Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Technical information: (202) 691-6392 USDL 09-0151 

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

 For release: 10:00 A.M. (EST) 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Friday, February 13, 2009 

EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2008 

AND ANNUAL TOTALS FOR 2008 

Employers initiated 3,140 mass layoff events in the fourth quarter of 2008 that resulted in the separation of 508,859 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released 

by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Extended mass layoff events and separations reached their highest levels in program history (with data available back to 1995). The total number of layoff events in the fourth quarter 2008 was 1,326 higher than the same period a year earlier, and 

the number of associated separations increased by 207,267 over the year. (See table A.) The construction and manufacturing industries experienced record highs in both the number of layoff events and 

separations for any quarter in program history. Separations due to business demand reasons more than 

doubled over the year to 207,609, with those related specifically to slack work/insufficient demand more 

than tripling to 152,279. Forty-five percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the fourth 

quarter of 2008 indicated they anticipated some recall of workers, the lowest fourth quarter proportion 

since 2001. Fourth quarter 2008 layoff data are preliminary and are subject to revision. (See the 

Technical Note.) 

The national unemployment rate averaged 6.6 percent, not seasonally adjusted, in the fourth quarter 

of 2008, up from 4.6 percent a year earlier. Private nonfarm payroll employment, not seasonally adjusted, decreased by 2.0 percent (-2,362,000) over the year. 

For all of 2008, the total number of extended mass layoff events reached a program high at 7,818, 

and associated worker separations were at its highest level since 2001 at 1,383,553. Four major industry 

sectors reported program highs in terms of events and separations in 2008—construction; finance and 

insurance; educational services; and accommodation and food services (with annual data available back 

to 1996). In 2008, eight states reached program highs in terms of numbers of separations—Alaska, 

California, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Missouri, New Jersey, and Wyoming. Additional information on the 

annual data is available starting on page 9 of this release. 

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

Manufacturing firms reported 1,103 extended mass layoff events involving 185,686 separations, the 

highest levels for the industry on record. Manufacturing industries were responsible for 35 percent of 

private nonfarm extended layoff events and 36 percent of related separations in the fourth quarter of 

News United States 

Department 

of Labor 
2

Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity

Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants

2004

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

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

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

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

2005

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

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

July-September..................... 1,136 201,878 190,186 

October-December................ 1,400 250,178 246,188 

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 r

 ............. 1,814 301,592 347,151 

2008

January-March r

 ................... 1,340 229,952 259,084 

April-June r

 .......................... 1,756 354,690 339,184 

July-September r

 ................... 1,582 290,052 300,337 

October-December p

 ............. 3,140 508,859 463,715 

r

 = revised.

p

 = preliminary.

2008. A year earlier, manufacturing made up 24 percent of events and 27 percent of separations. (See 

table 1.) The largest numbers of separations within manufacturing were associated with transportation 

equipment manufacturing (56,341, mostly associated with automobile manufacturing) and food manufacturing (21,863). 

Construction firms recorded 843 extended mass layoff events and 100,922 separations, the highest 

levels for the industry on record. While most construction layoff events were due to the end of seasonal 

work and the completion of contracts, the number of layoff events due to slack work/insufficient 

demand more than doubled over the year. 
3

Table B. Distribution of extended layoff events and separations by 

economic reason categories, October-December 2008 p

Number Percent Number Percent

Total ................................. 3,140 100.0 508,859 100.0

Business demand ................. 1,387 44.2 207,609 40.8

Organizational changes ....... 139 4.4 26,434 5.2

Financial issues ................... 300 9.6 65,034 12.8

Production specific .............. 21 0.7 3,694 0.7

Disaster/safety ..................... 12 0.4 1,346 0.3

Seasonal .............................. 808 25.7 135,500 26.6

Other/miscellaneous ............ 473 15.1 69,242 13.6 

p

 = preliminary.

Category Layoff events Separations

In the fourth quarter 2008, thirteen major industry sectors reported fourth quarter program highs 

in terms of extended mass layoff events—construction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; retail trade; 

transportation and warehousing; real estate and rental and leasing; management of companies and 

enterprises; administrative and waste services; educational services; health care and social assistance; 

arts, entertainment, and recreation; accommodation and food services; and other services, except public 

administration. 

Reasons for Extended Layoffs

Among the seven categories of economic reasons for extended mass layoffs, business demand 

factors (contract cancellation, contract completion, domestic competition, excess inventory, import 

competition, and slack work) accounted for 44 percent of the extended layoff events and 41 percent 

of separations during the fourth quarter of 2008. (See table B.) This compared to 34 percent of events 

and 28 percent of separations in the same period a year earlier. Separations related to these business 

demand factors more than doubled over the year from 83,996 to 207,609, with those due to slack 

work/insufficient demand/nonseasonal business slowdown more than tripling from 42,201 to 152,279. 

(See table 2.) 

Job losses stemming from financial issues (bankruptcy, cost control, and financial difficulty) more 

than doubled from 124 events associated with 24,652 separations in the fourth quarter 2007 to 300 

events and 65,034 separations in the fourth quarter 2008. These layoffs accounted for 10 percent of the 

events and 13 percent of separations during the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to 7 and 8 percent, 

respectively, a year earlier. Seasonal factors (seasonal and vacation period) resulted in 26 percent of the 

extended layoff events and 27 percent of the separations in October-December 2008. (See chart.) 
4

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

fourth quarter 2008 p

Action Layoff events Separations

 Total, private nonfarm ............................ 3,140 508,859 

 Total, excluding seasonal 

 and vacation events 1 

...................... 2,332 373,359 

 Total events with movement

 of work 2 

............................... 110 24,236 

 Movement of work actions ................. 150 (

 3 )

 With separations reported .............. 111 16,061 

 With separations unknown ............ 39 (

 3 )

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

 for layoff was either seasonal work or vacation period. 

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

3

 Data are not available.

p

 = preliminary.

Movement of Work

In the fourth quarter of 2008, 110 extended mass layoffs involved the movement of work and were 

associated with 24,236 separated workers. (See table C.) These movements of work were to other 

domestic locations or to locations outside of the U.S., and they occurred either within the same company 

or to other companies. Movement of work layoffs accounted for 5 percent of nonseasonal layoff events 

in the fourth quarter of 2008. A year earlier, there were 69 layoff events and 11,302 separations 

associated with the movement of work. (See table 10.) 

Among the 110 extended mass layoff events with reported relocation of work in the fourth quarter 

of 2008, 64 percent were permanent closures of worksites, which affected 16,849 workers. In comparison, 9 percent of the total extended mass layoff events reported for the quarter involved the permanent closure of worksites and affected 71,111 workers. 

Of the layoffs involving the movement of work, 68 percent of the events and 61 percent of the laidoff workers were from manufacturing industries during the fourth quarter. (See table 7.) Among all 

private nonfarm extended layoffs, manufacturing accounted for 35 percent of the events and 36 percent 

of separations. 

