For release 3:00 p.m. (EST) Tuesday, December 22, 2009 USDL-09-1561 

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

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

MASS LAYOFFS – NOVEMBER 2009 

Employers took 1,797 mass layoff actions in November that resulted in the separation of 165,346 

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

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

from a single employer. The number of mass layoff events in November decreased by 330 from the prior 

month, and the number of associated initial claims decreased by 51,836, to their lowest levels since July 

2008. However, year-to-date mass layoff events (27,669) and initial claims (2,792,736) both recorded 

program highs for a January to November period. (Data begin in April 1995.) In November, 481 mass 

layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 56,243 initial 

claims. Both the number of events and initial claims in manufacturing decreased over the month. (See 

table 1.) 

During the 24 months from December 2007 through November 2009, the total number of mass layoff 

events (seasonally adjusted) was 51,154, and the number of initial claims filed (seasonally adjusted) in 

those events was 5,187,170. (December 2007 was the start of a recession as designated by the National 

Bureau of Economic Research.) 

The national unemployment rate was 10.0 percent in November 2009, seasonally adjusted, down from 

10.2 percent the prior month but up from 6.8 percent a year earlier. In November, total nonfarm payroll 

employment decreased by 11,000 over the month and by 4,759,000 from a year earlier. 

  

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

Events

Manufacturing

Chart 1. Mass layoff events, seasonally adjusted,

December 2004-November 2009

Total

Private nonfarm

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

Claims

Total

Manufacturing

Chart 2. Mass layoff initial claims, seasonally adjusted,

December 2004-November 2009

Private nonfarm
- 2 - 

Industry Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted) 

The number of mass layoff events in November was 1,870 on a not seasonally adjusted basis; the 

number of associated initial claims was 164,496. (See table 2.) Over the year, the number of mass layoff 

events decreased by 704, and associated initial claims decreased by 77,093. Thirteen of the 19 major 

industry sectors in the private economy reported over-the-year decreases in initial claimants for the 

month of November, led by manufacturing (-52,567), administrative and waste services (-8,122), retail 

trade (-6,346), and construction (-5,873). 

Three of the 19 major industry sectors in the private economy reported program highs in terms of 

average weekly initial claimants for the month of November: arts, entertainment, and recreation; 

accommodation and food services; and other services, except public administration. (Average weekly 

analysis mitigates the effect of differing lengths of months. See the Technical Note.) 

The manufacturing sector accounted for 28 percent of all mass layoff events and 33 percent of initial 

claims filed in November 2009. A year earlier, manufacturing made up 39 percent of events and 45 

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

transportation equipment and food. Transportation equipment manufacturing had the largest over-theyear decrease in initial claims (-11,236), while food services and drinking places had the highest 

increase (+2,862) among all three-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 

industries. (See table 3.) 

The six-digit NAICS industry with the largest number of initial claims in November 2009 was highway, 

street, and bridge construction. Of the 10 detailed industries with the largest number of mass layoff 

initial claims, only the motorcycle, bicycle, and parts manufacturing industry reached a series high for 

the month of November. (See table A.) 

Table A. Indus trie s with the large s t numbe r of mas s layoff initial claims in N ove mbe r 2009, 

not s e as onally adjus te d

Year Initial claims

Highway, street, and bridge construction ............. 8,933 2001 14,805 

Temporary help services 1

 .................................. 7,991 2000 19,023 

Food service contractors .................................... 6,004 2007 6,163 

School and employee bus transportation ............. 3,447 2007 4,547 

Automobile manufacturing .................................. 2,867 2007 8,416 

Farm labor contractors and crew leaders ............ 2,807 1999 11,613 

M otorcycle, bicycle, and parts manufacturing ...... 2,644 2009 2,644 

M otion picture and video production .................. 2,637 2000 8,664 

Professional employer organizations 1

 ................. 2,506 2008 5,873 

C asino hotels ..................................................... 2,436 2006 2,706 

 1 See th e Tech n ical No te fo r mo re in fo rmatio n o n th es e in d u s tries .

Industry Initial claims N ovember peak
- 3 - 

Geographic Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted) 

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

November due to mass layoffs, followed by the West and the South. (See table 5.) Initial claims 

associated with mass layoffs decreased over the year in all of the regions, with the Midwest 

experiencing the largest decrease (-33,741), mostly in transportation equipment manufacturing. 

