................... 5 7 14 389 951 1,812 447 809 1,088 

 Printing and related support activities ........ 11 10 10 1,682 1,252 1,352 1,754 1,245 998 

 Petroleum and coal products ..................... – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Chemicals ................................................. ( 2

 ) 7 8 ( 2 ) 758 1,016 ( 2 ) 663 628 

 Plastics and rubber products ...................... 11 20 10 1,161 2,475 1,505 1,765 2,490 1,144 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ..................... 9 14 7 1,236 1,426 2,073 1,363 1,713 875 

 Primary metals ........................................... 11 11 8 1,885 4,769 1,080 1,940 3,817 799 

 Fabricated metal products .......................... 18 14 6 2,958 1,595 569 2,627 1,950 453 

 Machinery ................................................... 19 19 15 2,415 3,066 3,239 2,868 1,913 2,301 

 Computer and electronic products ............. 24 18 20 3,651 2,740 4,491 3,847 4,193 2,438 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ......... 13 13 7 2,633 3,680 947 4,083 3,774 629 

 Transportation equipment .......................... 45 36 39 11,266 18,204 11,985 11,619 29,581 14,383 

 Furniture and related products ................... 13 11 7 1,770 1,557 730 1,840 1,688 615 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing ..................... 3 9 5 213 892 659 269 737 547 

 Wholesale trade .............................................. 19 15 16 3,726 2,279 3,566 3,180 1,485 2,328 

 Retail trade ...................................................... 42 115 63 9,521 35,129 18,554 9,114 28,373 14,117 

 Transportation and warehousing ..................... 132 44 125 30,966 11,616 29,668 28,017 9,559 21,572 

 Information ...................................................... 32 28 32 6,694 4,212 5,340 6,901 6,202 8,093 

 Finance and insurance .................................... 27 30 43 5,048 4,773 6,955 5,603 4,766 5,223 

 Real estate and rental and leasing ................. 6 ( 2 ) 8 983 ( 2 ) 733 1,031 ( 2 ) 542 

 Professional and technical services ................ 64 28 51 27,253 3,619 28,574 16,025 4,889 13,706 

 Management of companies and enterprises ... 4 5 4 499 680 342 405 613 282 

 Administrative and waste services .................. 107 99 101 18,067 20,682 16,299 19,112 19,569 13,943 

 Educational services ....................................... 7 ( 2 ) 10 573 ( 2 ) 1,207 774 ( 2 ) 874 

 Health care and social assistance ................... 167 22 139 22,871 2,626 17,393 18,610 2,036 13,511 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ................. 34 23 43 20,476 3,432 21,271 3,742 2,853 4,028 

 Accommodation and food services ................. 117 46 118 30,416 7,386 29,113 25,392 7,609 24,410 

 Other services, except public administration ... 61 5 52 8,762 866 6,937 8,148 653 5,871 

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

 1

 For the second quarter of 2006, data on layoffs were reported by employers administrative data, will be unaffected and will continue to cover the

in all states and the District of Columbia. Due to budget constraints in the MLS total economy.

program, beginning with data for the first quarter of 2004, the scope of quarterly 2

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

extended mass layoffs and plant closings has been redefined to cover only the r

 = revised.

private nonfarm economy. Quarterly information on layoff events in agriculture p

 = preliminary.

and government are no longer being collected. However, the monthly reporting NOTE: Dash represents zero.

of the MLS program in the release, Mass Layoffs , which is based only on

Separations Initial claimants for

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

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2005 and 2006

Reason for layoff

II I II II I II II I II

2005 2006r 2006p 2005r 2006r 2006p 2005r 2006r 2006p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ......................... 1,203 963 1,213 246,099 181,010 251,341 212,673 189,634 184,534 

Automation .............................................. ( 2

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

Bankruptcy ............................................... 18 18 7 4,159 3,999 4,049 2,892 3,121 784 

Business ownership change .................... 20 31 29 6,140 8,832 8,671 4,468 7,393 3,995 

Contract cancellation ............................... 18 16 15 2,207 2,233 2,677 2,124 2,732 2,039 