While only 4 percent of the extended mass layoff events in the total private nonfarm economy were 

because of organizational change, such reasons accounted for 44 percent of layoff events associated with 

work relocation and resulted in 8,706 separations during the fourth quarter. (See table 8.) 
5

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

number of separations is known by employers, fourth quarter 2008 p

Activities Actions 1 Separations

 With separations reported ......................... 111 16,061 

By location

 Out-of-country relocations ...................... 33 3,775 

 Within company ................................... 28 3,436 

 Different company ................................ 5 339 

 Domestic relocations ............................... 78 12,286 

 Within company ................................... 72 6,844 

 Different company ................................ 6 5,442 

By company

 Within company ...................................... 100 10,280 

 Domestic .............................................. 72 6,844 

 Out of country ...................................... 28 3,436 

 Different company ................................... 11 5,781 

 Domestic .............................................. 6 5,442 

 Out of country ...................................... 5 339 

1

 Only actions for which separations associated with the movement of 

work were reported are shown.

p

 = preliminary.

Among the regions, the Midwest accounted for the largest proportion of workers affected by extended mass layoffs associated with the movement of work (59 percent), followed by the West and the 

South (16 percent each). (See table 9.) Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Ohio accounted for the largest proportion of workers affected by extended mass layoffs associated with the 

movement of work (24 percent), followed by Illinois (14 percent) and California (9 percent). 

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

an extended mass layoff event at an employer may involve job loss due to movement of work to both 

another domestic location of the company and a location out of the country; this would be counted as 

two movement of work actions. The 110 extended layoff events with movement of work for the fourth 

quarter of 2008 involved 150 identifiable relocations of work. An identifiable relocation of work occurs 

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

workers affected by the movement. Of the 150 relocations, employers were able to provide information 

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

111 actions involving 16,061 workers. (See table 10.) 
6

Table E. Summary of employer expectations of a recall from extended layoff,

fourth quarter 2007-fourth quarter 2008

IV I II III IV

2007 2008 2008 2008 r 2008 p

 Anticipate a recall ...... 55.8 40.1 51.1 28.6 44.8

Timeframe

 Within 6 months ...... 87.9 69.8 84.5 71.0 78.0

 Within 3 months ... 34.2 45.4 59.1 53.8 34.1

Size

 At least half ............ 90.5 73.2 88.3 77.0 78.9

 All workers ......... 50.5 28.5 51.7 37.6 36.2

r

 = revised.

p

 = preliminary.

Percentage of events

Nature of the recall

Of the 111 actions where employers were able to provide more complete separations information, 

90 percent of relocations occurred within the same company and 70 percent of relocations were domestic reassignments. (See table D.) Domestic relocation of work affected 12,286 workers, and out-ofcountry relocations were associated with 3,775 separations, 1 percent of all nonseasonal and nonvacation extended mass layoff separations. (See table 11.) 

Recall Expectations

Forty-five percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the fourth quarter of 2008 indicated 

they anticipated some type of recall, down from 56 percent a year earlier and the lowest fourth quarter 

proportion since 2001. (See table E.) Of those employers expecting to recall workers, 36 percent 

indicated that the offer would be extended to all displaced employees, and 79 percent of employers 

anticipated extending the offer to at least half of the workers. Seventy-eight percent of employers 

expecting to recall laid-off employees intend to do so within 6 months. Excluding layoff events due to 

seasonal work and vacation period in which 96 percent of the employers expected a recall, employers 

anticipated recalling laid-off workers in 43 percent of the events, the lowest fourth quarter proportion 

since 1997. 
7

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

fourth quarter 2008 p

Number Percent Number Percent

 Total ........................ 3,140 100.0 508,859 100.0 

 50-99 ..................... 1,447 46.1 100,859 19.8 

 100-149 .................. 737 23.5 86,250 16.9 

 150-199 .................. 320 10.2 52,983 10.4 

 200-299 .................. 335 10.7 77,182 15.2 

 300-499 .................. 184 5.9 67,198 13.2 

 500-999 .................. 81 2.6 54,916 10.8 

 1,000 or more ............ 36 1.1 69,471 13.7 

p

 = preliminary.

Layoff events Separations Size

Size of Extended Layoffs

The average size of a layoff (as measured by separations per layoff event) in the fourth quarter 

of 2008 was 162, compared to 166 per layoff in fourth quarter 2007. Layoff events continued to be 

increasingly concentrated at the lower end of the extended layoff-size spectrum, with 46 percent of 

events involving between 50 and 99 workers and 70 percent of events with less than 150 workers. 

This was the fourth consecutive fourth quarter that both of these proportions increased. Similarly, the 

proportion of events involving more than 500 workers, less than 4 percent, has also decreased each 

fourth quarter since 2004. 

Layoffs involving between 50 and 99 workers accounted for 20 percent of all separations during 

the period, and layoffs with less than 150 separated workers accounted for 37 percent. These proportions are up from 18 and 36 percent from a year earlier, respectively, and have been increasing for the 

last four consecutive fourth quarters. Separations involving 500 or more workers accounted for 24 

percent of all separations in the fourth quarter of 2008, up slightly from a year earlier. (See table F.) 

Initial Claimant Characteristics

A total of 463,715 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended 

mass layoffs in the fourth quarter of 2008. Of these claimants, 12 percent were black, 16 percent were 

Hispanic, 30 percent were women, 36 percent were 30 to 44 years of age, and 16 percent were 55 years 

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

were black, 14 percent were Hispanic, 47 percent were women, 33 percent were age 30 to 44, and 18 

percent were 55 years of age or older. 
8

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

IV IV IV IV

2007 r 2008 p 2007 r 2008 p

Total, nonmetropolitan areas ..................................... 225 409 41,331 62,879 

Total, 369 metropolitan areas .................................... 914 1,452 136,573 217,268 

 Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. .............. 100 114 15,687 19,894 

 Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich. ............................. 45 96 9,541 14,714 

 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. ......... 92 112 12,518 12,438 

 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington,

 Minn.-Wis. ...................................................... 37 59 5,874 10,676 

 New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island,

 N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ................................................... 60 39 9,673 7,306 

 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. ................ 35 52 2,979 6,394 

 St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. .................................................. 11 24 1,352 6,208 

 Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev. ...................................... 7 37 1,817 6,205 

 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif. ................ 16 29 3,591 4,870 

 Rockford, Ill. ......................................................... 7 12 1,224 4,179 

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 08-01, November 20, 2007.

Metropolitan area

Events Separations

Geographic Distribution

Among the 4 census regions, the Midwest recorded the highest number of separations (202,392) due 

to extended mass layoff events in the fourth quarter of 2008, followed by the West with 164,717. Both 

regions recorded program highs in terms of numbers of separations in the fourth quarter. (See table 4.) 

Among the 9 census divisions, the highest number of separations during the fourth quarter of 2008 was 

in the East North Central division (156,100). The Pacific division had the next highest level of separations with 132,747. (See table 4.) Five divisions reported program highs in terms of numbers of 

separations in the fourth quarter—the East North Central, West North Central, East South Central, 

Mountain, and Pacific. 