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

mass layoffs in November, followed by the Pacific, the Middle Atlantic, and the South Atlantic. (See 

table 5.) Seven of the 9 divisions experienced over-the-year decreases in initial claims, led by the East 

North Central (-26,022).

California recorded the highest number of initial claims in November, followed by Pennsylvania, 

Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. (See table 6.) Thirty-seven states experienced over-the-year 

decreases in initial claims, led by California (-15,768), Indiana (-9,097), Ohio (-6,447), and Michigan 

(-6,108). In 2009, three states reached program highs in average weekly initial claims for the month of 

November: Nevada, North Carolina, and Wyoming. 

Note 

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

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

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

more than 30 days (referred to as “extended mass layoffs”). The quarterly release provides more 

information on the industry classification and location of the establishment and on the demographics of 

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

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

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

_____________ 

The Mass Layoffs in December 2009 and Annual Totals for 2009 news release is scheduled to be 

released on Wednesday, January 27, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. (EST). 

Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Mass Layoff Data 

In accordance with usual practice, the release of mass layoff data for December 2009, 

scheduled for January 27, 2010, will incorporate annual updating of seasonal adjustment 

factors. Seasonally adjusted estimates back to January 2005 are subject to revision. 
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, December 2005 to November 2009,

seasonally adjusted

2005

December ..................................................... 1,263 136,751 1,135 125,700 358 46,940 

2006

January ......................................................... 1,112 111,601 986 102,359 293 35,390 

February ....................................................... 960 104,045 872 96,317 317 41,810 

March ........................................................... 1,078 118,270 976 109,842 320 48,026 

April .............................................................. 1,198 123,674 1,062 113,849 366 50,747 

May ............................................................... 1,132 116,808 1,013 106,743 312 42,958 

June .............................................................. 1,156 124,955 1,044 115,491 356 45,280 

July ............................................................... 1,204 123,172 1,077 113,324 381 50,109 

August .......................................................... 1,278 136,289 1,117 125,064 376 60,524 

September .................................................... 1,167 124,083 1,054 115,451 390 46,470 

October ......................................................... 1,195 121,439 1,081 112,777 401 53,597 

November ..................................................... 1,209 131,459 1,096 122,136 402 57,084 

December ..................................................... 1,201 133,311 1,100 124,019 369 51,113 

2007

January ......................................................... 1,261 129,190 1,116 118,890 406 55,341 

February ....................................................... 1,240 134,524 1,130 126,105 404 58,861 

March ........................................................... 1,261 129,480 1,151 120,923 407 52,356 

April .............................................................. 1,281 130,263 1,145 119,683 381 45,654 

May ............................................................... 1,200 119,259 1,097 111,585 368 48,682 

June .............................................................. 1,256 132,078 1,138 122,726 356 41,135 

July ............................................................... 1,288 131,556 1,182 123,322 405 53,318 

August .......................................................... 1,262 125,334 1,162 117,557 331 36,577 

September .................................................... 1,279 125,527 1,183 118,917 440 54,006 

October ......................................................... 1,346 133,514 1,224 124,666 436 57,527 

November ..................................................... 1,352 143,419 1,233 134,445 408 56,330 

December ..................................................... 1,469 145,916 1,354 136,914 447 56,152 

2008

January ......................................................... 1,476 149,068 1,350 139,076 435 56,579 

February ....................................................... 1,669 183,038 1,532 172,013 526 67,235 

March ........................................................... 1,585 161,497 1,471 151,550 483 65,252 

April .............................................................. 1,344 135,352 1,215 125,074 487 63,247 

May ............................................................... 1,701 180,558 1,563 170,538 538 75,520 

June .............................................................. 1,717 174,748 1,561 162,071 555 79,744 

July ............................................................... 1,535 152,499 1,390 141,239 455 57,648 

August .......................................................... 1,887 188,951 1,735 178,479 626 80,913 

September .................................................... 2,290 240,721 2,114 226,492 643 86,617 

