For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Thursday, January 27, 2011 USDL-11-0085 

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

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

MASS LAYOFFS – DECEMBER 2010 

ANNUAL TOTALS – 2010

Employers took 1,483 mass layoff actions in December involving 137,992 workers, seasonally adjusted, 

as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the U.S. Bureau of 

Labor Statistics reported today. Each mass layoff involved at least 50 persons from a single employer. 

The number of mass layoff events in December decreased by 96 from the prior month, and the number 

of associated initial claims decreased by 10,808. The number of events reached its lowest level since 

April 2008. In December, 319 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally 

adjusted, resulting in 35,977 initial claims; both figures declined over the month. (See table 1.) 

 

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

Events

Manufacturing

Chart 1. Mass layoff events, seasonally adjusted,

January 2006-December 2010

Total

Private nonfarm

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

Claims

Total

Manufacturing

Chart 2. Mass layoff initial claims, seasonally adjusted,

January 2006-December 2010

Private nonfarm

Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Mass Layoff Data 

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

factors that incorporate 2010 data. Seasonally adjusted estimates back to January 2006 were 

subject to revision. Revised seasonally adjusted data from January 2007 forward are shown in 

table 1. The originally published and revised figures for January 2006-November 2010 will be 

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

revisions. 
- 2 - 

Table A. Industries with the largest number of mass layoff initial claims in December 2010,

not seasonally adjusted

Year Initial claims

Food service contractors ................................... 18,725 2010 18,725 

Highway, street, and bridge construction ............ 12,682 2005 20,088 

School and employee bus transportation ............. 10,775 2006 14,747 

Temporary help services 1 .................................. 8,309 2005 16,656 

Automobile manufacturing .................................. 4,547 2005 9,021 

Hotels and motels, except casino hotels .............. 2,318 2008 3,528 

Professional employer organizations 1 ................. 2,280 2008 6,101 

Supermarkets and other grocery stores .............. 2,256 1996 2,297 

Landscaping services ......................................... 2,220 2005 2,691 

Ready-mix concrete manufacturing ..................... 2,158 2005 3,232 

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

Industry Initial claims December peak

The total number of mass layoff events in 2010, at 19,564, not seasonally adjusted, and initial claims, at 

1,854,596, were lower than in 2009 when both events and claims reached their highest annual levels on 

record. (Data begin in 1996. See table B.) Among the 19 major industry sectors in the private economy, 

17 reported over-the-year decreases in initial claims. 

The national unemployment rate was 9.4 percent in December, down from 9.8 percent the prior month 

and 9.9 percent a year earlier. In December, total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 103,000 

over the month and by 1,124,000 from a year earlier. 

Industry Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted) 

The number of mass layoff events in December was 1,931 on a not seasonally adjusted basis; the 

number of associated initial claims was 184,130. (See table 2.) The number of mass layoff events was 

down by 379 from December 2009, and associated initial claims decreased by 30,518. Twelve of the 19 

major industry sectors in the private economy reported over-the-year decreases in initial claims, with 

manufacturing having the largest decrease. 

The manufacturing sector accounted for 24 percent of all mass layoff events and 29 percent of initial 

claims filed in December. A year earlier, manufacturing made up 27 percent of events and 30 percent of 

initial claims. Within manufacturing, the number of claimants in December was greatest in transportation equipment and in food. (See table 3.) Thirteen of the 21 manufacturing subsectors experienced 

over-the-year decreases in initial claims, with the largest declines in machinery, furniture and related 

products, and fabricated metal products. 

The six-digit industry with the largest number of initial claims in December was food service contractors, which reached a program high number of claims for the month of December. (See table A.) The 

table includes both publicly and privately owned entities. 
- 3 - 

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

unemployment insurance, 1996-2010, not seasonally adjusted

Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2010 ........................ 19,564 1,854,596 

Year Layoff events

Geographic Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted) 

Three of the 4 regions and 7 of the 9 divisions experienced over-the-year decreases in initial claims due 

to mass layoffs in December. Among the census regions, the Midwest registered the largest over-theyear declines in initial claims. Of the geographic divisions, the East North Central had the largest overthe-year decline in initial claims. (See table 5.) 

California recorded the highest number of initial claims in December, followed by Illinois, New York, 

and Pennsylvania. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia experienced over-the-year decreases 

in initial claims, led by California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Missouri. (See table 6.) 