California recorded the largest number of worker separations (103,470), followed by Illinois 

(55,229), Michigan (38,820), and Ohio (30,295). (See table 5.) After excluding the impact of seasonal 

reasons, California still reported the highest number of job cuts (88,075). Seventeen states reported 

fourth quarter program highs in terms of numbers of separations—Arkansas, California, Delaware, 

Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, 

Oklahoma, Oregon, and Vermont. 
9

Table H. Selected measures of mass layoff activity, 1996-2008

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 r 

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

 2007 r

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

 2008 p

 ...................... 7,818 1,383,553 1,362,320 

r

 = revised.

p

 = preliminary.

Forty-six percent of extended mass layoff events and 43 percent of separations (217,268) occurred 

in metropolitan areas in the fourth quarter of 2008, compared with 50 percent of events and 45 percent 

of separations (136,573) during the fourth quarter of 2007. Among the 369 metropolitan areas, ChicagoNaperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis., reported the highest number of separations (19,894) in the fourth quarter 

of 2008. Next were Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich., with 14,714 separations and Los Angeles-Long 

Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., with 12,438 separations. (See table G.) Employers located in nonmetropolitan 

areas separated 62,879 workers in extended mass layoffs. 

Review of 2008

For all of 2008, employers reported 7,818 extended mass layoff actions, affecting 1,383,553 

workers. Compared to 2007, the number of events was up 46 percent (+2,455 from 5,363), and the 

number of separations increased by 43 percent (+417,618 from 965,935). (See table H.) The annual 

average national unemployment rate increased from 4.6 percent in 2007 to 5.8 percent in 2008, and 

private nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 0.7 percent, or 812,000. 

In 2008, employers expected a recall in 42 percent of the mass layoff events, down from 50 percent 

of events in 2007. Eleven percent of extended events in 2008 were permanent closures, the same proportion as in 2007. Permanent closures were most numerous in the manufacturing industry, primarily in 

transportation equipment manufacturing, and in retail trade, primarily in general merchandise stores. 

When compared with 2007, events associated with permanent closures in 2008 increased 45 percent 

from 594 to 860, and separations increased 65 percent from 125,836 to 208,103. 
10

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

In 2008, four major industry sectors reported program highs in terms of extended mass layoff events 

and separations—construction; finance and insurance; educational services; and accommodation and 

food services. Manufacturing industries had the largest share of extended mass layoff events and separations (31 percent each). Within manufacturing, separations were most numerous in transportation 

equipment manufacturing (133,474, mainly in automobile manufacturing) and in food manufacturing 

(61,295, largely in fruit and vegetable canning). The largest over-the-year increases occurred in transportation equipment manufacturing (+73,560) and food manufacturing (+17,735). The construction 

sector accounted for 21 percent of all events and 14 percent of the associated separations in 2008. 

Separations were concentrated in specialty trade contracting (78,983) and heavy and civil engineering 

construction (77,609). 

Reasons for Extended Layoffs

From 2007 to 2008, the number of extended mass layoff events increased in all seven categories of 

economic reasons for layoffs. In 2008, job losses related to business demand accounted for the largest 

proportion of extended mass layoff activity. Events related to business demand increased 69 percent 

over the year from 1,888 to 3,195 and associated separations nearly doubled from 248,056 to 476,302. 

In 2008, layoffs due to business demand factors occurred primarily in transportation equipment manufacturing, administrative and support services, and specialty trade contracting. 

Job loss due to seasonal factors remained nearly unchanged, but the relative proportion of these 

layoffs dropped significantly due to higher layoff activity related to other reasons. Seasonal layoffs 

occurred largely among food services and drinking places; heavy and civil engineering construction; 

transit and ground passenger transportation; and professional and technical services. 

Movement of Work

In 2008, there were 324 extended mass layoff events that involved work moving within the same 

company or to a different company, domestically or out of the U.S. The events involving movement of 

work were associated with the separation of 64,805 workers, about 6 percent of all separations resulting 

from nonseasonal/nonvacation extended mass layoff events. Sixty percent of events with movement of 

work involved the permanent closure of a worksite, affecting 42,779 workers. Manufacturing industries 

accounted for 66 percent of the events and 62 percent of the separations involving movement of work, 

mostly in transportation equipment manufacturing and in computer and electronic product manufacturing. Among the regions, the Midwest accounted for the largest proportion of laid-off workers 

associated with the movement of work (45 percent), followed by the South (22 percent). 

As part of the 324 layoff events, 432 identifiable movement-of-work actions were taken by 

employers. Employers were able to provide information on specific separations associated with the 

movement-of-work component of the layoff in 308 actions (out of the 432), which totaled 39,218 laidoff workers. Of these movement-of-work actions for which complete information is available, 70 

percent were to other locations within the U.S., and 89 percent involved moving work within the 

company. The separation of 11,147 workers was associated with out-of-country relocations, which 

accounts for 28 percent of the separations related to the movement of work and 1 percent of all 

separations in nonseasonal/nonvacation extended mass layoff events. 
11

Geographic Distribution

Compared to 2007, all 4 geographic regions reported an increase in workers separated due to 

extended mass layoffs in 2008, with the largest increase in the Midwest (+149,800). The Midwest 

reported more workers affected by extended mass layoffs in 2008 (428,283) than any other region. In 

the Midwest, transportation equipment manufacturing and administrative and waste services had the 

largest number of separations. The Northeast region reported the lowest annual number of separations 

with 216,060. 

Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, California reported the largest number of 

separated workers in 2008 (330,003). States with the next highest number of separations due to 

extended mass layoffs were Illinois (119,692), Florida (88,213), Ohio (78,852), and Michigan (72,946). 

California recorded the largest over-the-year increase in the number of separations (+72,697), while 

Virginia recorded the largest over-the-year decrease in separations (-4,569). Eight states reported 

program highs in terms of numbers of separations in 2008—Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, 

Missouri, New Jersey, and Wyoming. 

Among the 369 metropolitan areas, Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis., reported the highest 

number of separations, 46,455. The next highest numbers of separations were in Los Angeles-Long 

Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., with 45,904 and New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., 

with 39,182. Employers located in nonmetropolitan areas separated 135,626 workers in mass layoffs 

during 2008, up from 106,129 in 2007. 

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 fourth quarter are preliminary and subject to revision. 

This release also includes revised data for previous quarters. Data are not seasonally adjusted, but survey data suggest that there is a seasonal pattern to layoffs. Thus, comparisons between consecutive 

quarters should not be used as an indicator of trend. 

For additional information about the program, see the Technical Note. 

_____________________________ 

The report on Mass Layoffs in January 2009 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, 

February 25. 
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 

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). 

Extended layoff event. Fifty 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. 

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

entitlement to and eligibility for compensation, or for a subsequent period of unemployment within a benefit year or 

period of eligibility. 

Layoff. The separation of persons from an employer as 

part of a mass layoff event. (See below.) Such layoffs involve both persons subject to recall and those who are terminated by the establishment. 

Mass layoff. Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits from an employer beginning in a 

given month, regardless of duration. 