October ......................................................... 2,204 230,330 2,042 216,095 687 92,256 

November ..................................................... 2,333 225,639 2,185 213,288 868 100,643 

December ..................................................... 2,275 226,117 2,100 212,559 871 105,402 

2009

January ......................................................... 2,227 237,902 2,070 225,490 738 102,577 

February ....................................................... 2,769 295,477 2,628 281,500 1,235 152,618 

March ........................................................... 2,933 299,388 2,751 283,989 1,259 155,909 

April .............................................................. 2,712 271,226 2,519 256,111 1,111 135,252 

May ............................................................... 2,933 312,880 2,736 296,108 1,331 165,802 

June .............................................................. 2,763 279,231 2,536 260,747 1,235 159,310 

July ............................................................... 2,157 206,791 1,928 185,718 621 72,266 

August .......................................................... 2,690 259,307 2,428 237,302 900 93,892 

September .................................................... 2,561 248,006 2,324 229,371 856 97,066 

October ......................................................... 2,127 217,182 1,918 198,453 619 70,572 

November ..................................................... 1,797 165,346 1,636 153,297 481 56,243 

Date

Total Private nonfarm Manufacturing

Events Initial

claimants Events Initialclaimants Events Initialclaimants
Table 2. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, December 2005 to November 2009,

not seasonally adjusted

2005

December .................................................... 2,323 254,258 2,168 242,753 706 96,382 

2006

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2007

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

November September October November November September October November

2008 2009 2009 2009 2008 2009 2009 2009

Seasonally adjusted

 Total ............................................................. 2,333 2,561 2,127 1,797 225,639 248,006 217,182 165,346 

 Total, private nonfarm ...................................... 2,185 2,324 1,918 1,636 213,288 229,371 198,453 153,297 

 Manufacturing ................................................ 868 856 619 481 100,643 97,066 70,572 56,243 

Not seasonally adjusted

 Total 1

 ........................................................... 2,574 1,371 1,934 1,870 241,589 123,177 193,904 164,496 

Total, private ...................................................... 2,502 1,285 1,806 1,791 235,560 116,813 181,476 158,146 

 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ........ 113 27 128 112 8,903 1,672 8,593 7,395 

 Total, private nonfarm ...................................... 2,389 1,258 1,678 1,679 226,657 115,141 172,883 150,751 

 Mining ............................................................ 22 10 15 22 2,004 918 1,038 1,551 

 Utilities ............................................................ 3 6 6 3 332 448 550 206 

 Construction ................................................... 382 167 205 308 29,775 10,637 15,258 23,902 

 Manufacturing ................................................ 997 448 566 517 107,620 51,126 69,655 55,053 

 Food ........................................................... 71 50 91 61 7,123 5,044 8,999 6,631 

 Beverage and tobacco products ................ 9 5 12 9 620 306 1,001 682 

 Textile mills ................................................ 19 12 9 12 2,558 1,197 1,407 1,337 

 Textile product mills ................................... 10 ( 2 ) 3 – 669 ( 2 ) 419 –

 Apparel ....................................................... 16 7 7 17 1,783 572 438 1,361 

 Leather and allied products ........................ 3 ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) 270 ( 2 ) – ( 2 )

 Wood products ........................................... 93 36 41 40 9,439 2,653 4,326 3,505 

 Paper ......................................................... 28 15 14 ( 2 ) 2,645 1,287 1,216 ( 2 )

 Printing and related support activities ........ 14 10 17 10 1,527 828 1,337 888 

 Petroleum and coal products ..................... 11 – 3 11 929 – 312 852 

 Chemicals .................................................. 20 9 8 13 2,042 540 533 1,239 

 Plastics and rubber products ..................... 74 13 35 29 7,013 1,195 2,672 2,802 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ..................... 55 12 16 30 4,937 763 1,172 2,514 

 Primary metals ........................................... 74 30 44 38 7,813 3,330 4,703 3,426 

 Fabricated metal products ......................... 104 44 49 36 8,905 3,856 4,702 2,764 

 Machinery .................................................. 62 63 51 44 9,019 12,389 10,892 5,080 