Contract completed ................................. 207 214 270 32,816 30,849 34,633 37,000 36,616 32,625 

Financial difficulty .................................... 35 42 28 5,402 8,346 5,262 4,689 7,305 2,806 

Import competition ................................... 10 9 14 1,582 1,398 1,709 1,016 1,230 1,669 

Labor dispute ........................................... 5 ( 2 ) 6 965 ( 2 ) 1,420 870 ( 2 ) 1,066 

Material shortage ..................................... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 )

Model changeover ................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

Natural disaster ....................................... – ( 2

 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

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

Plant or machine repair ........................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Product line discontinued ........................ 8 11 7 2,600 1,728 2,137 1,681 2,244 568 

Reorganization within company ............... 105 116 118 16,885 28,685 24,307 16,380 32,930 24,638 

Seasonal work ......................................... 484 246 445 123,834 41,425 125,688 84,547 40,947 76,219 

Slack work ............................................... 127 122 95 18,313 21,119 14,189 27,258 26,901 14,149 

Vacation period ........................................ 84 ( 2 ) 82 13,893 ( 2 ) 13,545 12,802 ( 2 ) 11,611 

Weather-related ....................................... ( 2 ) 36 5 ( 2 ) 3,696 294 ( 2 ) 3,931 297 

Other ........................................................ 22 21 20 3,917 3,227 2,563 3,761 2,477 2,122 

Not reported ............................................. 54 66 62 12,431 17,070 8,647 12,077 16,139 8,484 

 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.

Initial claimants for

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

private nonfarm sector, first and second quarters, 2006

Total Percent of total

State

Layoff events initial

claimants Black Hispanic

origin Women Persons age 55and over

I II I II I II I II I II I II

 2006r 2006p 2006r 2006p 2006r 2006p 2006r 2006p 2006r 2006p 2006r 2006p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ........... 963 1,213 189,634 184,534 17.1 16.5 12.6 13.8 39.6 54.7 18.2 22.5 

Alabama ...................................... 7 16 1,018 2,273 46.7 63.5 2.8 2.7 44.0 81.2 16.5 19.4 

Alaska .......................................... ( 2 ) 9 ( 2 ) 1,361 1.2 3.6 2.4 18.7 34.9 41.1 10.8 23.9 

Arizona ........................................ 4 3 733 442 3.0 3.8 30.0 59.7 47.3 43.2 21.8 24.7 

Arkansas ..................................... – ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) – 27.4 – 1.1 – 60.0 – 19.6 

California ..................................... 185 243 32,786 32,443 9.1 8.8 33.7 31.2 40.3 45.3 15.5 17.8 

Colorado ...................................... 8 9 927 1,179 7.3 5.1 26.0 25.4 53.0 58.4 18.9 16.0 

Connecticut ................................. 9 25 2,725 3,441 16.7 10.8 12.3 8.5 33.0 68.4 20.8 24.3 

Delaware ..................................... – ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) – 14.0 – 1.4 – 19.5 – 16.4 

District of Columbia ..................... – ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) – 70.5 – 7.4 – 68.4 – 22.1 

Florida ......................................... 52 106 8,904 13,952 16.4 18.8 33.3 31.4 45.3 51.5 22.4 22.3 

Georgia ........................................ 18 28 2,715 4,519 56.8 53.5 .7 1.1 45.3 58.8 15.3 16.9 

Hawaii .......................................... 4 9 451 790 .7 3.7 22.4 22.4 22.0 45.8 13.1 23.5 

Idaho ........................................... 5 3 397 515 .5 .8 15.6 46.4 49.1 61.7 23.9 36.7 

Illinois .......................................... 76 91 14,642 16,913 24.9 22.7 11.6 10.6 42.3 61.9 15.4 21.6 

Indiana ......................................... 25 11 4,066 1,381 12.2 6.7 4.4 5.4 25.8 43.3 14.5 12.4 

Iowa ............................................. ( 2 ) 5 ( 2 ) 810 1.5 .9 6.2 .7 50.3 70.4 22.6 28.6 

