For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Friday, February 11, 2011 USDL-11-0156 

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

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

EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS – FOURTH QUARTER 2010 

ANNUAL TOTALS – 2010 

Employers initiated 1,910 mass layoff events in the fourth quarter of 2010 that resulted in the separation 

of 295,571 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released by the 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Layoff events and separations declined from fourth quarter 2009 levels. 

(See table A.) Fourth quarter 2010 layoff data are preliminary and are subject to revision. (See the 

Technical Note.) 

Permanent worksite closures accounted for 6 percent of extended mass layoff events in the fourth 

quarter 2010, the lowest proportion of events due to closure in program history (with data available back 

to 1995). Manufacturing firms accounted for 19 percent of private nonfarm extended mass layoff events 

and 21 percent of separations, the lowest fourth quarter proportions in program history. Sixty percent of 

employers expected to recall at least some laid-off workers, the highest fourth quarter percentage since 

2005 and up from 48 percent a year earlier. 

The national unemployment rate averaged 9.2 percent, not seasonally adjusted, in the fourth quarter 

2010, down from 9.5 percent a year earlier. Private nonfarm payroll employment, not seasonally 

adjusted, increased by 0.8 percent (903,000) over the year. 

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs 

Fifteen of 18 major industry sectors in the private nonfarm economy registered declines over the year in 

the number of extended mass layoff events. Seventeen of 21 manufacturing subsectors experienced 

over-the-year decreases in the number of layoff events. 

Construction firms recorded 673 events and 84,205 separations, primarily due to the ending of seasonal 

work. Both layoff events and separations in this sector decreased over the year. Of the 673 events, 80 

percent of employers anticipated recalling some workers. 

Manufacturing firms reported 362 events involving the separation of 60,832 workers, largely due to the 

ending of seasonal work. Of these events, 50 percent of employers anticipated recalling some workers. 

This sector accounted for 19 percent of private nonfarm extended layoff events and 21 percent of related 

separations in the quarter, the lowest fourth quarter proportions in program history. (See table 1.) 
- 2 - 

Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity

Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants

2006

January-March..................... 963 183,089 193,510 

April-June............................ 1,353 295,964 264,927 

July-September.................... 929 160,254 161,764 

October-December.............. 1,640 296,662 330,954 

2007

January-March..................... 1,110 225,600 199,250 

April-June............................ 1,421 278,719 259,234 

July-September.................... 1,018 160,024 173,077 

October-December.............. 1,814 301,592 347,151 

2008

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

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

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

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

2009

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

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

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

October-Decemberr

 ............ 2,416 406,212 468,577 

2010

January-Marchr ................... 1,870 314,512 368,459 

April-Juner

 .......................... 2,008 381,622 395,224 

July-Septemberr

 .................. 1,370 221,933 256,636 

October-Decemberp

 ............ 1,910 295,571 268,431 

 r

 = revised.

 p

 = preliminary.

Reasons for Extended Layoffs 

Among the seven categories of economic reasons for extended mass layoffs, events related to seasonal 

factors accounted for 42 percent of events and 43 percent of related separations during the fourth 

quarter. (See table 2.) Over the year, the largest decrease in separations occurred in layoffs due to 

business demand reasons. (See chart.) 

Movement of Work 

In the fourth quarter, 46 extended mass layoffs involved movement of work and were associated with 

8,474 separated workers. Over the year, the number of such events decreased by 20, and the number of 

separations decreased by 3,500. Movement of work layoffs accounted for 4 percent of the nonseasonal 

layoff events. (See table 9.) 
- 3 - 

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

extended mass layoff events in the fourth quarter 2010, by residency of claimants

 Total, 372 metropolitan areas ................. 369,199 ... 209,877 ...

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. .... 38,204 1 24,299 1 

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. ......... 22,719 2 13,193 2 

New York-Northern New Jersey-Long

 Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ................................ 20,177 3 10,899 3 

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. ....... 14,331 4 6,299 4 

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. ......... 13,323 5 6,269 5 

San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. ........ 8,948 6 4,236 6 

Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev. ............................. 6,346 8 4,004 7 

Pittsburgh, Pa. ............................................... 6,466 7 3,929 8 

Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, Calif. 6,252 9 3,903 9 

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.

 -N.J.-Del.-Md. .......................................... 4,003 17 3,419 10 

 r

 = revised.

 p

 = preliminary.

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

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

Metropolitan area

2009 IVr 2010 IVp

Initial 

claimants Rank Initial claimants Rank

Sixty-one percent of the extended mass layoff events related to movement of work were from manufacturing industries. (See table 6.) Employers cited organizational changes as the economic reason for 

layoffs in 48 percent of the events involving movement of work. (See table 7.) Among the regions, the 

largest proportions of workers affected by the movement of work were in the South. (See table 8.) By 

state, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Tennessee reported the highest numbers of separations 

associated with movement of work. 

The 46 extended layoff events with movement of work for the fourth quarter involved 61 identifiable 

relocations of work actions. (See table 9.) Employers were able to provide more complete separation 

information for 42 of these actions. Among the 42 actions, 83 percent involved work moving within the 

same company, and 71 percent were domestic reassignments. (See table 10.) 