 Computer and electronic products ............. 40 28 29 25 3,592 1,986 2,169 2,788 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ......... 27 23 29 18 2,891 2,740 3,394 1,379 

 Transportation equipment .......................... 190 53 72 86 25,042 7,331 17,069 13,806 

 Furniture and related products ................... 55 22 22 19 6,716 3,481 1,865 2,407 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing .................... 22 11 14 11 2,087 1,117 1,029 931 

 Wholesale trade ............................................. 65 32 50 33 4,779 2,422 4,645 2,389 

 Retail trade ..................................................... 155 139 124 99 13,429 13,094 12,914 7,083 

 Transportation and warehousing ................... 99 47 61 83 7,749 4,807 5,541 6,651 

 Information ..................................................... 48 45 57 52 5,390 4,572 9,567 5,414 

 Finance and insurance ................................... 48 43 49 33 3,591 3,308 3,716 2,691 

 Real estate and rental and leasing ................ 18 ( 2 ) 13 13 1,084 ( 2 ) 870 963 

 Professional and technical services ............... 66 31 57 55 6,695 1,998 5,974 4,651 

 Management of companies and enterprises .. 10 5 6 3 656 495 812 290 

 Administrative and waste services ................. 280 142 260 220 26,341 11,525 25,694 18,219 

 Educational services ...................................... 5 7 3 6 365 371 226 453 

 Health care and social assistance ................. 33 23 37 38 2,775 1,573 2,165 2,886 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ................ 33 29 34 45 2,642 2,209 2,435 3,705 

 Accommodation and food services ................ 115 73 126 129 10,682 4,981 11,346 13,264 

 Other services, except public administration . 10 7 9 20 748 409 477 1,380 

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

Government ....................................................... 72 86 128 79 6,029 6,364 12,428 6,350 

 Federal ........................................................... 11 8 28 12 860 603 2,550 1,155 

 State ............................................................... 21 28 32 25 1,797 2,082 3,433 2,213 

 Local .............................................................. 40 50 68 42 3,372 3,679 6,445 2,982 

 1

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

 2

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

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

not seasonally adjusted

Extended mass layoffs 

lasting more than 30 days Realization rates 1

Events Initial

claimants Events Initialclaimants Events Initialclaimants Events Initialclaimants

2007

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

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

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

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

2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 33.8 p 50.5 

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

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

 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

November September October November November September October November

2008 2009 2009 2009 2008 2009 2009 2009

 United States 1

 ......................................... 2,574 1,371 1,934 1,870 241,589 123,177 193,904 164,496 

Northeast .......................................................... 314 233 260 285 28,791 18,617 22,709 26,974 

 New England ................................................ 40 29 30 40 3,505 2,762 2,134 3,750 

 Middle Atlantic .............................................. 274 204 230 245 25,286 15,855 20,575 23,224 

South ................................................................ 616 334 499 413 56,608 28,943 45,772 37,708 

 South Atlantic ............................................... 304 182 279 207 25,648 14,927 23,144 19,029 

 East South Central ....................................... 196 71 87 83 19,725 6,844 9,545 6,656 

 West South Central ...................................... 116 81 133 123 11,235 7,172 13,083 12,023 

Midwest ............................................................ 824 309 483 530 85,730 38,137 60,792 51,989 

 East North Central ........................................ 645 240 375 382 65,287 30,304 49,277 39,265 

 West North Central ....................................... 179 69 108 148 20,443 7,833 11,515 12,724 

West ................................................................. 820 495 692 642 70,460 37,480 64,631 47,825 

 Mountain ....................................................... 126 53 103 98 11,050 3,924 9,020 9,393 

 Pacific ........................................................... 694 442 589 544 59,410 33,556 55,611 38,432 

 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

November September October November November September October November

2008 2009 2009 2009 2008 2009 2009 2009

 Total 1

 .............................................. 2,574 1,371 1,934 1,870 241,589 123,177 193,904 164,496 

Alabama .............................................. 48 22 27 16 5,289 2,044 3,179 1,266 

Alaska ................................................. ( 2 ) 7 8 3 ( 2 ) 849 755 361 