Kansas ........................................ 3 12 429 1,202 9.8 17.3 2.1 1.4 39.9 65.6 25.4 21.0 

Kentucky ...................................... 25 13 2,909 1,254 9.0 9.3 .3 .6 45.8 62.4 16.5 19.0 

Louisiana ..................................... 12 15 1,356 1,565 63.3 71.8 2.7 1.2 54.6 92.3 3.7 21.1 

Maine ........................................... 5 ( 2 ) 841 ( 2 ) 2.1 .3 .2 – 54.1 57.2 21.5 11.6 

Maryland ...................................... 14 3 1,712 461 49.0 51.2 .5 .2 54.7 73.3 19.9 45.3 

Massachusetts ............................ 18 26 2,471 3,916 10.4 12.4 .6 3.3 50.6 56.1 19.8 24.7 

Michigan ...................................... 71 75 33,266 16,372 23.5 17.6 2.3 3.0 32.2 45.7 19.3 21.2 

Minnesota .................................... 23 23 3,001 2,251 6.4 8.7 3.7 7.5 26.7 45.4 16.7 22.6 

Mississippi ................................... 7 6 787 626 39.8 83.4 4.2 .5 54.6 80.0 15.2 11.5 

Missouri ....................................... 13 32 1,813 3,352 22.2 21.4 .5 .3 53.8 76.9 18.7 26.8 

Montana ...................................... 3 – 257 – – – 4.3 – 11.3 – 26.5 –

Nebraska ..................................... 3 4 445 428 13.0 11.2 19.8 19.6 47.9 48.1 16.4 21.7 

Nevada ........................................ ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) 824 12.1 23.4 19.6 12.1 59.8 70.8 36.0 24.6 

New Hampshire ........................... 3 5 286 544 9.8 2.8 5.2 1.7 51.0 52.9 20.3 31.8 

New Jersey .................................. 17 51 2,352 11,773 21.8 17.5 13.0 8.1 56.0 74.5 26.2 34.9 

New Mexico ................................. ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) 424 – .7 98.1 46.0 85.2 41.3 14.8 16.3 

New York ..................................... 98 92 18,520 16,909 11.7 12.0 6.6 8.8 40.9 50.7 19.9 22.6 

North Carolina ............................. 18 13 2,233 1,309 41.4 43.5 6.1 3.5 44.4 52.6 18.9 25.6 

North Dakota ............................... – ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) – – – – – 13.6 – 14.8 

Ohio ............................................. 45 56 9,154 6,187 12.2 18.7 2.3 3.5 28.8 52.5 16.7 16.3 

Oklahoma .................................... 4 – 500 – 15.2 – 8.0 – 52.8 – 12.4 –

Oregon ........................................ 7 24 1,000 3,708 2.1 1.7 29.1 11.2 41.4 69.1 16.4 30.6 

Pennsylvania ............................... 59 73 14,637 11,770 9.9 9.2 3.7 4.2 41.8 55.3 21.8 30.2 

Rhode Island ............................... 5 4 401 871 4.0 1.8 14.7 9.3 52.4 79.8 31.9 32.4 

South Carolina ............................. 7 8 1,182 1,241 63.4 51.4 – .5 67.1 52.5 3.7 3.0 

South Dakota ............................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) .6 – 9.9 – 28.6 79.5 18.0 47.7 

Tennessee ................................... 14 7 2,138 616 15.5 40.6 – .3 55.2 48.9 29.7 27.1 

Texas ........................................... 17 29 3,793 4,106 20.0 18.8 35.8 47.1 43.6 50.1 13.7 15.7 

Utah ............................................. 3 9 296 1,017 .7 2.0 24.7 7.7 74.0 62.7 10.5 12.6 

Vermont ....................................... ( 2 ) 7 ( 2 ) 1,128 – .7 – .4 14.8 42.5 15.4 17.3 

Virginia ........................................ 13 5 4,464 1,022 33.3 30.5 2.8 2.9 36.4 51.3 18.1 22.5 