Review of 2010 

For all of 2010, on a not seasonally adjusted basis, the total numbers of mass layoff events, at 19,564, 

and initial claims, at 1,854,596, were lower than in 2009 when totals reached their highest annual levels 

on record. (Data begin in 1996. See table B.) Among the 19 major industry sectors in the private 

economy, 17 reported over-the-year decreases in initial claims, led by manufacturing, which declined to 

its lowest annual level on record. Of the 17 sectors reporting over-the-year declines in claims, 9 

decreased by record amounts. 

The manufacturing sector accounted for 25 percent of all mass layoff events and 29 percent of initial 

claims filed in the private economy in 2010; in 2009 manufacturing made up 36 percent of events and 43 

percent of initial claims. The number of manufacturing claimants in 2010 was highest in transporta- 
- 4 - 

Table C. Industries with the largest number of mass layoff initial claims in 2010,

not seasonally adjusted

Initial claims Rank Initial claims Rank

Temporary help services 1

 ...................................... 151,957 1 117,391 1

School and employee bus transportation ................. 92,324 2 91,066 2

Food service contractors ........................................ 68,888 3 75,004 3

Elementary and secondary schools .......................... 62,774 5 64,755 4

Motion picture and video production ...................... 53,275 7 45,856 5

Highway, street, and bridge construction ................. 40,186 10 42,096 6

Professional employer organizations 1

 ..................... 65,280 4 40,396 7

Automobile manufacturing ...................................... 46,306 8 35,416 8

Discount department stores .................................... 35,577 11 29,986 9

Supermarkets and other grocery stores ................... 24,883 14 24,534 10

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

Industry 2009 2010

tion equipment and in food. Total initial claims for all 21 manufacturing subsectors decreased between 

2009 and 2010, with transportation equipment and machinery experiencing the largest declines. 

The six-digit industry with the greatest number of initial claims in 2010 was temporary help services. 

Discount department stores and supermarkets and other grocery stores entered the highest 10 industries 

in terms of initial claims for the entire year, displacing construction machinery manufacturing and light 

truck and utility vehicle manufacturing. Among the highest 10 industries, food service contractors and 

elementary and secondary schools reached annual program highs in 2010. (See table C.) The table 

includes both publicly and privately owned entities. 

All census regions and divisions experienced over-the-year decreases in initial claims from 2009 to 

2010. The Midwest recorded the largest over-the-year decline among the regions. Of the geographic 

divisions, the East North Central and the Pacific experienced the greatest decreases in initial claims from 

2009 to 2010. 

Among the states, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Florida recorded the greatest numbers of initial claims during 2010. Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia experienced over-theyear decreases in total initial claims for the year, led by California, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. 

Note 

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

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

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

more than 30 days (referred to as "extended mass layoffs"). The quarterly release provides more information on the industry classification and location of the establishment and on the demographics of the 

laid-off workers. Because monthly figures include short-term layoffs of 30 days or less, the sum of the 
- 5 - 

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

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

____________ 

The Extended Mass Layoffs news release for the Fourth Quarter 2010 is scheduled to be released 

on Friday, February 11, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. (EST). The Mass Layoffs news release for January 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 that uses a standardized automated approach to 

identifying, describing, and tracking the effects of major job 

cutbacks, using data from each state's unemployment 

insurance database. Each month, states report on employers 

which have at least 50 initial claims filed against them during 

a consecutive 5-week period. These employers then are 

contacted by the state agency to determine whether these 

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

information concerning the layoff is collected. States report 

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

A given month contains an aggregation of the weekly 

unemployment insurance claims filings for the Sunday 

through Saturday weeks in that month. All weeks are 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

seasonally adjusted series should take this calendar effect into 

consideration. 

The MLS program resumed operations in April 1995 

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

funding. Prior to April 1995, monthly layoff statistics were 

not available. 

Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 

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

Definitions 

Employer. Employers in the MLS program include 

those covered by state unemployment insurance laws. 

Information on employers is obtained from the Quarterly 

Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, which 

is administered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 

Industry. Employers are classified according to the 

2007 version of the North American Industry Classification 

System (NAICS). For temporary help and professional 

employer organization industries, monthly MLS-related 

statistics generally reflect layoffs related to underlying client 

companies in other industries. An individual layoff action at 

a client company can be small, but when initial claimants 

associated with many such layoffs are assigned to a temporary help or professional employer organization firm, a 

mass layoff event may trigger. 

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

entitlement to and eligibility for compensation, or for a 

subsequent period of unemployment within a benefit year or 

period of eligibility. 

Mass layoff event. Fifty or more initial claims for 

unemployment insurance benefits filed against an employer 

during a 5-week period, regardless of duration. 