Recall Expectations 

Sixty percent of employers reporting an extended mass layoff in the fourth quarter indicated they 

anticipated some type of recall, the highest fourth quarter percentage since 2005 and up from 48 percent 

a year earlier. Of those employers expecting to recall workers, 32 percent indicated the offer would be 

extended to all displaced employees, and 75 percent of employers anticipated extending the offer to at 

 
- 4 - 

Table C. Selected measures of mass layoff activity, 1996-2010

Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants

 1996 ....................... 4,760 948,122 805,810 

 1997 ....................... 4,671 947,843 879,831 

 1998 ....................... 4,859 991,245 1,056,462 

 1999 ....................... 4,556 901,451 796,917 

 2000 ....................... 4,591 915,962 846,267 

 2001 ....................... 7,375 1,524,832 1,457,512 

 2002 ....................... 6,337 1,272,331 1,218,143 

 2003 ....................... 6,181 1,216,886 1,200,811 

 2004 ....................... 5,010 993,909 903,079 

 2005 ....................... 4,881 884,661 834,533 

 2006 ....................... 4,885 935,969 951,155 

 2007 ....................... 5,363 965,935 978,712 

 2008 ....................... 8,259 1,516,978 1,670,042 

 2009r

 ...................... 11,824 2,108,202 2,442,000 

 2010p

 ..................... 7,158 1,213,638 1,288,750 

 r

 = revised.

 p

 = preliminary.

least half of the workers. Seventy-three percent of employers expecting to recall laid-off employees 

intend to do so within 6 months. Excluding extended mass layoff events due to seasonal work and 

vacation period, in which 95 percent of the employers expected a recall, employers anticipated recalling 

laid-off workers in just 34 percent of the events. (See table 11.) 

Size of Extended Layoffs 

The average size of a layoff (as measured by separations per layoff event) was 155 during the quarter. 

(See table 12.) Events were primarily concentrated at the lower end of the extended layoff-size spectrum, with 71 percent involving fewer than 150 workers. Conversely, only four percent of events 

involved 500 or more workers. (See table 13.) 

Initial Claimant Characteristics 

A total of 268,431 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended mass 

layoffs in the fourth quarter. Of these claimants, 12 percent were black, 19 percent were Hispanic, 29 

percent were women, and 18 percent were 55 years of age or older. (See table 3.) The percentage of 

claimants who were women reached an all-time program low in the fourth quarter. Among persons in 

the civilian labor force for the same period, 12 percent were black, 15 percent were Hispanic, 47 percent 

were women, and 20 percent were 55 years of age or older. 
- 5 - 

Geographic Distribution 

Among the four census regions, the West and the Midwest recorded the highest numbers of separations 

due to extended mass layoff events in the fourth quarter. Among the nine census divisions, the highest 

numbers of separations were in the Pacific and the East North Central. All census regions and divisions 

registered fewer laid-off workers compared with the fourth quarter of 2009. This was the fifth consecutive quarter separations have decreased over the year for all census regions and divisions. (See table 4.) 

California recorded the largest number of worker separations, followed by Illinois, Wisconsin, New 

York, and Ohio. (See table 5.) Over the year, 38 states and the District of Columbia reported decreased 

numbers of laid-off workers, led by California, Florida, and Illinois. 

Seventy-eight percent of the initial claimants associated with extended mass layoff events in the fourth 

quarter resided within metropolitan areas. Among the 372 metropolitan areas, Los Angeles-Long BeachSanta Ana, Calif., reported the highest number of resident initial claimants. Philadelphia-CamdenWilmington, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md., entered the highest 10 metropolitan areas in terms of initial claims by 

residency of claimant in the fourth quarter, replacing Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash., from the fourth 

quarter 2009. (See table B.)

Review of 2010 

For all of 2010, employers reported 7,158 extended mass layoff actions, affecting 1,213,638 workers. 

Compared to 2009, the number of events decreased by 39 percent and the number of separations decreased by 42 percent, the first over-the-year decline for both measures since 2005. (See table C.) The 

annual average national unemployment rate increased from 9.3 percent in 2009 to 9.6 percent in 2010, 

and private nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 0.8 percent, or 914,000. 

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs 

In the private nonfarm economy, manufacturing reported the largest number of separations, despite 

reaching a program low in 2010 (with annual data available back to 1996). Construction had the next 

highest number of separations. Educational services reported program highs in both layoff events and 

separations in 2010. 

Reasons for Extended Layoffs 

Among the seven categories of economic reasons for layoff, layoffs due to business demand factors 

accounted for the largest numbers of events and separations during 2010. Compared to 2009, the largest 

decreases in events were related to business demand factors and financial issues. 

Movement of Work 

In 2010, 225 extended mass layoffs involved movement of work and were associated with 38,505 

separated workers, both reaching program lows (with annual data available back to 2004). Fifty-four 

percent of events related to movement of work were from manufacturing industries. Employers cited 

organizational issues in 46 percent of the layoffs involving the movement of work, the highest among 

the reason categories. 
- 6 - 

The 225 extended layoff events with movement of work for 2010 involved 311 identifiable relocations 

of work actions. Employers were able to provide more complete separations information for 197 of the 

actions. Of these, 86 percent involved work moving within the same company, and 77 percent were 

domestic reassignments. 

Recall Expectations 

About 50 percent of employers reporting an extended mass layoff in 2010 indicated they anticipated 

some type of recall, up from 34 percent a year earlier. Of those employers expecting to recall workers, 

36 percent indicated that the offer would be extended to all displaced employees, and a program low 70 

percent intended to do so within 6 months. Excluding events due to seasonal work and vacation period, 

employers anticipated recalling laid-off workers in just 28 percent of the events. 

Size of Extended Layoffs 

In 2010, the average size of a layoff (as measured by separations per layoff event) was 170, registering 

the smallest annual average size in program history (with annual data available back to 1996). Extended 

mass layoffs involving 500 or more workers accounted for only 5 percent of events but resulted in 29 

percent of all separations. 

Initial Claimant Characteristics 

A total of 1,288,750 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended mass 

layoffs in 2010. Of these claimants, 15 percent were black and a program high 20 percent were 

Hispanic. The 55 years-of-age or older demographic reached an annual program high at 20 percent, and 

the proportion of women who filed for notice of unemployment was 41 percent. Among persons in the 

civilian labor force for the same period, 12 percent were black, 15 percent were Hispanic, 47 percent 

were women, and 20 percent were 55 years of age or older.

Geographic Distribution 

Compared to 2009, all census regions, divisions, and 45 states and the District of Columbia reported 

decreased numbers of laid-off workers in 2010. Among the states, the largest decreases were reported by 

California, Florida, and Michigan. 