Washington ................................. 24 16 3,185 1,810 8.5 5.5 21.8 14.3 32.3 42.2 13.5 24.2 

West Virginia ............................... ( 2 ) 5 ( 2 ) 460 .2 .7 – – 22.9 25.7 34.9 24.8 

Wisconsin .................................... 26 24 5,372 4,871 3.3 10.3 13.0 4.2 40.1 55.3 18.8 28.2 

Wyoming ..................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – – 6.0 – 31.3 31.7 19.3 2.4 

Puerto Rico .................................. 13 4 3,490 883 ( 3

 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 58.2 46.9 9.7 23.4 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. r

 = revised.

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

 = preliminary.

 3 Data are not available. NOTE: Dash represents zero.
Table 4. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2005 and 2006

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

II I II II I II II I II

2005 2006r 2006p 2005r 2006r 2006p 2005r 2006r 2006p 

 United States1 .................................. 1,203 963 1,213 246,099 181,010 251,341 212,673 189,634 184,534 

Northeast ................................................. 269 216 285 57,271 32,795 52,461 54,538 42,395 50,644 

 New England ........................................ 50 42 69 10,981 10,545 14,560 9,775 6,886 10,192 

 Middle Atlantic ...................................... 219 174 216 46,290 22,250 37,901 44,763 35,509 40,452 

South ........................................................ 290 210 259 50,546 38,543 46,097 46,846 34,112 35,278 

 South Atlantic ....................................... 178 124 171 30,876 23,531 31,760 27,888 21,611 24,568 

 East South Central ............................... 39 53 42 7,185 9,133 6,788 4,602 6,852 4,769 

 West South Central .............................. 73 33 46 12,485 5,879 7,549 14,356 5,649 5,941 

Midwest .................................................... 394 289 335 75,783 65,384 69,331 73,348 72,544 54,017 

 East North Central ............................... 315 243 257 63,403 59,266 55,828 60,496 66,500 45,724 

 West North Central .............................. 79 46 78 12,380 6,118 13,503 12,852 6,044 8,293 

West ......................................................... 250 248 334 62,499 44,288 83,452 37,941 40,583 44,595 

 Mountain .............................................. 54 27 33 25,463 5,835 19,467 6,152 3,078 4,483 

 Pacific .................................................. 196 221 301 37,036 38,453 63,985 31,789 37,505 40,112 

 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, 2005 and 2006

State

II I II II I II II I II

2005 2006r 2006p 2005r 2006r 2006p 2005r 2006r 2006p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ........................ 1,203 963 1,213 246,099 181,010 251,341 212,673 189,634 184,534 

Alabama ................................................... 3 7 16 232 907 2,780 343 1,018 2,273 

Alaska ...................................................... 9 ( 2 ) 9 1,264 ( 2 ) 3,941 1,264 ( 2 ) 1,361 

Arizona ..................................................... 9 4 3 3,412 1,202 868 1,513 733 442 

Arkansas .................................................. 6 – ( 2 ) 1,266 – ( 2 ) 1,009 – ( 2 )

California .................................................. 134 185 243 25,863 32,047 51,740 21,655 32,786 32,443 

Colorado .................................................. 12 8 9 14,811 2,379 12,566 1,500 927 1,179 

Connecticut .............................................. 13 9 25 3,532 5,405 6,587 3,214 2,725 3,441 

Delaware .................................................. ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 )

District of Columbia .................................. – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

Florida ...................................................... 112 52 106 20,309 10,230 21,520 16,197 8,904 13,952 

Georgia .................................................... 26 18 28 3,298 2,442 3,750 3,992 2,715 4,519 

Hawaii ...................................................... 5 4 9 478 464 1,080 466 451 790 

Idaho ........................................................ 8 5 3 925 430 570 762 397 515 

Illinois ....................................................... 104 76 91 27,990 16,954 23,798 23,572 14,642 16,913 

Indiana ..................................................... 24 25 11 5,419 3,698 2,185 5,276 4,066 1,381 

Iowa ......................................................... 7 ( 2 ) 5 1,125 ( 2 ) 1,387 888 ( 2 ) 810 