Seasonal adjustment 

Effective with the release of data for January 2005, BLS 

began publishing six seasonally adjusted monthly MLS 

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

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

and manufacturing sectors. 

Seasonal adjustment is the process of estimating and 

removing the effect on time series data of regularly recurring 

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

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

seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental 

changes in time series, particularly those associated with 

general economic expansions and contractions. 

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

ARIMA seasonal adjustment method on a concurrent basis. 

Concurrent seasonal adjustment uses all available monthly 

estimates, including those for the current month, in developing seasonal adjustment factors. Revisions to the most 

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

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

seasonally adjusted, prior adjustments are made to the 

original data to adjust them for differences in the number of 

weeks used to calculate the monthly data. Because weekly 

unemployment insurance claims are aggregated to form 

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

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

effects of these differences could seriously distort the 

seasonal factors if they were ignored in the seasonal 

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

ARIMA program and are permanently removed from the 

final seasonally adjusted series.
Table 1. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, January 2007 to December 2010,

seasonally adjusted

2007

January ........................................................ 1,235 128,523 1,082 117,096 403 54,843 

February ....................................................... 1,198 129,244 1,072 120,459 371 53,420 

March ........................................................... 1,202 124,521 1,092 115,835 384 47,658 

April .............................................................. 1,238 126,334 1,102 115,271 358 42,989 

May .............................................................. 1,159 113,578 1,064 106,573 347 44,637 

June ............................................................. 1,207 127,776 1,097 119,007 342 37,552 

July ............................................................... 1,295 136,168 1,193 128,208 401 55,906 

August .......................................................... 1,217 122,450 1,126 115,305 312 34,877 

September ................................................... 1,233 121,998 1,140 115,675 430 51,731 

October ........................................................ 1,330 133,063 1,210 124,455 439 56,970 

November .................................................... 1,397 145,339 1,269 135,651 408 56,985 

December .................................................... 1,553 154,275 1,435 144,785 463 59,445 

2008

January ........................................................ 1,437 146,900 1,302 135,622 431 55,562 

February ....................................................... 1,604 175,128 1,441 163,475 471 59,118 

March ........................................................... 1,500 150,502 1,388 140,424 435 56,156 

April .............................................................. 1,292 128,901 1,162 118,016 449 58,402 

May .............................................................. 1,582 161,944 1,444 152,230 468 62,452 

June ............................................................. 1,631 164,508 1,488 153,014 491 68,198 

July ............................................................... 1,581 164,497 1,443 153,720 463 62,425 

August .......................................................... 1,791 181,107 1,653 171,705 583 77,874 

September ................................................... 2,192 233,034 2,024 219,532 635 82,471 

October ........................................................ 2,221 229,254 2,062 215,787 697 92,408 

November .................................................... 2,415 228,107 2,256 214,631 900 102,284 

December .................................................... 2,443 245,661 2,264 231,138 927 114,280 

2009

January ........................................................ 2,272 238,717 2,103 224,850 756 100,927 

February ....................................................... 2,801 315,507 2,636 300,042 1,194 138,583 

March ........................................................... 2,950 295,543 2,758 279,027 1,205 144,713 

April .............................................................. 2,579 251,032 2,368 234,796 997 121,435 

May .............................................................. 2,758 288,319 2,557 271,425 1,187 147,548 

June ............................................................. 2,506 250,275 2,293 232,814 1,048 135,389 

July ............................................................... 2,192 223,697 1,977 203,365 620 72,932 

August .......................................................... 2,419 220,262 2,177 201,951 778 83,837 

September ................................................... 2,305 219,924 2,095 204,596 799 91,665 

October ........................................................ 1,975 195,347 1,780 177,977 570 63,646 

November .................................................... 1,754 154,223 1,585 141,439 464 51,891 

December .................................................... 1,725 156,274 1,545 141,649 420 43,584 

2010

January ........................................................ 1,716 171,633 1,541 157,597 494 60,059 

February ....................................................... 1,492 149,369 1,318 135,490 351 40,564 

March ........................................................... 1,635 146,901 1,436 131,953 347 37,273 

April .............................................................. 1,675 159,358 1,498 143,814 371 48,646 

May .............................................................. 1,665 155,352 1,405 133,913 314 30,967 

June ............................................................. 1,729 153,937 1,504 134,837 326 32,646 

July ............................................................... 1,528 138,581 1,316 121,378 296 30,752 

August .......................................................... 1,658 163,325 1,453 141,489 409 47,668 