Worksite closure. The complete closure of either multiunit or single-unit employers or the partial closure of a multiunit employer where entire worksites affected by layoffs are 

closed or planned to be 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 

Because of the employer interview component, the BLS 

decided to use the MLS program as a vehicle for collecting 

additional information on offshoring and outsourcing 

associated with job loss, by adding questions that address 

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

company experiencing the layoff has reassigned work 

activities that were performed at a worksite by the company's 

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

another company under formal arrangements at the same 

worksite; or (3) to another company under formal arrangements at another worksite. The type of work activities subject to movement can include accounting, customer service, 

cleaning, warehousing, etc. 

“Overseas relocation” is the movement of work from 

within the U.S. to locations outside of the U.S. “Overseas 

relocation” can occur within the same company and involve 

movement of work to a different location of that company 

outside of the U.S., or to a different company altogether. 

“Domestic relocation” is the movement of work to other 

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

to a different company. 

“Overseas relocation” and “domestic relocation” are no 

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

mass layoff news releases. Therefore, the data presented in 

this news release are not comparable to those that were 

presented in earlier news releases. 

Questions on movement of work and location are asked 

for all identified layoff events when the reason for separation 

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

and vacation layoff events were excluded because movement 

of work appears unlikely. 

Questions on movement of work are asked after the 

analyst verifies that a layoff in fact occurred and lasted more 

than 30 days, and obtained the total number of workers 

separated from jobs, the date the layoff began, and the 

economic reason for the layoff. If the reason for layoff is 

other than seasonal or vacation, the employer was asked the 

following: 

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

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

within your company?” 

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

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

company, through contractual arrangements?” 

A “yes” response to either question is followed by: 

“Is the location inside or outside of the U.S.?” and 

“How many of the layoffs were a result of this relocation?” 

Layoff actions are classified as “overseas relocation” if 

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

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

Domestic relocation is determined if the employer responds 

“yes” to questions 1 and/or 2 and indicates that the location(s) 

was within the U.S. 

After asking the movement of work questions, the 
employer interview continues and responses are obtained for 

questions on recall expectations and open/closed status of the 

worksite. 

Reliability of the data 

The identification of 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 2008, outright refusal to participate in the employer 

interview accounted for 3.1 percent of all private nonfarm 

events. Although included in the total number of instances 

involving the movement of work, for the fourth quarter, 

employers in 39 relocations were unable to provide the 

number of separations specifically associated with the 

movement of work, 8 of which involved out-of-country 

moves.

Other information 

Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 

202-691-5200 TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-

8339. 
Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2007 and 2008

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

 2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 .................................. 1,814 1,582 3,140 301,592 290,052 508,859 347,151 300,337 463,715 

 Mining ............................................................. 27 4 36 3,584 1,014 5,108 3,494 834 4,520 

 Utilities ............................................................ ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 746 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 531 

 Construction .................................................... 682 229 843 86,900 26,924 100,922 100,731 37,449 97,246 

 Manufacturing ................................................. 442 498 1,103 80,567 95,193 185,686 117,632 104,320 199,563 

 Food ........................................................... 71 48 95 17,131 13,058 21,863 17,015 8,407 19,475 

 Beverage and tobacco products ................ ( 2 ) 5 11 ( 2 ) 684 1,196 ( 2 ) 784 1,115 

 Textile mills ................................................ 10 7 23 1,799 1,592 4,338 4,840 2,380 5,533 

 Textile product mills 3

 ................................. 5 5 12 968 779 1,340 1,808 884 1,665 

 Apparel 3

 .................................................... 10 13 ( 2

 ) 1,524 1,482 ( 2 ) 1,379 1,784 ( 2 ) 

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

 Wood products ........................................... 49 38 81 6,553 6,080 9,973 7,628 6,184 11,649 

 Paper ......................................................... 6 10 26 899 3,544 3,389 1,059 2,481 3,208 

 Printing and related support activities ........ 14 11 14 2,331 1,336 2,073 2,280 952 2,212 

 Petroleum and coal products ..................... 18 ( 2 ) 17 2,760 ( 2 ) 2,421 2,925 ( 2 ) 2,315 

 Chemicals ................................................. 11 15 26 2,892 1,358 3,795 2,393 1,402 3,553 

 Plastics and rubber products 3

 ................... 19 23 70 2,998 3,654 8,335 2,633 3,497 9,075 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ..................... 56 16 95 7,773 2,080 13,367 9,755 2,358 12,409 

 Primary metals ........................................... 14 14 68 2,456 1,647 11,123 3,131 2,206 11,377 

 Fabricated metal products ......................... 21 33 109 2,774 3,967 12,375 3,317 5,021 13,595 

 Machinery 3

 ................................................ 22 35 65 4,384 9,123 9,551 6,568 11,626 13,116 

 Computer and electronic products ............. 12 47 58 1,857 8,286 9,656 1,738 7,061 9,046 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ......... 16 16 33 3,616 3,066 5,741 8,528 2,855 6,109 

 Transportation equipment 3

 ........................ 55 124 238 12,858 27,610 56,341 35,573 37,199 65,292 

 Furniture and related products 3

 ................. 19 24 37 2,490 4,180 4,956 3,108 5,242 5,139 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing 3

 .................. 7 11 16 1,648 1,306 2,507 1,028 1,696 2,532 

 Wholesale trade .............................................. 38 33 78 4,442 4,543 9,808 5,470 3,721 8,503 

 Retail trade ...................................................... 76 92 170 19,175 20,887 44,850 21,293 22,541 23,329 

 Transportation and warehousing .................... 43 131 109 9,724 24,199 21,014 8,758 23,303 13,588 

 Information ...................................................... 29 54 54 5,061 10,553 6,404 7,215 10,923 5,769 

 Finance and insurance 3

 .................................. 104 104 98 18,575 19,812 16,497 19,424 20,420 14,727 

 Real estate and rental and leasing 3

 ............... 9 11 25 1,461 1,458 2,841 1,176 1,368 2,680 

 Professional and technical services 3

 .............. 50 50 74 9,634 8,877 9,719 9,675 9,297 8,373 

 Management of companies and enterprises ... 9 ( 2 ) 12 1,642 ( 2 ) 2,427 1,229 ( 2 ) 1,774 

 Administrative and waste services 3

 ................ 136 142 280 21,629 31,757 52,484 24,906 33,205 46,322 

 Educational services ....................................... ( 2 ) 18 4 ( 2 ) 2,635 608 ( 2 ) 2,545 311 

 Health care and social assistance .................. 22 74 34 4,697 8,360 6,160 3,476 6,597 4,451 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ................. 50 39 58 17,859 11,161 13,551 7,226 5,121 6,506 

 Accommodation and food services ................. 73 84 132 12,846 20,184 27,019 11,824 15,856 22,767 

 Other services, except public administration .. 14 15 26 2,220 1,980 2,942 1,949 2,084 2,682 

 Unclassified ..................................................... 3 – 1 696 – 73 514 – 73 

 1

 For the fourth quarter of 2008, data on layoffs were reported by employers due to a change in NAICS versions.

in all states and the District of Columbia. r

 = revised.

 2

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

 3

 Data beginning in 2008 are not strictly comparable to prior years NOTE: Dash represents zero.

Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance Layoff events

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

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2007 and 2008

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

 2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ................................................... 1,814 1,582 3,140 301,592 290,052 508,859 347,151 300,337 463,715 

Business demand ............................................................. 613 642 1,387 83,996 97,183 207,609 137,912 125,986 219,894 

 Contract cancellation ..................................................... 17 44 46 2,564 7,298 11,059 3,292 6,984 6,247 

 Contract completion ....................................................... 286 195 280 34,838 32,262 38,617 49,165 41,736 39,291 

 Domestic competition ..................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 752 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 735 

 Excess inventory/saturated market ................................ ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 13 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3,134 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,687 

 Import competition ......................................................... 16 12 13 2,868 3,197 1,768 6,203 3,223 2,010 

 Slack work/insufficient demand/non-seasonal

 business slowdown ................................................. 282 382 1,030 42,201 52,328 152,279 77,221 71,164 168,924 

Organizational changes .................................................... 92 122 139 22,626 33,567 26,434 20,648 29,498 20,320 

 Business-ownership change .......................................... 24 20 29 9,673 14,033 7,939 5,695 4,849 4,105 

 Reorganization or restructuring of company .................. 68 102 110 12,953 19,534 18,495 14,953 24,649 16,215 

Financial issues ................................................................ 124 192 300 24,652 37,051 65,034 25,849 30,421 44,005 

 Bankruptcy ..................................................................... 15 42 40 4,665 13,032 9,087 2,598 7,858 5,295 

 Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ................ 42 92 156 8,254 12,179 23,227 13,322 12,764 23,222 

 Financial difficulty ........................................................... 67 58 104 11,733 11,840 32,720 9,929 9,799 15,488 

Production specific ............................................................ 25 30 21 3,935 5,998 3,694 4,864 7,013 3,011 

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

 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 760 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 822 ( 2 ) 

 Energy related ................................................................ – 6 ( 2 ) – 720 ( 2 ) – 2,656 ( 2 )

 Governmental regulations/intervention .......................... ( 2 ) 5 6 ( 2 ) 806 1,395 ( 2 ) 475 795 

 Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike ..................... 10 4 4 1,457 1,880 520 2,386 1,169 478 

 Material or supply shortage ............................................ ( 2 ) 4 – ( 2 ) 466 – ( 2 ) 371 –

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

 Plant or machine repair/maintenance ............................ 8 3 4 1,360 685 671 972 433 480 

 Product line discontinued ............................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 590 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 623 

Disaster/safety .................................................................. 6 32 12 778 4,988 1,346 809 4,233 1,076 

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

 Natural disaster (not weather related) ............................ – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

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

 Extreme weather-related event ...................................... 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 778 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 809 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Seasonal ........................................................................... 752 216 808 129,784 43,920 135,500 119,288 36,532 105,091 

 Seasonal ........................................................................ 747 116 803 129,368 27,566 134,237 118,724 21,395 103,926 

 Vacation period–school related or otherwise ................. 5 100 5 416 16,354 1,263 564 15,137 1,165 

Other/miscellaneous ......................................................... 202 348 473 35,821 67,345 69,242 37,781 66,654 70,318 

 Other .............................................................................. 12 23 23 2,091 4,444 2,991 3,150 4,440 4,622 

 Data not provided: refusal .............................................. 57 53 104 11,259 13,033 20,838 11,273 12,988 20,639 

 Data not provided: does not know ................................. 133 272 346 22,471 49,868 45,413 23,358 49,226 45,057 

 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

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

private nonfarm sector, third and fourth quarters, 2008

Percent of total

Black Hispanic

origin Women Persons age 55and over

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

 2008r 2008p 2008r 2008p 2008r 2008p 2008r 2008p 2008r 2008p 2008r 2008p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ............ 1,582 3,140 300,337 463,715 16.4 11.7 18.2 16.3 39.8 29.7 17.8 16.2 

Alabama ....................................... 9 16 3,044 6,134 45.9 42.9 3.4 2.4 52.9 39.2 13.9 11.7 

Alaska .......................................... 3 12 1,331 2,142 3.7 4.1 22.2 13.3 33.7 29.5 26.0 22.0 

Arizona ......................................... 9 23 1,211 2,924 6.8 5.5 27.7 38.0 45.4 27.5 14.4 12.1 

Arkansas ...................................... 7 18 1,352 2,184 46.8 20.6 1.8 4.1 51.8 36.5 12.9 17.9 

California ...................................... 466 734 78,628 88,393 10.1 6.9 33.6 41.3 38.8 34.2 15.3 14.5 

Colorado ....................................... 7 28 686 3,223 6.7 4.1 23.3 37.3 44.9 17.8 18.5 19.2 

Connecticut .................................. 11 11 1,384 1,519 18.0 9.3 21.7 10.4 53.6 17.8 18.2 19.0 

Delaware ...................................... – 6 – 768 – 13.8 – 4.2 – 13.3 – 21.5 

District of Columbia ...................... – ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) – 98.0 – .7 – 65.1 – 11.4 

Florida .......................................... 127 123 26,565 19,331 15.8 14.3 28.9 27.8 41.6 34.8 18.0 16.8 

Georgia ........................................ 22 59 4,614 9,274 58.9 40.2 2.1 5.1 46.3 36.5 15.6 15.6 

Hawaii .......................................... 7 10 1,112 1,217 3.5 3.2 13.3 12.7 37.4 21.6 17.4 14.8 

Idaho ............................................ 14 29 2,020 5,268 .5 .3 25.8 13.6 45.4 36.1 20.0 15.1 

Illinois ........................................... 97 285 18,560 40,614 27.7 15.9 15.7 17.5 44.5 25.8 15.4 14.3 

Indiana ......................................... 57 120 15,055 23,165 9.5 7.5 4.1 4.2 33.4 27.0 14.2 14.8 

Iowa .............................................. 10 42 3,466 7,091 1.6 1.9 2.5 4.4 33.7 21.2 20.5 19.8 

Kansas ......................................... 8 25 754 2,749 13.5 8.5 4.6 3.8 44.2 30.5 19.9 14.6 

Kentucky ...................................... 22 42 3,079 8,729 7.0 7.2 .3 .4 17.7 18.6 15.3 13.0 

Louisiana ...................................... 41 20 6,085 3,191 58.4 53.3 3.0 2.0 46.6 31.3 15.0 16.3 

Maine ........................................... 3 3 187 544 2.1 .9 – .2 25.1 11.8 20.9 24.1 

Maryland ...................................... 10 3 1,132 326 57.6 59.2 2.4 .9 58.6 35.6 16.8 26.4 

Massachusetts ............................. 21 42 2,896 4,357 11.1 8.0 3.8 1.1 51.8 33.9 25.8 22.0 

Michigan ....................................... 41 211 7,867 43,556 9.2 16.3 5.6 5.0 36.3 27.3 15.9 15.8 

Minnesota ..................................... 11 120 2,128 16,079 6.7 3.6 2.1 6.9 23.0 17.6 14.6 16.0 

Mississippi .................................... 14 21 1,660 3,229 72.2 47.4 1.9 3.1 36.6 43.9 14.2 14.1 

Missouri ........................................ 31 99 4,068 12,678 20.2 12.8 .3 .2 45.5 35.3 20.6 17.8 