Kansas ..................................................... 13 3 12 2,566 550 2,119 2,225 429 1,202 

Kentucky .................................................. 18 25 13 1,853 3,841 1,444 1,818 2,909 1,254 

Louisiana .................................................. 23 12 15 3,654 2,618 2,488 3,268 1,356 1,565 

Maine ....................................................... 6 5 ( 2 ) 2,020 1,457 ( 2 ) 862 841 ( 2 )

Maryland .................................................. ( 2 ) 14 3 ( 2 ) 1,707 461 ( 2 ) 1,712 461 

Massachusetts ......................................... 16 18 26 3,111 2,664 4,246 3,392 2,471 3,916 

Michigan ................................................... 73 71 75 12,049 19,047 12,655 13,805 33,266 16,372 

Minnesota ................................................ 23 23 23 3,190 2,811 2,705 4,076 3,001 2,251 

Mississippi ................................................ 11 7 6 3,786 920 1,441 1,408 787 626 

Missouri .................................................... 26 13 32 4,467 1,774 5,715 4,443 1,813 3,352 

Montana ................................................... 7 3 – 1,276 257 – 555 257 –

Nebraska .................................................. 8 3 4 791 566 1,327 983 445 428 

Nevada ..................................................... 3 ( 2 ) 4 320 ( 2 ) 900 320 ( 2 ) 824 

New Hampshire ....................................... 5 3 5 588 286 564 591 286 544 

New Jersey .............................................. 54 17 51 19,035 3,666 16,190 13,385 2,352 11,773 

New Mexico ............................................. 4 ( 2 ) 4 538 ( 2 ) 414 538 ( 2 ) 424 

New York ................................................. 93 98 92 18,595 12,148 12,617 17,226 18,520 16,909 

North Carolina .......................................... 9 18 13 759 2,053 1,290 937 2,233 1,309 

North Dakota ............................................ ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 )

Ohio ......................................................... 76 45 56 10,470 14,195 12,344 10,700 9,154 6,187 

Oklahoma ................................................. ( 2 ) 4 – ( 2 ) 339 – ( 2 ) 500 –

Oregon ..................................................... 19 7 24 4,550 2,604 5,042 3,799 1,000 3,708 

Pennsylvania ............................................ 72 59 73 8,660 6,436 9,094 14,152 14,637 11,770 

Rhode Island ............................................ 3 5 4 317 472 1,010 303 401 871 

South Carolina ......................................... 11 7 8 1,798 1,067 1,115 2,015 1,182 1,241 

South Dakota ........................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Tennessee ............................................... 7 14 7 1,314 3,465 1,123 1,033 2,138 616 

Texas ....................................................... 43 17 29 6,702 2,922 4,790 9,917 3,793 4,106 

Utah ......................................................... 10 3 9 3,381 430 3,199 884 296 1,017 

Vermont ................................................... 7 ( 2 ) 7 1,413 ( 2 ) 1,128 1,413 ( 2 ) 1,128 

Virginia ..................................................... 12 13 5 2,393 5,079 1,279 2,377 4,464 1,022 

Washington .............................................. 29 24 16 4,881 3,255 2,182 4,605 3,185 1,810 

West Virginia ............................................ 4 ( 2 ) 5 463 ( 2 ) 741 479 ( 2 ) 460 

Wisconsin ................................................. 38 26 24 7,475 5,372 4,846 7,143 5,372 4,871 

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

Puerto Rico .............................................. 26 13 4 3,655 1,231 555 6,946 3,490 883 

 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. Information technology-producing industries: Extended mass layoff events and separations, private nonfarm sector, 1999-2006

1999

First quarter ........................................... 1,262 230,711 35 4,363 10 1,796 10 1,600 6 1,002 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,194 246,251 28 3,891 7 1,731 8 1,097 ( 6 ) ( 6 )

Third quarter ......................................... 898 184,429 22 11,546 7 1,141 5 840 ( 6 ) ( 6 )

Fourth quarter ....................................... 1,202 240,060 18 2,757 5 526 4 807 6 1,430 