Among the 372 metropolitan areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., reported the highest 

number of resident initial claimants in 2010. The next highest were New York-Northern New JerseyLong Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., and Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. 
- 7 - 

Note 

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

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

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

contacted for additional information. Data for the current quarter are preliminary and subject to revision. This release also includes revised data for previous quarters. Data are not seasonally adjusted, but 

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

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

the Technical Note. 

________________ 

The Mass Layoffs news release for January 2011 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, 

February 23, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. (EST). 
Technical Note 

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

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

unemployment insurance database. Employers which have at 

least 50 initial claims filed against them during a consecutive 

5-week period are contacted by the state agency to determine 

whether these separations are of at least 31 days duration, 

and, if so, information is obtained on the total number of 

persons separated and the reasons for these separations. 

Employers are identified according to industry classification 

and location, and unemployment insurance claimants are 

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

ethnic group, and place of residence. The program yields 

information on an individual's entire spell of unemployment, 

to the point when regular unemployment insurance benefits 

are exhausted. 

Definitions 

Domestic relocation. A movement of work from an 

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

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

company altogether (domestic outsourcing). 

Employer. A firm covered by state unemployment 

insurance laws. Information on employers is obtained from 

the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) 

program, which is administered by the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics (BLS). 

Extended mass layoff event. A layoff defined by the 

filing of 50 or more initial claims for unemployment 

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

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

Such layoffs involve both persons subject to recall and those 

who are terminated. 

Initial claimant. A person who files any notice of 

unemployment to initiate a request either for a determination 

of entitlement to and eligibility for compensation, or for a 

subsequent period of unemployment within a benefit year or 

period of eligibility. 

Movement of work. The reassignment of work activities 

previously performed at the worksite by the company 

experiencing the layoff (1) to another worksite within the 

company; (2) to another company under formal contractual 

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

under formal contractual arrangements at another worksite 

either within or outside of the U.S. 

Outsourcing. A movement of work that was formerly 

conducted in-house by employees paid directly by a company 

to a different company under a contractual arrangement. 

Overseas relocation. A movement of work from an 

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

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

company altogether (offshore outsourcing). 

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

where the employer provides information on the new location 

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

movement. Events may involve more than one action per 

employer if work is moved to more than one location. 

Separations. The number of individuals who have 

become displaced during an extended mass layoff event as 

provided by the employer, regardless of whether they file for 

unemployment insurance or not. 

Worksite closure. The complete closure of an employer 

or the partial closure of an employer with multiple locations 

where entire worksites affected by layoffs are closed. 

Revisions to preliminary data 

The latest quarterly data in this news release are 

considered preliminary. After the initial publication of 

quarterly information, more data are collected as remaining 

employer interviews for the quarter are completed and 

additional initial claimant information associated with 

extended layoff events is received. 

Movement of work concepts and questions 

Beginning in 2004, the economic reasons "domestic 

relocation" and "overseas relocation" were replaced by the 

movement of work concept. The movement of work data are 

not collected in the same way as the relocation reasons in 

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

are not comparable to the data for those discontinued reasons. 

Questions on movement of work and location are asked 

for all layoff events when the reason for separation is other 

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

unlikely. Movement of work questions are asked after the 

analyst verifies that a layoff in fact occurred and lasted more 

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

vacation, the employer was asked the following: 

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

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

within your company?” 

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

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

company, through contractual arrangements?” 

A “yes” response to either question is followed by: “Is 
the location inside or outside of the U.S.?” and “How many 

of the layoffs were a result of this relocation?” 

Layoff actions are classified as “domestic relocation” if 

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

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

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

Reliability of the data 

The identification of employers and layoff events in the 

MLS program and associated characteristics of claimants is 

based on administrative data on covered employers and 

unemployment insurance claims, and, therefore, is not subject 

to issues associated with sampling error. Nonsampling errors 

such as typographical errors may occur but are not likely to 

be significant. While the MLS employers and layoff events 

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

asked the 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 fourth 

quarter of 2010, outright refusal to participate in the employer 

interview accounted for 3.7 percent of all private nonfarm 

events. Although included in the total number of instances 

involving the movement of work, employers in 19 relocations 

were unable to provide the number of separations specifically 

associated with the movement of work, 3 of which involved 

out-of-country moves. 

Additional information 

Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 

(202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339. 
Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2009 and 2010

Industry

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

 2009r 2010r 2010p 2009r 2010r 2010p 2009r 2010r 2010p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 .................................. 2,416 1,370 1,910 406,212 221,933 295,571 468,577 256,636 268,431 

 Mining ............................................................. 39 4 32 4,887 1,067 3,430 5,486 774 3,239 

 Utilities ............................................................ 9 4 ( 2 ) 1,637 535 ( 2 ) 1,585 649 ( 2 )

 Construction .................................................... 761 210 673 95,711 21,251 84,205 120,451 31,921 79,982 

 Manufacturing ................................................. 592 265 362 99,035 39,171 60,832 122,475 46,857 54,302 

 Food ........................................................... 93 63 84 19,961 9,692 20,942 21,988 13,104 13,318 

 Beverage and tobacco products ................ ( 2 ) 4 10 ( 2 ) 344 1,707 ( 2 ) 495 1,267 

 Textile mills ................................................ 11 – 3 2,028 – 379 6,953 – 468 

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

 Apparel ....................................................... 18 10 11 2,380 1,541 1,886 2,371 1,783 2,050 

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

 Wood products ........................................... 35 14 18 4,688 1,983 2,004 6,857 1,906 2,593 

 Paper ......................................................... 14 ( 2 ) 9 1,604 ( 2 ) 1,324 1,733 ( 2 ) 928 

 Printing and related support activities ........ 10 6 11 2,400 500 2,076 1,941 1,415 1,712 

 Petroleum and coal products ..................... 21 ( 2 ) 17 3,092 ( 2 ) 2,463 3,256 ( 2 ) 2,346 

 Chemicals ................................................. 23 17 5 3,057 2,007 419 2,681 2,388 470 

 Plastics and rubber products ..................... 19 8 12 1,880 613 1,533 1,973 772 1,131 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ..................... 60 13 49 7,822 1,435 6,115 9,513 1,583 5,871 