Montana ....................................... 4 11 348 1,869 .3 .1 2.6 3.0 22.7 12.6 22.7 17.6 

Nebraska ...................................... ( 2 ) 8 ( 2 ) 683 13.0 1.5 2.3 8.3 21.4 14.3 20.6 29.3 

Nevada ......................................... 22 46 4,979 8,964 9.8 9.2 27.5 35.5 32.1 45.7 16.9 16.7 

New Hampshire ............................ ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 6.7 1.0 11.2 – 27.0 18.6 14.6 33.8 

New Jersey .................................. 49 73 6,578 9,935 23.3 18.2 8.4 8.5 57.8 38.2 23.7 19.4 

New Mexico .................................. 8 17 1,429 1,736 2.9 1.7 39.7 50.6 33.9 35.1 13.4 18.7 

New York ...................................... 118 91 22,462 14,091 18.2 9.1 17.8 9.7 54.9 34.8 27.3 19.7 

North Carolina .............................. 14 27 2,895 3,426 28.3 32.3 7.2 5.5 55.4 34.2 22.9 19.7 

North Dakota ................................ ( 2 ) 10 ( 2 ) 1,024 – 1.5 – 3.3 24.3 19.3 9.0 17.2 

Ohio .............................................. 49 138 9,847 22,870 15.9 11.0 3.4 3.4 28.9 24.6 19.1 16.7 

Oklahoma ..................................... 5 21 1,179 2,972 8.6 8.1 2.7 6.3 28.2 32.3 20.0 16.9 

Oregon ......................................... 19 70 4,627 15,706 .8 .8 12.6 16.4 31.3 26.3 18.3 18.2 

Pennsylvania ................................ 98 183 22,213 25,975 3.9 5.2 2.4 3.7 32.3 26.1 22.8 20.2 

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

 ) 6 ( 2 ) 560 6.7 1.8 24.2 21.8 52.6 20.9 25.8 23.9 

South Carolina ............................. 12 21 3,659 3,816 71.6 56.9 .2 1.0 50.2 41.6 2.9 9.0 

South Dakota ............................... – 3 – 213 – .5 – .9 – 32.4 – 19.7 

Tennessee ................................... 31 67 5,945 6,235 34.1 23.4 .1 .1 47.3 38.9 23.6 20.3 

Texas ........................................... 51 40 12,683 6,868 19.0 21.5 41.7 38.6 31.5 31.1 10.5 14.3 

Utah .............................................. ( 2 ) 18 ( 2 ) 3,100 2.6 1.5 18.1 16.0 65.0 27.3 14.0 9.6 

Vermont ........................................ ( 2 ) 7 ( 2 ) 1,058 .7 .7 .7 .3 22.8 24.1 22.8 20.4 

Virginia ......................................... 6 14 885 1,298 38.8 25.7 3.5 5.5 21.6 37.5 31.0 21.1 

Washington .................................. 21 76 2,803 9,833 5.3 4.1 11.7 17.4 31.0 29.2 14.7 18.0 

West Virginia ................................ ( 2 ) 6 ( 2 ) 431 – .2 – – 59.5 13.0 13.7 11.8 

Wisconsin ..................................... 15 79 7,613 11,746 3.2 2.6 2.5 9.6 28.0 15.5 21.8 16.8 

Wyoming ...................................... ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) 268 – 1.5 – .4 17.2 32.8 10.8 34.0 

Puerto Rico .................................. 12 7 2,477 694 .1 .6 98.5 97.7 58.5 45.2 8.4 14.3 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. r

 = revised.

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

 = preliminary.

 3 Data are not available. NOTE: Dash represents zero.

State

Layoff events Total initial claims
Table 4. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2007 and 2008

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

 2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p 

 United States1 .................................. 1,814 1,582 3,140 301,592 290,052 508,859 347,151 300,337 463,715 

Northeast ................................................. 293 304 418 49,004 60,295 61,160 56,569 56,139 58,243 

 New England ........................................ 55 39 71 11,348 5,043 9,932 7,697 4,886 8,242 

 Middle Atlantic ...................................... 238 265 347 37,656 55,252 51,228 48,872 51,253 50,001 

South ........................................................ 263 373 505 45,367 75,443 80,590 45,929 74,945 78,361 

 South Atlantic ....................................... 153 193 260 24,190 42,491 43,217 23,862 39,918 38,819 

 East South Central ............................... 60 76 146 12,963 12,134 20,983 11,933 13,728 24,327 

 West South Central .............................. 50 104 99 8,214 20,818 16,390 10,134 21,299 15,215 

Midwest .................................................... 684 322 1,140 114,727 59,679 202,392 139,345 69,600 182,468 

 East North Central ............................... 519 259 833 88,795 50,322 156,100 113,563 58,942 141,951 

 West North Central .............................. 165 63 307 25,932 9,357 46,292 25,782 10,658 40,517 

West ......................................................... 574 583 1,077 92,494 94,635 164,717 105,308 99,653 144,643 

 Mountain .............................................. 78 67 175 16,135 11,415 31,970 12,593 11,152 27,352 

 Pacific .................................................. 496 516 902 76,359 83,220 132,747 92,715 88,501 117,291 

 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, 2007 and 2008

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

 2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p 2007r 2008r 2008p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ........................ 1,814 1,582 3,140 301,592 290,052 508,859 347,151 300,337 463,715 

Alabama ................................................... 9 9 16 1,693 2,769 4,393 1,867 3,044 6,134 

Alaska ...................................................... 8 3 12 1,916 3,460 3,329 1,373 1,331 2,142 

Arizona ..................................................... 7 9 23 1,364 1,255 2,977 1,079 1,211 2,924 

Arkansas .................................................. 8 7 18 1,193 1,394 2,870 3,229 1,352 2,184 

California .................................................. 435 466 734 64,718 70,898 103,470 80,145 78,628 88,393 

Colorado .................................................. 18 7 28 3,588 1,229 5,131 2,308 686 3,223 

Connecticut .............................................. 8 11 11 1,624 1,724 1,746 1,237 1,384 1,519 

Delaware .................................................. 3 – 6 231 – 858 209 – 768 

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

Florida ...................................................... 61 127 123 9,110 31,391 24,816 7,122 26,565 19,331 

Georgia .................................................... 15 22 59 2,813 3,635 8,310 6,450 4,614 9,274 

Hawaii ...................................................... 4 7 10 563 840 1,196 495 1,112 1,217 

Idaho ........................................................ 14 14 29 2,218 2,111 5,114 2,041 2,020 5,268 

Illinois ....................................................... 178 97 285 30,467 19,992 55,229 27,607 18,560 40,614 

Indiana ..................................................... 54 57 120 8,797 10,363 17,713 17,268 15,055 23,165 

Iowa ......................................................... 27 10 42 4,559 1,220 5,452 6,287 3,466 7,091 

Kansas ..................................................... 8 8 25 1,066 710 2,889 1,335 754 2,749 

Kentucky .................................................. 18 22 42 2,716 3,578 6,694 2,179 3,079 8,729 

Louisiana .................................................. 12 41 20 2,080 6,540 3,797 1,296 6,085 3,191 