September ................................................... 1,541 137,941 1,331 119,654 336 34,641 

October ........................................................ 1,649 147,204 1,445 130,264 353 37,394 

November .................................................... 1,579 148,800 1,397 133,845 350 39,072 

December .................................................... 1,483 137,992 1,272 122,688 319 35,977 

Date

Total Private nonfarm Manufacturing

Events Initial

claimants Events Initial

claimants Events Initial

claimants
Table 2. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, January 2007 to December 2010,

not seasonally adjusted

2007

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Date

Total Private nonfarm Manufacturing

Events Initial

claimants Events Initial

claimants Events Initial

claimants
Table 3. Industry distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance

Mass layoff events Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

December October November December December October November December

2009 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010 2010 2010

Seasonally adjusted

 Total ............................................................. 1,725 1,649 1,579 1,483 156,274 147,204 148,800 137,992 

 Total, private nonfarm ...................................... 1,545 1,445 1,397 1,272 141,649 130,264 133,845 122,688 

 Manufacturing ................................................ 420 353 350 319 43,584 37,394 39,072 35,977 

Not seasonally adjusted

 Total 1

 ........................................................... 2,310 1,642 1,676 1,931 214,648 148,638 158,048 184,130 

Total, private ...................................................... 2,219 1,493 1,614 1,830 206,930 136,178 152,651 176,405 

 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ........ 53 120 137 67 3,275 8,313 10,060 3,524 

 Total, private nonfarm ...................................... 2,166 1,373 1,477 1,763 203,655 127,865 142,591 172,881 

 Mining ............................................................ 34 6 13 29 2,807 390 943 2,439 

 Utilities ............................................................ 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 444 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Construction ................................................... 485 175 325 379 35,718 13,500 26,767 29,458 

 Manufacturing ................................................ 615 351 389 465 64,540 40,861 41,383 52,816 

 Food ........................................................... 63 80 69 52 6,447 8,639 7,242 6,590 

 Beverage and tobacco products ................ 5 15 7 8 396 1,166 655 856 

 Textile mills ................................................ 14 7 15 21 2,242 1,019 1,631 2,239 

 Textile product mills ................................... 3 4 ( 2 ) 8 300 271 ( 2 ) 981 

 Apparel ....................................................... 19 10 8 18 1,661 1,399 993 1,294 

 Leather and allied products ........................ 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3 324 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 850 

 Wood products ........................................... 40 26 28 39 3,218 2,570 2,568 3,623 

 Paper ......................................................... 12 4 8 14 850 334 653 1,055 

 Printing and related support activities ........ 14 6 14 13 1,659 435 1,312 934 

 Petroleum and coal products ..................... 10 ( 2 ) 8 10 866 ( 2 ) 796 892 

 Chemicals .................................................. 10 8 9 8 768 723 685 561 

 Plastics and rubber products ..................... 35 9 20 25 3,487 656 1,912 2,392 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ..................... 59 15 21 48 4,990 1,460 1,839 4,212 

 Primary metals ........................................... 34 16 17 21 3,456 1,358 1,352 1,919 

 Fabricated metal products ......................... 54 20 21 29 4,387 1,667 1,766 2,380 

 Machinery .................................................. 53 26 24 18 6,827 4,968 2,980 2,724 

 Computer and electronic products ............. 23 13 12 13 1,429 851 990 1,214 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ......... 19 15 11 12 2,191 1,935 1,808 2,372 

 Transportation equipment .......................... 106 50 60 78 13,537 8,581 7,754 12,534 

 Furniture and related products ................... 28 17 23 20 4,617 1,929 2,945 2,521 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing .................... 9 6 9 7 888 596 775 673 

 Wholesale trade ............................................. 50 30 28 23 3,858 2,079 2,347 1,706 

 Retail trade ..................................................... 121 126 99 105 12,300 13,260 8,433 9,985 

 Transportation and warehousing ................... 157 45 68 114 17,909 3,948 6,236 13,341 

 Information ..................................................... 51 52 48 25 7,042 5,640 10,136 2,818 

 Finance and insurance ................................... 30 31 22 29 2,357 2,342 1,742 2,151 

 Real estate and rental and leasing ................ 12 9 5 13 763 455 287 1,408 

 Professional and technical services ............... 47 43 57 44 3,746 3,447 6,284 3,549 

 Management of companies and enterprises .. 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 545 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Administrative and waste services ................. 253 275 225 225 21,653 23,531 20,778 17,203 

 Educational services ...................................... 12 11 3 9 755 657 147 958 