 Primary metals ........................................... 34 12 12 4,202 2,490 1,906 6,916 2,609 1,577 

 Fabricated metal products ......................... 44 16 16 5,896 2,267 2,158 7,075 3,627 2,180 

 Machinery .................................................. 47 15 16 6,375 2,661 2,770 8,961 3,830 3,509 

 Computer and electronic products ............. 40 25 14 5,135 2,783 1,924 6,761 3,550 1,797 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ......... 15 9 6 2,173 1,005 1,136 2,283 1,217 1,233 

 Transportation equipment .......................... 72 35 50 21,400 7,453 7,586 24,711 5,738 9,199 

 Furniture and related products ................... 14 7 8 2,021 1,014 1,236 2,907 1,384 1,308 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing .................... 13 6 8 1,898 959 955 1,685 857 741 

 Wholesale trade .............................................. 56 33 32 6,981 3,901 3,486 6,854 3,829 3,279 

 Retail trade ...................................................... 91 79 78 19,469 20,996 15,660 23,743 22,664 13,644 

 Transportation and warehousing .................... 88 159 49 17,709 24,122 7,579 17,844 28,162 8,603 

 Information ...................................................... 62 54 54 12,316 14,322 12,712 17,190 20,109 16,592 

 Finance and insurance .................................... 74 55 41 14,934 10,137 6,970 16,641 12,187 5,802 

 Real estate and rental and leasing ................. 20 14 13 2,454 2,289 1,450 2,784 1,562 1,057 

 Professional and technical services ................ 77 62 67 14,379 10,938 10,358 14,242 12,199 10,002 

 Management of companies and enterprises ... 9 4 ( 2 ) 1,073 346 ( 2 ) 3,479 372 ( 2 )

 Administrative and waste services .................. 253 146 217 52,551 31,159 33,098 63,778 33,724 33,929 

 Educational services ....................................... 8 34 8 959 3,972 2,164 1,050 4,926 773 

 Health care and social assistance .................. 42 84 44 6,216 8,213 5,731 6,638 9,009 5,381 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ................. 68 51 57 18,959 5,882 11,447 11,731 7,802 6,106 

 Accommodation and food services ................. 143 87 155 33,137 20,514 33,016 29,127 16,518 22,355 

 Other services, except public administration .. 23 25 20 3,609 3,118 2,272 3,283 3,372 2,278 

 Unclassified ..................................................... 1 – – 196 – – 196 – –

 1

 For the fourth quarter of 2010, data on layoffs were reported by employers r = revised.

in all states and the District of Columbia. p

 = preliminary.

 2

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

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

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

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2009 and 2010

Reason for layoff

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

 2009r 2010r 2010p 2009r 2010r 2010p 2009r 2010r 2010p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ................................................... 2,416 1,370 1,910 406,212 221,933 295,571 468,577 256,636 268,431 

Business demand ............................................................. 845 487 643 126,734 76,408 93,402 178,974 97,085 98,462 

 Contract cancellation ..................................................... 37 32 24 6,953 4,366 4,134 7,968 4,273 3,548 

 Contract completion ....................................................... 290 241 371 49,017 41,565 57,966 66,797 52,268 62,317 

 Domestic competition ..................................................... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) Excess inventory/saturated market ................................ 10 ( 2 ) – 1,184 ( 2 ) – 1,707 ( 2 ) –

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

 Slack work/insufficient demand/non-seasonal

 business slowdown ................................................. 501 209 243 68,855 29,510 30,624 101,883 38,697 32,018 

Organizational changes .................................................... 89 83 72 17,736 16,963 16,749 15,866 13,966 11,830 

 Business-ownership change .......................................... 29 17 17 9,000 8,485 9,118 4,599 2,472 2,321 

 Reorganization or restructuring of company .................. 60 66 55 8,736 8,478 7,631 11,267 11,494 9,509 

Financial issues ................................................................ 179 110 105 29,342 15,653 15,460 34,531 18,535 13,017 

 Bankruptcy ..................................................................... 21 14 13 5,262 2,450 3,418 4,882 1,282 1,671 

 Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ................ 113 63 63 16,570 8,290 7,188 21,152 12,096 7,995 

 Financial difficulty ........................................................... 45 33 29 7,510 4,913 4,854 8,497 5,157 3,351 

Production specific ............................................................ 16 ( 2

 ) 8 1,982 ( 2 ) 1,140 1,833 ( 2 ) 1,104 

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

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

 Energy related ................................................................ – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) Governmental regulations/intervention .......................... 5 6 ( 2 ) 576 727 ( 2 ) 541 725 ( 2 ) Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike ..................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Material or supply shortage ............................................ ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

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

 Plant or machine repair/maintenance ............................ 3 5 – 540 411 – 449 501 –

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

Disaster/safety .................................................................. 6 ( 2

 ) 5 840 ( 2 ) 521 1,075 ( 2 ) 474 

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

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

 Non-natural disaster ....................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Extreme weather-related event ...................................... ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

Seasonal ........................................................................... 828 372 804 137,207 52,613 127,766 143,965 66,451 103,093 

 Seasonal ........................................................................ 817 212 798 134,911 33,122 127,225 140,270 42,202 102,466 

 Vacation period–school related or otherwise ................. 11 160 6 2,296 19,491 541 3,695 24,249 627 

Other/miscellaneous ......................................................... 453 300 273 92,371 58,522 40,533 92,333 58,611 40,451 

 Other .............................................................................. 22 14 18 3,501 1,583 2,101 3,680 1,756 1,978 

 Data not provided: refusal .............................................. 108 69 71 29,159 18,521 9,996 29,159 18,521 9,977 

 Data not provided: does not know ................................. 323 217 184 59,711 38,418 28,436 59,494 38,334 28,496 

 1

 See footnote 1, table 1. p = preliminary.

 2

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

 r

 = revised.