Maine ....................................................... 8 3 3 1,827 267 648 1,388 187 544 

Maryland .................................................. 25 10 3 3,122 1,238 220 3,295 1,132 326 

Massachusetts ......................................... 26 21 42 6,181 2,553 5,806 3,554 2,896 4,357 

Michigan ................................................... 95 41 211 16,434 5,852 38,820 32,450 7,867 43,556 

Minnesota ................................................ 75 11 120 12,047 2,219 20,893 11,285 2,128 16,079 

Mississippi ................................................ 5 14 21 782 2,330 3,621 747 1,660 3,229 

Missouri .................................................... 40 31 99 6,019 4,687 14,839 5,054 4,068 12,678 

Montana ................................................... 10 4 11 1,385 390 1,471 1,379 348 1,869 

Nebraska .................................................. 6 ( 2 ) 8 859 ( 2 ) 958 580 ( 2 ) 683 

Nevada ..................................................... 13 22 46 2,780 4,421 7,907 3,121 4,979 8,964 

New Hampshire ....................................... 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 415 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 369 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

New Jersey .............................................. 54 49 73 9,257 8,637 12,525 7,609 6,578 9,935 

New Mexico ............................................. 3 8 17 434 1,431 2,326 428 1,429 1,736 

New York ................................................. 106 118 91 17,570 27,855 15,458 19,864 22,462 14,091 

North Carolina .......................................... 6 14 27 553 1,377 3,069 1,132 2,895 3,426 

North Dakota ............................................ 8 ( 2 ) 10 1,166 ( 2 ) 1,024 1,166 ( 2 ) 1,024 

Ohio ......................................................... 116 49 138 20,000 10,187 30,295 22,436 9,847 22,870 

Oklahoma ................................................. ( 2 ) 5 21 ( 2 ) 2,549 3,014 ( 2 ) 1,179 2,972 

Oregon ..................................................... 24 19 70 6,535 4,494 12,374 6,795 4,627 15,706 

Pennsylvania ............................................ 78 98 183 10,829 18,760 23,245 21,399 22,213 25,975 

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

 ) 6 779 ( 2 ) 612 726 ( 2 ) 560 

South Carolina ......................................... 13 12 21 2,001 3,744 3,398 1,942 3,659 3,816 

South Dakota ........................................... ( 2 ) – 3 ( 2 ) – 237 ( 2 ) – 213 

Tennessee ............................................... 28 31 67 7,772 3,457 6,275 7,140 5,945 6,235 

Texas ....................................................... 29 51 40 4,840 10,335 6,709 5,552 12,683 6,868 

Utah ......................................................... 11 ( 2 ) 18 2,004 ( 2 ) 3,700 2,105 ( 2 ) 3,100 

Vermont ................................................... 4 ( 2 ) 7 522 ( 2 ) 825 423 ( 2 ) 1,058 

Virginia ..................................................... 21 6 14 5,251 862 1,937 2,669 885 1,298 

Washington .............................................. 25 21 76 2,627 3,528 12,378 3,907 2,803 9,833 

West Virginia ............................................ 8 ( 2 ) 6 987 ( 2 ) 460 921 ( 2 ) 431 

Wisconsin ................................................. 76 15 79 13,097 3,928 14,043 13,802 7,613 11,746 

Wyoming .................................................. ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3,344 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 268 

Puerto Rico .............................................. 9 12 7 755 1,118 383 2,088 2,477 694 

 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

State
Table 6. Information technology-producing industries: Extended mass layoff events and separations, private nonfarm sector, 2001-2008

2001

First quarter ........................................... 1,546 304,171 91 20,991 32 5,558 22 4,441 13 3,317 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,828 430,499 161 38,986 69 9,563 36 12,109 15 3,519 

Third quarter ......................................... 1,629 330,391 142 24,813 45 5,724 39 8,200 21 5,350 

Fourth quarter ....................................... 2,372 459,771 109 17,797 50 7,667 43 10,124 38 9,889 

 Total .................................................. 7,375 1,524,832 503 102,587 196 28,512 140 34,874 87 22,075 

2002

First quarter ........................................... 1,611 299,266 84 18,574 34 3,770 32 8,192 28 4,346 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,624 344,606 69 11,764 39 4,326 27 4,870 34 5,643 

Third quarter ......................................... 1,186 255,152 76 15,017 36 4,359 34 6,529 33 5,496 

Fourth quarter ....................................... 1,916 373,307 74 14,298 26 5,709 19 3,645 31 7,643 

 Total .................................................. 6,337 1,272,331 303 59,653 135 18,164 112 23,236 126 23,128 

2003

First quarter ........................................... 1,502 286,947 71 11,900 27 5,097 23 4,402 26 4,513 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,799 368,273 54 9,221 19 2,741 21 3,098 22 4,169 

Third quarter ......................................... 1,190 236,333 46 6,488 24 4,189 9 1,289 8 842 

Fourth quarter ....................................... 1,690 325,333 25 5,080 8 1,167 9 1,619 23 5,774 

 Total .................................................. 6,181 1,216,886 196 32,689 78 13,194 62 10,408 79 15,298 

2004

First quarter ........................................... 1,339 276,503 27 3,222 13 2,786 8 894 14 2,832 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,358 278,831 18 2,959 15 2,775 – – 15 3,250 

Third quarter ......................................... 886 164,608 13 2,288 14 1,467 4 430 11 3,792 

Fourth quarter ....................................... 1,427 273,967 18 3,055 10 1,547 4 563 20 3,143 

 Total .................................................. 5,010 993,909 76 11,524 52 8,575 16 1,887 60 13,017 

2005

First quarter ........................................... 1,142 186,506 13 1,526 9 2,355 4 439 12 2,400 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,203 246,099 20 2,973 13 1,558 4 842 7 1,331 

Third quarter ......................................... 1,136 201,878 23 3,307 7 1,034 ( 6 ) ( 6 ) 3 304 

Fourth quarter ....................................... 1,400 250,178 19 4,122 3 720 ( 6 ) ( 6 ) 5 845 

 Total .................................................. 4,881 884,661 75 11,928 32 5,667 13 3,000 27 4,880 

2006

First quarter ........................................... 963 183,089 12 1,159 6 744 ( 6

 ) ( 6 ) ( 6 ) ( 6 ) 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,353 295,964 10 3,294 7 1,564 8 988 ( 6 ) ( 6 )

Third quarter ......................................... 929 160,254 14 3,544 6 487 ( 6 ) ( 6 ) 8 1,222 

Fourth quarter ....................................... 1,640 296,662 12 4,039 4 708 5 1,482 8 947 

 Total .................................................. 4,885 935,969 48 12,036 23 3,503 19 3,753 23 3,406 

2007

First quarter ........................................... 1,110 225,600 19 3,007 5 875 3 415 5 885 

Second quarter ..................................... 1,421 278,719 22 3,634 4 413 5 433 3 315 

Third quarter ......................................... 1,018 160,024 22 5,279 6 1,030 4 403 3 276 

Fourth quarter ....................................... 1,814 301,592 9 1,459 4 473 3 381 7 870 