 Health care and social assistance ................. 38 54 31 46 2,653 4,056 2,523 3,904 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ................ 19 31 32 24 1,734 2,674 2,703 1,843 

 Accommodation and food services ................ 214 118 112 208 23,507 10,024 10,219 27,239 

 Other services, except public administration . 16 10 15 15 1,171 506 1,168 1,153 

 Unclassified .................................................... 1 1 1 1 153 73 79 92 

Government ....................................................... 91 149 62 101 7,718 12,460 5,397 7,725 

 Federal ........................................................... 11 41 10 10 921 4,336 945 1,215 

 State ............................................................... 26 32 17 22 2,560 2,967 1,472 1,724 

 Local .............................................................. 54 76 35 69 4,237 5,157 2,980 4,786 

 1

 Data were reported by all states and the District of Columbia.

 2

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

Industry
Table 4. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, October 2008 to December 2010,

not seasonally adjusted

Extended mass layoffs 

lasting more than 30 days Realization rates 1

Events Initial

claimants Events Initialclaimants Events Initialclaimants Events Initialclaimants

2008

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

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

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

Fourth Quarter ........................... 8,076 814,678 7,538 772,430 3,582 766,780 47.5 99.3 

2009

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

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

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

First Quarter ............................... 8,259 835,638 7,913 807,445 3,979 835,551 50.3 103.5 

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

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

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

Second Quarter ......................... 7,804 802,915 7,008 733,431 3,395 731,049 48.4 99.7 

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

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

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

Third Quarter ............................. 5,853 584,855 5,251 528,923 2,034 406,823 38.7 76.9 

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

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

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

Fourth Quarter ........................... 6,114 573,048 5,523 527,289 2,416 468,560 43.7 88.9 

2010

January ...................................... 2,860 278,679 2,682 265,074 

February .................................... 1,183 102,818 1,091 96,022 

March ......................................... 1,197 111,727 1,111 105,514 

First Quarter ............................... 5,240 493,224 4,884 466,610 1,870 367,930 38.3 78.9 

April ............................................ 1,840 199,690 1,697 184,654 

May ............................................ 1,354 123,333 1,170 109,203 

June ........................................... 1,861 171,190 1,355 125,872 

Second Quarter ......................... 5,055 494,213 4,222 419,729 2,011 393,435 47.6 93.7 

July ............................................ 2,124 206,254 1,732 172,248 

August ........................................ 976 92,435 897 83,021 

September ................................. 920 77,654 806 67,987 

Third Quarter ............................. 4,020 376,343 3,435 323,256 2,p 1,297 2,p 177,807 p

 37.8 p 55.0 

October ...................................... 1,642 148,638 1,373 127,865 

November .................................. 1,676 158,048 1,477 142,591 

December .................................. 1,931 184,130 1,763 172,881 

Fourth Quarter ........................... 5,249 490,816 4,613 443,337 

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

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

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

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

 2

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

Date

Total mass layoffs

Private nonfarm

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

not seasonally adjusted

Mass layoff events Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

December October November December December October November December

2009 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010 2010 2010

 United States 1

 ......................................... 2,310 1,642 1,676 1,931 214,648 148,638 158,048 184,130 

Northeast .......................................................... 461 246 223 356 41,913 20,922 20,305 35,601 

 New England ................................................ 71 25 41 50 6,743 1,940 3,878 5,278 

 Middle Atlantic .............................................. 390 221 182 306 35,170 18,982 16,427 30,323 

South ................................................................ 494 368 426 493 48,248 35,853 38,416 51,554 

 South Atlantic ............................................... 284 213 245 287 25,236 21,191 20,773 27,744 

 East South Central ....................................... 115 70 83 110 13,749 7,095 7,182 12,784 

 West South Central ...................................... 95 85 98 96 9,263 7,567 10,461 11,026 

Midwest ............................................................ 739 316 431 565 76,826 34,290 43,401 58,560 

 East North Central ........................................ 508 227 317 394 51,903 25,674 31,834 42,375 

 West North Central ....................................... 231 89 114 171 24,923 8,616 11,567 16,185 

West ................................................................. 616 712 596 517 47,661 57,573 55,926 38,415 

 Mountain ....................................................... 126 99 101 90 10,700 9,563 8,789 7,274 

 Pacific ........................................................... 490 613 495 427 36,961 48,010 47,137 31,141 

 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

not seasonally adjusted

Mass layoff events Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

December October November December December October November December

2009 2010 2010 2010 2009 2010 2010 2010

 Total 1

 .............................................. 2,310 1,642 1,676 1,931 214,648 148,638 158,048 184,130 