 Total .................................................. 4,556 901,451 103 22,557 29 5,194 27 4,344 18 3,930 

2000

First quarter ........................................... 1,081 202,500 22 5,195 14 2,717 9 1,402 4 771 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,055 205,861 18 8,862 22 9,114 7 805 7 977 

Third quarter ......................................... 817 174,628 10 1,678 12 1,422 4 1,465 6 1,280 

Fourth quarter ....................................... 1,638 332,973 16 3,070 22 3,521 5 946 7 1,020 

 Total .................................................. 4,591 915,962 66 18,805 70 16,774 25 4,618 24 4,048 

2001

First quarter ........................................... 1,546 304,171 91 20,991 44 7,963 22 4,441 24 5,312 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,828 430,499 161 38,986 87 12,943 36 12,109 28 6,386 

Third quarter ......................................... 1,629 330,391 142 24,813 55 6,820 39 8,200 36 7,134 

Fourth quarter ....................................... 2,372 459,771 109 17,797 56 8,290 43 10,124 48 11,252 

 Total .................................................. 7,375 1,524,832 503 102,587 242 36,016 140 34,874 136 30,084 

2002

First quarter ........................................... 1,611 299,266 84 18,574 39 4,442 32 8,192 42 6,664 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,624 344,606 69 11,764 49 5,454 27 4,870 53 8,538 

Third quarter ......................................... 1,186 255,152 76 15,017 42 5,415 34 6,529 42 7,945 

Fourth quarter ....................................... 1,916 373,307 74 14,298 32 7,071 19 3,645 39 8,987 

 Total .................................................. 6,337 1,272,331 303 59,653 162 22,382 112 23,236 176 32,134 

2003

First quarter ........................................... 1,502 286,947 71 11,900 33 5,689 23 4,402 41 6,591 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,799 368,273 54 9,221 27 4,124 21 3,098 29 5,891 

Third quarter ......................................... 1,190 236,333 46 6,488 26 4,433 9 1,289 15 2,604 

Fourth quarter ....................................... 1,690 325,333 25 5,080 14 1,984 9 1,619 28 6,635 

 Total .................................................. 6,181 1,216,886 196 32,689 100 16,230 62 10,408 113 21,721 

2004

First quarter ........................................... 1,339 276,503 27 3,222 16 2,992 8 894 23 4,197 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,358 278,831 18 2,959 21 3,576 – – 22 5,295 

Third quarter ......................................... 886 164,608 13 2,288 15 1,617 4 430 13 4,317 

Fourth quarter ....................................... 1,427 273,967 18 3,055 10 1,547 4 563 23 3,457 

 Total .................................................. 5,010 993,909 76 11,524 62 9,732 16 1,887 81 17,266 

2005

First quarter ........................................... 1,142 186,506 13 1,526 13 2,679 4 439 17 3,569 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,203 r

246,099 20 2,973 17 2,106 4 842 11 1,904 

Third quarter ......................................... 1,136 201,878 23 3,307 12 1,742 ( 6 ) ( 6 ) 11 1,127 

Fourth quarter ....................................... 1,400 r

250,178 19 4,122 7 1,331 ( 6 ) ( 6 ) 8 1,125 

 Total .................................................. 4,881 r884,661 75 11,928 49 7,858 13 3,000 47 7,725 

2006

First quarter ........................................... r963 r181,010 r12 r1,159 6 744 4 911 r7 r833

Second quarter

p

 ..................................... 1,213 251,341 8 2,900 6 1,268 8 988 7 934 

 1

 Information technology-producing industries are defined i Digital Economy 2003 , services; computer systems design services; computer facilities management

Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. services; other computer related services; office equipment rental and leasing;

 2

 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry yand computer and office machine repair.