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

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

insurance, private nonfarm sector, third and fourth quarters, 2010

Total Percent of total

State

Layoff events initial

claimants Black Hispanic

origin Women Persons age 55and over

III IV III IV III IV III IV III IV III IV

 2010r 2010p 2010r 2010p 2010r 2010p 2010r 2010p 2010r 2010p 2010r 2010p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ............ 1,370 1,910 256,636 268,431 16.0 11.8 22.8 19.1 42.0 29.2 20.1 18.1 

Alabama ...................................... 11 6 2,988 1,507 48.2 51.2 1.6 3.3 43.8 59.9 15.9 11.3 

Alaska .......................................... 10 12 3,381 1,502 7.4 5.7 20.4 10.7 27.9 26.2 24.7 18.2 

Arizona ........................................ 9 12 1,671 1,643 11.9 7.4 29.2 35.5 60.6 42.2 18.1 20.1 

Arkansas ..................................... 5 4 920 823 26.2 17.6 4.3 3.3 40.2 31.3 12.5 20.5 

California ..................................... 442 454 95,418 68,474 8.5 7.3 35.3 37.2 40.5 36.6 16.3 16.7 

Colorado ...................................... 11 24 1,235 2,577 8.4 4.9 15.4 36.5 45.7 26.9 14.7 20.8 

Connecticut ................................. 9 13 1,605 1,583 19.5 17.1 15.1 13.1 52.5 38.3 21.4 25.4 

Delaware ..................................... ( 2 ) 5 ( 2 ) 368 41.6 24.5 14.2 13.3 56.6 25.8 26.5 45.4 

District of Columbia ..................... ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) 328 97.7 71.0 – 9.1 78.9 57.9 5.5 11.9 

Florida ......................................... 73 39 14,023 7,115 17.1 18.1 30.3 25.4 37.8 42.9 19.8 21.1 

Georgia ........................................ 12 20 2,396 2,231 55.7 62.0 1.5 1.4 50.5 48.3 13.8 16.2 

Hawaii .......................................... 5 – 567 – 1.6 – 7.6 – 41.8 – 28.0 –

Idaho ........................................... 3 12 289 1,500 – .1 30.1 10.3 47.4 26.6 25.3 17.8 

Illinois .......................................... 68 155 12,521 19,547 16.3 11.1 15.1 22.7 31.6 20.0 17.0 15.2 

Indiana ......................................... 11 40 1,445 5,847 11.3 10.2 3.0 3.4 31.3 18.1 26.2 16.6 

Iowa ............................................. 4 11 534 1,066 1.5 1.3 2.2 1.4 56.0 12.3 32.4 24.0 

Kansas ........................................ 8 15 1,190 2,858 15.0 6.4 5.2 8.4 56.7 33.2 15.5 20.7 

Kentucky ...................................... 13 26 2,009 2,854 10.5 9.0 .1 .1 43.7 19.1 13.8 19.4 

Louisiana ..................................... 12 23 1,244 3,580 70.7 36.1 2.3 6.0 63.3 18.9 19.6 19.4 

Maine ........................................... ( 2 ) 6 ( 2 ) 856 .8 1.1 – .4 42.1 20.9 10.2 22.3 

Maryland ...................................... 20 11 3,630 1,355 48.1 50.8 1.3 2.1 39.0 53.3 22.2 17.5 

Massachusetts ............................ 18 26 2,252 2,634 12.9 7.4 1.2 1.1 43.0 34.1 23.0 23.3 

Michigan ...................................... 13 67 1,546 7,394 22.8 7.0 1.8 9.8 43.8 19.2 20.6 13.9 

Minnesota .................................... 9 66 1,099 8,440 9.6 4.3 3.5 8.1 24.0 14.7 19.4 18.9 

Mississippi ................................... 14 11 1,527 1,341 66.6 52.2 .9 4.5 51.7 29.1 16.0 17.4 

Missouri ....................................... 14 42 2,582 4,238 14.4 19.3 1.2 1.5 50.2 28.7 27.7 22.6 

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

 ) 13 ( 2 ) 1,274 – .2 – 4.2 5.3 15.5 21.1 19.2 

Nebraska ..................................... 4 9 414 951 6.3 2.7 1.7 10.8 46.1 29.8 26.8 20.8 

Nevada ........................................ 6 24 1,035 4,821 14.0 7.8 26.6 28.7 32.9 37.2 17.4 21.1 

New Hampshire ........................... – 4 – 580 – .3 – .5 – 14.0 – 41.0 

New Jersey .................................. 52 44 7,341 6,973 25.6 14.3 8.1 11.0 58.5 35.6 26.3 19.6 

New Mexico ................................. 7 10 1,206 955 3.8 1.6 37.0 61.0 21.9 36.0 22.4 18.7 

New York ..................................... 230 138 41,036 18,235 19.4 11.4 21.8 10.7 50.0 29.7 29.4 22.1 

North Carolina3

 ............................ 20 47 4,237 8,023 47.7 37.4 5.3 13.1 50.0 34.9 13.8 18.0 

North Dakota ............................... ( 2 ) 10 ( 2 ) 1,238 – .6 – 3.3 34.2 8.1 39.3 20.8 

Ohio ............................................. 32 105 5,380 14,161 14.6 8.6 2.6 3.8 27.8 18.5 21.8 17.6 

Oklahoma .................................... 3 3 513 331 25.1 6.6 7.0 6.9 61.8 36.6 18.3 18.4 

Oregon ........................................ 19 23 3,408 5,578 1.4 1.2 22.4 28.5 45.9 40.7 18.5 17.6 

Pennsylvania ............................... 70 127 12,223 17,500 14.2 7.2 3.9 4.3 40.6 22.9 25.5 19.0 

Rhode Island ............................... 3 3 258 275 7.4 2.2 12.4 6.5 53.9 32.4 26.7 17.1 

South Carolina ............................. 15 15 2,043 2,519 63.3 54.7 2.0 1.2 50.3 39.6 13.4 10.5 

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

Tennessee ................................... 13 18 2,806 2,270 26.2 40.6 – – 41.8 39.8 18.6 30.5 