Arizona ................................................ 20 7 20 9 1,603 463 1,666 709 

Arkansas ............................................. 21 ( 2 ) 17 9 2,026 ( 2 ) 1,954 973 

California ............................................. 580 395 514 472 47,690 28,797 48,169 31,922 

Colorado ............................................. 15 14 19 14 1,162 1,036 1,554 1,064 

Connecticut ......................................... 3 4 9 5 186 323 671 424 

Delaware ............................................. 6 ( 2 ) 3 6 415 ( 2 ) 251 347 

District of Columbia ............................. ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Florida ................................................. 151 91 167 86 10,582 5,975 11,851 6,010 

Georgia ............................................... 51 35 39 26 4,970 2,817 3,880 3,225 

Hawaii ................................................. 9 6 7 7 641 465 630 488 

Idaho ................................................... 27 4 10 19 2,298 306 1,088 2,071 

Illinois .................................................. 126 71 93 101 11,564 10,743 12,917 10,794 

Indiana ................................................ 111 21 37 43 13,420 2,895 4,759 4,323 

Iowa .................................................... 49 18 35 25 8,213 2,384 4,732 2,648 

Kansas ................................................ 14 15 13 8 1,321 2,880 1,562 741 

Kentucky ............................................. 78 32 36 41 9,210 3,394 4,656 3,649 

Louisiana ............................................ 13 10 24 35 1,093 887 2,169 2,795 

Maine .................................................. 4 3 3 6 451 268 177 674 

Maryland ............................................. 7 7 6 6 828 463 479 486 

Massachusetts .................................... 18 12 9 11 1,459 985 596 803 

Michigan ............................................. 157 40 70 78 14,657 6,167 9,543 8,549 

Minnesota ........................................... 60 15 24 55 5,442 1,122 1,985 4,905 

Mississippi .......................................... 34 5 10 9 2,736 323 602 512 

Missouri .............................................. 44 16 31 48 3,087 1,018 2,556 3,195 

Montana .............................................. 11 3 11 10 1,226 227 1,062 758 

Nebraska ............................................ 4 3 4 6 450 210 559 611 

Nevada ............................................... 33 15 19 33 2,992 1,201 1,361 3,891 

New Hampshire .................................. 4 ( 2 ) 3 4 311 ( 2 ) 263 279 

New Jersey ......................................... 46 31 37 52 5,665 2,844 2,850 5,277 

New Mexico ........................................ 9 7 11 7 554 487 761 476 

New York ............................................ 79 58 68 75 7,366 4,424 6,961 6,281 

North Carolina ..................................... 34 8 19 30 3,410 918 1,672 4,273 

North Dakota ....................................... 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 5 1,631 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 557 

Ohio .................................................... 120 47 75 59 11,680 4,745 10,569 5,233 

Oklahoma ........................................... 18 4 7 10 1,708 401 582 1,438 

Oregon ................................................ 60 15 35 35 7,259 1,402 3,936 3,464 

Pennsylvania ...................................... 149 115 125 118 12,255 8,587 10,764 11,666 

Rhode Island ....................................... – 3 ( 2

 ) 3 – 260 ( 2 ) 297 

South Carolina .................................... 36 18 19 20 3,916 2,831 2,692 1,456 

South Dakota ...................................... 3 – – ( 2 ) 299 – – ( 2 ) Tennessee .......................................... 36 12 14 17 2,490 1,083 1,108 1,229 

Texas .................................................. 64 65 85 69 6,408 5,715 8,378 6,817 

Utah .................................................... 10 3 9 4 1,161 204 1,058 256 

Vermont .............................................. 11 5 3 11 1,098 507 254 1,273 

Virginia ................................................ 16 22 22 31 1,316 1,868 1,955 3,021 

Washington ......................................... 44 19 25 27 3,724 2,043 2,121 2,197 

West Virginia ....................................... ( 2 ) – 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – 250 ( 2 ) Wisconsin ........................................... 131 61 100 101 13,966 5,754 11,489 10,366 

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

Puerto Rico ......................................... 14 17 12 22 1,686 1,563 1,079 2,177 

 1 See footnote 1, table 3. NOTE: Dash represents zero.

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

State