Classification System (NAICS), are: semiconductor machinery manufacturing; office 4 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North America

machinery manufacturing; electronic computer manufacturing; computer storage Industry Classification System (NAICS), are: telephone apparatus manufacturing;

device manufacturing; computer terminal manufacturing; other computer peripheral audio and video equipment manufacturing; broadcast and wireless communications

equipment mfg.; electron tube manufacturing; bare printed circuit board manufacturing; equip.; fiber optic cable manufacturing; software reproducing; and magnetic and

semiconductors and related device mfg.; electronic capacitor manufacturing; electronic optical recording media mfg.

resistor manufacturing; electronic coils, transformers, and inductors; electronic 5 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North America

connector manufacturing; printed circuit assembly manufacturing; other electronic Industry Classification System (NAICS), are: wired telecommunications carriers;

component manufacturing; industrial process variable instruments; electricity and signal cellular and other wireless carriers; telecommunications resellers; cable and other

testing instruments; analytical laboratory instrument mfg.; computer and software program distribution; satellite telecommunications; other telecommunications;

merchant wholesalers; and computer and software stores. and communication equipment repair.

 3

 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry 6 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

Classification System (NAICS), are: software publishers; internet service providers; NOTE: Dash represents zero.

web search portals; data processing and related services; computer and software r = revised. 

merchant wholesalers; computer and software stores; custom computer programming p = preliminary. 

Layoff

events

equipment4 services5

Layoff

events

Layoff

events

Software and Communications Communications

Separations Layoff

events Separations

Year

Separations Separations Separations

hardware2 computer services3

Layoff

events

Total extended

mass layoffs

Information technology-producing industries1

Computer
Table 7. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,

selected quarters, 2005 and 2006

II I II II I II

2005 2006r 2006p 2005r 2006r 2006p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ............................................... 73 53 65 12,040 10,519 14,796 

 Mining .......................................................................... – – ( 2

 ) – – ( 2 ) 

 Utilities ......................................................................... ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

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

 Manufacturing .............................................................. 44 39 43 6,154 7,646 9,769 

 Food ........................................................................ 4 3 7 480 1,230 1,905 

 Beverage and tobacco products ............................. – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

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

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

 Apparel ................................................................... 3 4 ( 2 ) 241 636 ( 2 )

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

 Wood products ........................................................ – – – – – –

 Paper ...................................................................... – ( 2 ) 8 – ( 2 ) 1,057 

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

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

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

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

 Plastics and rubber products .................................. 3 4 3 476 508 565 

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

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

 Fabricated metal products ...................................... 6 – ( 2 ) 975 – ( 2 )

 Machinery ............................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,154 

 Computer and electronic products .......................... 6 6 3 1,004 820 502 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ...................... 3 4 ( 2 ) 715 756 ( 2 )

 Transportation equipment ....................................... 10 3 7 1,174 417 2,953 

 Furniture and related products ................................ 4 ( 2 ) – 586 ( 2 ) –

 Miscellaneous manufacturing ................................. – 4 ( 2 ) – 502 ( 2 )

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

 ) 3 3 ( 2 ) 432 470 

 Retail trade .................................................................. 5 ( 2 ) 4 1,150 ( 2 ) 1,326 

 Transportation and warehousing ................................. 3 4 – 689 581 –

 Information ................................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 398 

 Finance and insurance ................................................ 9 ( 2 ) 6 1,574 ( 2 ) 2,128 

 Real estate and rental and leasing .............................. – – – – – –

 Professional and technical services ............................. 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 971 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

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

 Administrative and waste services ............................... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 )

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

 Health care and social assistance ............................... – – – – – –

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ............................. – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Accommodation and food services .............................. – – – – – –

 Other services, except public administration ............... – – – – – –

 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.