Texas ........................................... 29 31 5,976 4,491 14.9 11.9 48.6 56.8 25.2 22.5 15.1 12.2 

Utah ............................................. 4 17 675 2,648 1.6 .8 17.8 11.8 51.0 12.2 15.0 15.7 

Vermont ....................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) .4 – .4 1.0 52.6 14.4 20.4 26.9 

Virginia ........................................ 11 27 1,595 4,090 48.2 33.3 5.5 4.8 45.5 30.1 21.1 21.2 

Washington ................................. 27 48 4,788 7,056 7.3 4.3 15.1 25.2 43.2 35.1 14.8 17.2 

West Virginia ............................... ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) 702 – .1 – – 1.8 2.3 12.7 12.5 

Wisconsin .................................... 20 84 4,442 11,321 5.6 6.1 15.4 11.1 25.4 17.1 24.0 15.6 

Wyoming ..................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1.0 1.6 6.7 3.5 81.7 41.1 16.3 26.3 

Puerto Rico .................................. 16 5 3,389 919 – – 99.4 98.8 48.0 58.0 9.4 3.9 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. r

 = revised.

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

 = preliminary.

 3 Data starting in November 2010 may not be comparable to prior data NOTE: Dash represents zero.

due to a change in MLS unemployment insurance input procedures.
Table 4. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment 

insurance, private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2009 and 2010

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

 2009r 2010r 2010p 2009r 2010r 2010p 2009r 2010r 2010p 

 United States1 .................................. 2,416 1,370 1,910 406,212 221,933 295,571 468,577 256,636 268,431 

Northeast ................................................. 425 386 362 64,076 54,202 46,148 80,893 65,199 48,837 

 New England ........................................ 63 34 53 9,335 5,793 8,809 8,589 4,599 6,129 

 Middle Atlantic ...................................... 362 352 309 54,741 48,409 37,339 72,304 60,600 42,708 

South ........................................................ 425 255 293 71,858 46,139 45,285 87,559 46,314 43,928 

 South Atlantic ....................................... 260 155 171 44,579 26,861 25,681 58,152 28,331 26,731 

 East South Central ............................... 77 51 61 13,233 11,266 9,746 13,440 9,330 7,972 

 West South Central .............................. 88 49 61 14,046 8,012 9,858 15,967 8,653 9,225 

Midwest .................................................... 728 184 604 121,744 30,381 94,779 131,521 31,270 77,061 

 East North Central ............................... 531 144 451 89,585 20,943 68,025 99,463 25,334 58,270 

 West North Central .............................. 197 40 153 32,159 9,438 26,754 32,058 5,936 18,791 

West ......................................................... 838 545 651 148,534 91,211 109,359 168,604 113,853 98,605 

 Mountain .............................................. 145 42 114 24,024 8,966 21,405 24,662 6,291 15,995 

 Pacific .................................................. 693 503 537 124,510 82,245 87,954 143,942 107,562 82,610 

 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, 2009 and 2010

State

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

 2009r 2010r 2010p 2009r 2010r 2010p 2009r 2010r 2010p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ........................ 2,416 1,370 1,910 406,212 221,933 295,571 468,577 256,636 268,431 

Alabama ................................................... 12 11 6 3,118 2,618 1,351 3,648 2,988 1,507 

Alaska ...................................................... 14 10 12 6,247 3,621 3,547 3,065 3,381 1,502 

Arizona ..................................................... 20 9 12 2,208 1,841 1,770 2,540 1,671 1,643 

Arkansas .................................................. 12 5 4 1,680 639 583 2,254 920 823 

California .................................................. 577 442 454 102,458 71,620 72,798 119,647 95,418 68,474 

Colorado .................................................. 38 11 24 5,243 1,508 4,835 4,891 1,235 2,577 

Connecticut .............................................. 15 9 13 2,831 2,846 2,761 1,923 1,605 1,583 

Delaware .................................................. 6 ( 2 ) 5 1,176 ( 2 ) 399 517 ( 2 ) 368 

District of Columbia .................................. 6 ( 2 ) 3 816 ( 2 ) 328 816 ( 2 ) 328 

Florida ...................................................... 100 73 39 22,005 15,456 7,546 21,276 14,023 7,115 

Georgia .................................................... 20 12 20 3,781 1,406 1,725 9,466 2,396 2,231 

Hawaii ...................................................... 5 5 – 494 710 – 689 567 –

Idaho ........................................................ 16 3 12 2,686 226 1,504 2,584 289 1,500 

Illinois ....................................................... 203 68 155 36,294 10,397 24,379 36,395 12,521 19,547 

Indiana ..................................................... 43 11 40 4,335 870 4,121 7,370 1,445 5,847 

Iowa ......................................................... 13 4 11 1,287 662 1,375 1,860 534 1,066 

Kansas ..................................................... 17 8 15 3,863 978 1,788 3,976 1,190 2,858 

Kentucky .................................................. 26 13 26 3,597 4,509 3,733 2,946 2,009 2,854 

Louisiana .................................................. 27 12 23 4,469 1,434 4,349 3,556 1,244 3,580 

Maine ....................................................... 7 ( 2 ) 6 1,110 ( 2 ) 696 1,255 ( 2 ) 856 

Maryland .................................................. 18 20 11 2,068 4,704 2,659 2,307 3,630 1,355 

Massachusetts ......................................... 19 18 26 2,192 2,151 4,207 2,658 2,252 2,634 

Michigan ................................................... 79 13 67 11,487 966 8,133 11,436 1,546 7,394 

Minnesota ................................................ 93 9 66 14,483 965 11,550 15,214 1,099 8,440 

Mississippi ................................................ 12 14 11 1,613 2,268 1,992 901 1,527 1,341 

Missouri .................................................... 58 14 42 10,611 6,026 8,848 9,223 2,582 4,238 

Montana ................................................... 12 ( 2

 ) 13 1,320 ( 2 ) 2,310 1,405 ( 2 ) 1,274 

Nebraska .................................................. 6 4 9 829 697 2,081 565 414 951 