Alabama .............................................. 36 20 26 34 4,592 2,244 2,499 3,758 

Alaska ................................................. 7 5 4 9 650 430 266 915 

Arizona ................................................ 9 24 5 9 817 2,392 365 940 

Arkansas ............................................. 7 7 10 6 581 790 1,224 563 

California ............................................. 412 559 424 365 30,229 42,458 40,704 25,602 

Colorado ............................................. 24 17 17 14 1,941 1,675 1,379 964 

Connecticut ......................................... 8 7 9 7 890 523 837 576 

Delaware ............................................. 5 5 3 6 266 403 153 429 

District of Columbia ............................. 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 301 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Florida ................................................. 96 105 72 92 7,715 9,277 3,911 7,554 

Georgia ............................................... 56 32 28 42 5,244 2,969 3,012 4,306 

Hawaii ................................................. 7 5 ( 2 ) – 637 401 ( 2 ) –

Idaho ................................................... 16 5 21 15 1,099 362 2,085 1,006 

Illinois .................................................. 142 60 59 110 17,639 7,281 5,386 13,672 

Indiana ................................................ 57 26 30 49 6,256 4,349 3,799 5,314 

Iowa .................................................... 51 14 24 39 6,087 1,397 3,716 3,897 

Kansas ................................................ 28 6 8 23 4,878 737 1,205 2,923 

Kentucky ............................................. 44 20 21 38 5,013 2,828 1,744 5,003 

Louisiana ............................................ 22 19 17 21 1,641 1,554 1,351 1,741 

Maine .................................................. 3 – 6 6 204 – 528 431 

Maryland ............................................. 16 9 7 9 1,251 796 529 611 

Massachusetts .................................... 28 11 17 19 2,990 858 1,449 2,372 

Michigan ............................................. 119 34 74 67 10,913 3,010 7,199 8,985 

Minnesota ........................................... 45 26 39 34 3,690 3,056 3,316 2,932 

Mississippi .......................................... 12 15 25 19 1,000 1,017 1,964 2,128 

Missouri .............................................. 86 37 29 54 8,373 2,866 2,159 4,763 

Montana .............................................. 12 9 12 8 896 831 1,074 470 

Nebraska ............................................ 12 6 8 14 1,166 560 643 1,157 

Nevada ............................................... 36 26 28 26 3,677 2,396 2,186 2,449 

New Hampshire .................................. 11 3 3 3 867 302 218 326 

New Jersey ......................................... 67 31 33 49 6,716 2,517 4,247 6,036 

New Mexico ........................................ 12 7 8 8 954 545 636 640 

New York ............................................ 126 61 54 115 12,704 5,443 4,471 12,383 

North Carolina 3

 .................................. 18 21 78 80 1,455 1,697 8,019 8,876 

North Dakota ....................................... 7 – 6 5 595 – 528 375 

Ohio .................................................... 91 45 64 87 8,888 4,734 6,234 7,826 

Oklahoma ........................................... 10 7 5 6 893 484 441 1,410 

Oregon ................................................ 29 22 28 25 2,617 2,540 2,676 2,234 

Pennsylvania ...................................... 197 129 95 142 15,750 11,022 7,709 11,904 

Rhode Island ....................................... 6 ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 10 713 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,264 

South Carolina .................................... 45 21 19 26 4,780 3,479 1,501 2,648 

South Dakota ...................................... ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) Tennessee .......................................... 23 15 11 19 3,144 1,006 975 1,895 

Texas .................................................. 56 52 66 63 6,148 4,739 7,445 7,312 

Utah .................................................... 16 7 9 10 1,256 758 977 805 

Vermont .............................................. 15 ( 2 ) 5 5 1,079 ( 2 ) 736 309 

Virginia ................................................ 40 19 32 30 3,903 2,444 3,111 3,177 

Washington ......................................... 35 22 37 28 2,828 2,181 3,294 2,390 

West Virginia ....................................... 4 – 5 – 321 – 457 –

Wisconsin ........................................... 99 62 90 81 8,207 6,300 9,216 6,578 

Wyoming ............................................. ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) 604 ( 2 ) –

Puerto Rico ......................................... 11 22 11 10 1,093 2,191 1,046 940 

 1 See footnote 1, table 3. data due to a change in MLS unemployment insurance 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. input procedures. 3 Data starting in November 2010 may not be comparable to prior NOTE: Dash represents zero.

State