Layoff events Separations

Industry
Table 8. Reason for layoff: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work, 

selected quarters, 2005 and 2006

II I II II I II

2005 2006r 2006p 2005r 2006r 2006p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 .................................. 73 53 65 12,040 10,519 14,796 

Automation ....................................................... ––––––

Bankruptcy ....................................................... – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Business ownership change ............................ 3 ( 2 ) 6 615 ( 2 ) 756 

Contract cancellation ........................................ ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

Contract completed .......................................... – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 )

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

Environment-related ......................................... – – – – – –

Financial difficulty ............................................. 6 6 5 934 732 554 

Import competition ............................................ 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 462 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Labor dispute ................................................... – – – – – –

Material shortage ............................................. – – – – – –

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

Natural disaster ................................................ ––––––

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

Plant or machine repair .................................... – – – – – –

Product line discontinued ................................. 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 331 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Reorganization within company ....................... 46 29 42 7,958 6,484 10,258 

Seasonal work .................................................. ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 )

Slack work ........................................................ 3 ( 2 ) – 645 ( 2 ) –

Vacation period ................................................ ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 )

Weather-related ............................................... – – – – – –

Other ................................................................ 3 ( 2 ) 4 661 ( 2 ) 486 

Not reported ..................................................... ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. r = revised.

 2

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. p = preliminary.

 3

 The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers NOTE: Dash represents zero.

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

Layoff events Separations

Reason for layoff
Table 9. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,

selected quarters, 2005 and 2006

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations

II I II II I II

2005 2006r 2006p 2005r 2006r 2006p 

 United States1 ...................................... 73 53 65 12,040 10,519 14,796 

Northeast ..................................................... 18 12 8 3,602 2,821 1,359 

 New England ........................................... 7 5 ( 2

 ) 1,079 1,259 ( 2 ) 

 Middle Atlantic ......................................... 11 7 ( 2 ) 2,523 1,562 ( 2 )

South ........................................................... 19 19 17 2,684 3,965 3,918 

 South Atlantic ........................................... 13 ( 2

 ) 9 1,659 ( 2 ) 2,790 

 East South Central ................................... ( 2 ) 12 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,821 ( 2 )

 West South Central .................................. ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Midwest ........................................................ 17 13 21 2,929 2,299 4,844 

 East North Central ................................... 14 9 14 2,566 1,539 1,778 

 West North Central .................................. 3 4 7 363 760 3,066 

West ............................................................. 19 9 19 2,825 1,434 4,675 

 Mountain .................................................. 3 3 ( 2

 ) 375 360 ( 2 ) 

 Pacific ...................................................... 16 6 ( 2 ) 2,450 1,074 ( 2 )

 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 10. Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, selected quarters, 2005 and 2006

II I II II I II

2005 2006r 2006p 2005r 2006r 2006p

Total, private nonfarm1 ................................................... 1,203 963 1,213 246,099 181,010 251,341 

 Total, excluding seasonal

 and vacation events2

 .............................................. 635 715 686 108,372 139,369 112,108 

 Total, movement of work3

 ....................................... 73 53 65 12,040 10,519 14,796 

 Movement of work actions ................................. 98 80 93 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 )

 With separations reported ............................ 74 51 60 9,527 7,080 8,802 

 With separations unknown ........................... 24 29 33 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 )

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

 2 The question 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.

Layoff events Separations

Action
Table 11. Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by employers,

selected quarters, 2005 and 2006

II I II II I II

2005 2006r 2006p 2005 2006r 2006p

With separations reported2 ................................. 74 51 60 9,527 7,080 8,802 

By location

 Out-of-country relocations ................................ 28 22 20 2,815 2,682 2,367 

 Within company ............................................ 19 17 18 1,938 2,408 2,246 

 Different company ........................................ 9 5 2 877 274 121 

 Domestic relocations ........................................ 42 29 40 6,018 4,398 6,435 

 Within company ............................................ 35 24 34 5,330 3,873 5,743 

 Different company ........................................ 7 5 6 688 525 692 

 Unable to assign place of 

 relocation ....................................................... 4 – – 694 – –

By company

 Within company ................................................ 58 41 52 7,962 6,281 7,989 

 Domestic ....................................................... 35 24 34 5,330 3,873 5,743 

 Out of country ............................................... 19 17 18 1,938 2,408 2,246 

 Unable to assign ........................................... 4 – – 694 – –

 Different company ............................................ 16 10 8 1,565 799 813 

 Domestic ....................................................... 7 5 6 688 525 692 

 Out of country ............................................... 9 5 2 877 274 121 

 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.

Activities

Actions1 Separations