Nevada ..................................................... 29 6 24 5,473 775 3,329 8,041 1,035 4,821 

New Hampshire ....................................... 7 – 4 996 – 631 839 – 580 

New Jersey .............................................. 53 52 44 10,184 7,749 10,004 8,288 7,341 6,973 

New Mexico ............................................. 12 7 10 1,769 1,066 1,800 1,655 1,206 955 

New York ................................................. 166 230 138 24,798 32,884 16,122 31,394 41,036 18,235 

North Carolina3

 ......................................... 40 20 47 4,039 1,464 5,073 11,220 4,237 8,023 

North Dakota ............................................ 9 ( 2 ) 10 1,013 ( 2 ) 1,112 1,138 ( 2 ) 1,238 

Ohio ......................................................... 97 32 105 17,240 5,686 15,066 21,289 5,380 14,161 

Oklahoma ................................................. 8 3 3 2,102 927 411 1,593 513 331 

Oregon ..................................................... 33 19 23 6,407 3,122 5,626 8,435 3,408 5,578 

Pennsylvania ............................................ 143 70 127 19,759 7,776 11,213 32,622 12,223 17,500 

Rhode Island ............................................ 7 3 3 684 274 254 570 258 275 

South Carolina ......................................... 34 15 15 4,338 1,978 2,495 4,664 2,043 2,519 

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

Tennessee ............................................... 27 13 18 4,905 1,871 2,670 5,945 2,806 2,270 

Texas ....................................................... 41 29 31 5,795 5,012 4,515 8,564 5,976 4,491 

Utah ......................................................... 14 4 17 1,695 3,200 3,257 2,921 675 2,648 

Vermont ................................................... 8 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,522 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,344 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Virginia ..................................................... 29 11 27 5,497 1,378 4,445 7,029 1,595 4,090 

Washington .............................................. 64 27 48 8,904 3,172 5,983 12,106 4,788 7,056 

West Virginia ............................................ 7 ( 2 ) 4 859 ( 2 ) 1,011 857 ( 2 ) 702 

Wisconsin ................................................. 109 20 84 20,229 3,024 16,326 22,973 4,442 11,321 

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

Puerto Rico .............................................. 5 16 5 299 1,591 482 666 3,389 919 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. r

 = revised.

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

 = preliminary.

 3 Data starting in November 2010 may not be comparable to prior data NOTE: Dash represents zero.

due to a change in MLS unemployment insurance input procedures.

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

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

selected quarters, 2009 and 2010

IV III IV IV III IV

2009 2010r 2010p 2009 2010r 2010p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ............................................... 66 51 46 11,974 7,553 8,474 

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

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

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

 Manufacturing .............................................................. 38 29 28 7,226 3,462 5,161 

 Food ........................................................................ ( 2 ) 9 3 ( 2 ) 988 195 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Paper ...................................................................... ( 2 ) – 3 ( 2 ) – 390 

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

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

 Chemicals .............................................................. 4 3 ( 2

 ) 760 564 ( 2 )

 Plastics and rubber products .................................. ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 462 

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

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

 Fabricated metal products ...................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Machinery ............................................................... 4 ( 2 ) 3 890 ( 2 ) 281 

 Computer and electronic products .......................... 9 5 ( 2 ) 930 402 ( 2 )

 Electrical equipment and appliances ...................... 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 807 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Transportation equipment ....................................... 6 ( 2 ) 3 2,103 ( 2 ) 999 

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

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

 Wholesale trade ........................................................... 7 3 ( 2

 ) 905 500 ( 2 )

 Retail trade .................................................................. ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 203 

 Transportation and warehousing ................................. ( 2 ) 4 – ( 2 ) 509 –

 Information ................................................................... 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 696 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Finance and insurance ................................................ 3 ( 2 ) 4 939 ( 2 ) 1,446 

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

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

 Management of companies and enterprises ............... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 )

 Administrative and waste services ............................... 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 650 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

 r = revised.

Industry

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

work, selected quarters, 2009 and 2010

Reason for layoff

IV III IV IV III IV

2009 2010r 2010p 2009 2010r 2010p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ................................................... 66 51 46 11,974 7,553 8,474 

Business demand ............................................................. 18 ( 2

 ) 7 3,071 ( 2 ) 1,526 

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

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

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

 Excess inventory/saturated market ................................ ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

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

 Slack work/insufficient demand/non-seasonal

 business slowdown ................................................. 11 8 3 2,451 1,114 1,045 

Organizational changes .................................................... 21 23 22 3,190 3,229 4,513 

 Business-ownership change .......................................... ( 2

 ) 3 3 ( 2 ) 490 1,513 

 Reorganization or restructuring of company .................. ( 2 ) 20 19 ( 2 ) 2,739 3,000 

Financial issues ................................................................ 23 14 17 4,953 2,162 2,435 

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ................ 18 ( 2 ) 13 3,964 ( 2 ) 1,631 

 Financial difficulty ........................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 804 

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

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

 Automation/technological advances .............................. ––––––

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

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

 Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike ..................... – – – – – –

 Material or supply shortage ............................................ – – – – – –

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

 Plant or machine repair/maintenance ............................ – – – – – –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

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

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

 Data not provided: refusal .............................................. – – – – – –

 Data not provided: does not know ................................. – – – – – –

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

 2

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

 r

 = revised.

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

work, selected quarters, 2009 and 2010

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations

IV III IV IV III IV

2009 2010r 2010p 2009 2010r 2010p 

 United States1 ..................................... 66 51 46 11,974 7,553 8,474 

Northeast ..................................................... 13 12 11 2,420 1,940 1,566 

 New England ........................................... 6 5 7 1,280 1,034 1,216 

 Middle Atlantic ......................................... 7 7 4 1,140 906 350 

South ........................................................... 22 18 14 4,129 2,230 2,511 

 South Atlantic .......................................... 13 7 7 2,010 777 1,039 

 East South Central .................................. 6 6 ( 2 ) 1,419 614 ( 2 )

 West South Central ................................. 3 5 ( 2 ) 700 839 ( 2 )

Midwest ....................................................... 16 9 11 2,413 1,368 2,347 

 East North Central ................................... 13 5 8 1,853 626 1,990 

 West North Central .................................. 3 4 3 560 742 357 

West ............................................................ 15 12 10 3,012 2,015 2,050 

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

 )( 2 ) 3 ( 2 )( 2 ) 492 

 Pacific ...................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 7 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,558 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.
Table 9. Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, selected quarters, 2009 and 2010

IV III IV IV III IV

 2009r 2010r 2010p 2009r 2010r 2010p

Total, private nonfarm1 ................................................... 2,416 1,370 1,910 406,212 221,933 295,571 

 Total, excluding seasonal

 and vacation events2

 .............................................. 1,588 998 1,106 269,005 169,320 167,805 

 Total, movement of work3

 ....................................... 66 51 46 11,974 7,553 8,474 

 Movement of work actions ................................. 100 75 61 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 )

 With separations reported ............................ 55 41 42 4,573 3,574 4,131 

 With separations unknown ........................... 45 34 19 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 )

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

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

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

 3 Movement of work can involve more than one action.

Action

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

selected quarters, 2009 and 2010

IV III IV IV III IV

2009 2010r 2010p 2009 2010r 2010p

With separations reported2 ................................. 55 41 42 4,573 3,574 4,131 

By location

 Out-of-country relocations ................................ 15 8 12 1,556 1,198 1,813 

 Within company ............................................ 12 4 10 1,291 340 1,013 

 Different company ........................................ 3 4 2 265 858 800 

 Domestic relocations ........................................ 38 33 30 2,722 2,376 2,318 

 Within company ............................................ 34 28 25 2,360 1,824 2,105 

 Different company ........................................ 4 5 5 362 552 213 

 Unable to assign place of 

 relocation ....................................................... 2 – – 295 – –

By company

 Within company ................................................ 48 32 35 3,946 2,164 3,118 

 Domestic ....................................................... 34 28 25 2,360 1,824 2,105 

 Out of country ............................................... 12 4 10 1,291 340 1,013 

 Unable to assign ........................................... 2 – – 295 – –

 Different company ............................................ 7 9 7 627 1,410 1,013 

 Domestic ....................................................... 4 5 5 362 552 213 

 Out of country ............................................... 3 4 2 265 858 800 

 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
Table 11. Summary of employer expectations of a recall from extended mass layoffs, private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2009 and 2010

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

2009r 2010r 2010p 2009 2010r 2010p 2009 2010r 2010p

Anticipate a recall .................................. 47.6 45.3 59.7 95.8 92.5 94.8 22.4 27.7 34.2

 Timeframe

Within 6 months ..................................... 79.2 65.0 73.0 89.7 85.8 87.8 55.9 39.1 43.1

 Within 3 months ............................... 32.6 54.7 28.2 29.6 74.7 26.6 39.0 29.7 31.5

 Size of recall

At least half ............................................ 81.3 68.1 75.1 91.7 91.6 92.1 58.1 38.8 40.7

 All workers ....................................... 38.6 39.0 32.3 46.8 61.0 41.9 20.5 11.6 13.0

 1

 See footnote 1, table 1.

 r = revised.

 p

 = preliminary.

Nature of recall

Percent of total layoff events1 Percent of layoff events due to seasonal work 

and vacation period

Percent of layoff events, excluding those due 

to seasonal and vacation period
measures, private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2009 and 2010

IV III IV

2009r 2010r 2010p

 Total, private nonfarm1 .................................................... 168 162 155 

Industry

Mining ................................................................................... 125 267 107 

Utilities .................................................................................. 182 134 68 

Construction .......................................................................... 126 101 125 

Manufacturing ....................................................................... 167 148 168 

Wholesale trade .................................................................... 125 118 109 

Retail trade ............................................................................ 214 266 201 

Transportation and warehousing .......................................... 201 152 155 

Information ............................................................................ 199 265 235 

Finance and insurance .......................................................... 202 184 170 

Real estate and rental and leasing ....................................... 123 164 112 

Professional and technical services ...................................... 187 176 155 

Management of companies and enterprises ......................... 119 87 156 

Administrative and waste services ........................................ 208 213 153 

Educational services ............................................................. 120 117 271 

Health care and social assistance ........................................ 148 98 130 

Arts, entertainment, and recreation ....................................... 279 115 201 

Accommodation and food services ....................................... 232 236 213 

Other services, except public administration ........................ 157 125 114 

Unclassified establishments .................................................. 196 – –

Reason for layoff groupings

Business demand ................................................................. 150 157 145 

Organizational changes ........................................................ 199 204 233 

Financial issues .................................................................... 164 142 147 

Production specific ................................................................ 124 101 143 

Disaster/Safety ...................................................................... 140 60 104 

Seasonal ............................................................................... 166 141 159 

Other/miscellaneous ............................................................. 204 195 148 

 1

 See footnote 1, table 1. p = preliminary.

 r

 = revised. NOTE: Dash represents zero.

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

Measure

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

fourth quarter 2010p

Number Percent Number Percent

 Total ...................................................... 1,910 100.0 295,571 100.0 

 50-99 ................................................... 952 49.8 66,026 22.3 

 100-149 ............................................... 405 21.2 47,490 16.1 

 150-199 ................................................ 189 9.9 31,681 10.7 

 200-299 ................................................ 189 9.9 44,281 15.0 

 300-499 ................................................ 107 5.6 38,893 13.2 

 500-999 ................................................ 46 2.4 31,097 10.5 

 1,000 or more ....................................... 22 1.2 36,103 12.2 

 p

 = preliminary.

Size Layoff events Separations
Extended Mass Layoff Events by Reason Categories

Fourth quarters, 2004-10

1400160010001200

600800400

0

200

2004:4 2005:4 2006:4 2007:4 2008:4 2009:4 

Seasonal Business demand Organizational changes Financial issues Production specific 

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