 Total .................................................. 5,363 965,935 72 13,379 19 2,791 15 1,632 18 2,346 

2008

First quarterr

 .......................................... 1,340 229,952 19 3,040 9 987 ( 6 ) ( 6 ) 3 329 

Second quarterr .................................... 1,756 354,690 25 4,018 7 969 ( 6 ) ( 6 ) 16 2,545 

Third quarterr ........................................ 1,582 290,052 37 6,774 20 3,015 6 1,331 11 1,906 

Fourth quarterp

 ...................................... 3,140 508,859 48 8,007 17 1,738 6 937 9 986 

 Totalp

 ................................................ 7,818 1,383,553 129 21,839 53 6,709 16 2,953 39 5,766 

 1

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

(U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, 2003). services; other computer related services; office equipment rental and leasing;

In the MLS program, however, computer and software merchant wholesalers and and computer and office machine repair.

computer and software stores are only included in the computer hardware industry. 4 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American 

 2 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Industry Classification System (NAICS), are: telephone apparatus manufacturing;

Classification System (NAICS), are: semiconductor machinery manufacturing; office audio and video equipment manufacturing; broadcast and wireless communications

machinery manufacturing; electronic computer manufacturing; computer storage equip.; fiber optic cable manufacturing; software reproducing; and magnetic and

device manufacturing; computer terminal manufacturing; other computer peripheral optical recording media mfg.

equipment mfg.; electron tube manufacturing; bare printed circuit board manufacturing; 5 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American 

semiconductors and related device mfg.; electronic capacitor manufacturing; electronic Industry Classification System (NAICS), are: wired telecommunications carriers;

resistor manufacturing; electronic coils, transformers, and inductors; electronic cellular and other wireless carriers; telecommunications resellers; cable and other

connector manufacturing; printed circuit assembly manufacturing; other electronic program distribution; satellite telecommunications; other telecommunications;

component manufacturing; industrial process variable instruments; electricity and signal and communication equipment repair.

testing instruments; analytical laboratory instrument mfg.; computer and software 6 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. 

merchant wholesalers; and computer and software stores. r

= revised. 

 3

 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry p = preliminary. 

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

web search portals; data processing and related services; custom computer programming

Year

Separations Separations Separations

hardware2 computer services3

Layoff

events

Total extended

mass layoffs

Information technology-producing industries 1

Computer Software and Communications Communications

Separations Layoff

events Separations Layoffevents

equipment4 services5

Layoff

events

Layoff

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

selected quarters, 2007 and 2008

IV III IV IV III IV

2007 2008r 2008p 2007 2008r 2008p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ............................................... 69 84 110 11,302 14,938 24,236 

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

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

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

 Manufacturing .............................................................. 48 56 75 7,980 10,949 14,688 

 Food ........................................................................ 5 4 3 1,232 1,302 425 

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

 Textile mills ............................................................. ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 314 ( 2 )

 Textile product mills 3

 .............................................. ( 2

 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) 

 Apparel 3

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

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

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

 Wood products ........................................................ – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

 Paper ...................................................................... ( 2 ) 3 4 ( 2 ) 391 602 

 Printing and related support activities ..................... 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 411 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

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

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

 ) ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,125 

 Plastics and rubber products 3

 ................................ 3 3 4 382 292 555 

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

 Primary metals ........................................................ 3 – 3 390 – 1,795 

 Fabricated metal products ...................................... 5 ( 2 ) 5 879 ( 2 ) 665 

 Machinery 3

 ............................................................. ( 2

 ) 4 5 ( 2 ) 776 1,118 

 Computer and electronic products .......................... 3 9 9 620 1,527 1,323 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ...................... 6 6 7 1,360 1,278 789 

 Transportation equipment 3

 ..................................... 10 13 16 1,438 3,378 3,973 

 Furniture and related products 3

 .............................. ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 456 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing 3

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

 ) 3 – ( 2 ) 509 

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

 ) 3 7 ( 2 ) 539 804 

 Retail trade .................................................................. 3 ( 2 ) 6 334 ( 2 ) 682 

 Transportation and warehousing ................................. ( 2 ) 4 4 ( 2 ) 684 5,606 

 Information ................................................................... 3 4 3 252 557 581 

 Finance and insurance 3

 .............................................. 5 8 6 861 938 700 

 Real estate and rental and leasing 3

 ............................ ––––––

 Professional and technical services 3

 .......................... 4 ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 647 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

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

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

 ) 3 4 ( 2 ) 479 545 

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

 Health care and social assistance ............................... – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 )

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

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

 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.

Layoff events Separations

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

selected quarters, 2007 and 2008

IV III IV IV III IV

2007 2008r 2008p 2007 2008r 2008p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ................................................... 69 84 110 11,302 14,938 24,236 

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

 ) ( 2 ) 33 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 10,710 

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

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

 Contract completion ....................................................... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 )

 Domestic competition ..................................................... – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

 Excess inventory/saturated market ................................ – – – – – –

 Import competition ......................................................... 7 ( 2 ) 9 1,167 ( 2 ) 1,417 

 Slack work/insufficient demand/non-seasonal

 business slowdown ................................................. 7 12 20 950 3,130 4,032 

Organizational changes .................................................... 30 47 48 5,110 8,445 8,706 

 Business-ownership change .......................................... 5 6 9 1,326 1,628 1,498 

 Reorganization or restructuring of company .................. 25 41 39 3,784 6,817 7,208 

Financial issues ................................................................ 21 19 25 3,600 2,669 4,038 

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) 

 Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ................ ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 22 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,852 

 Financial difficulty ........................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) 

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

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

 Governmental regulations/intervention .......................... – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

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

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

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

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

 Product line discontinued ............................................... – – – – – –

Disaster/safety .................................................................. – – ( 2

 ) – – ( 2 ) 

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

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

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

 Extreme weather-related event ...................................... – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

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

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

selected quarters, 2007 and 2008

Layoff events Separations

IV III IV IV III IV

2007 2008r 2008p 2007 2008r 2008p 

 United States1 ..................................... 69 84 110 11,302 14,938 24,236 

Northeast .................................................... 11 14 14 1,726 2,306 2,106 

 New England ........................................... 3 ( 2

 ) 4 562 ( 2 ) 686 

 Middle Atlantic ......................................... 8 ( 2 ) 10 1,164 ( 2 ) 1,420 

South ........................................................... 16 13 22 2,105 2,238 3,848 

 South Atlantic .......................................... 8 5 7 903 704 843 

 East South Central .................................. 5 4 10 512 472 1,425 

 West South Central ................................. 3 4 5 690 1,062 1,580 

Midwest ....................................................... 30 42 47 5,847 8,162 14,306 

 East North Central .................................. 23 32 33 4,190 6,105 11,564 

 West North Central ................................. 7 10 14 1,657 2,057 2,742 

West ............................................................ 12 15 27 1,624 2,232 3,976 

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

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

 Pacific ..................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

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

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

 r

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

 p

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

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

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

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

New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.

Census region and division
Table 10. Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, selected quarters, 2007 and 2008

IV III IV IV III IV

2007 2008r 2008p 2007 2008r 2008p

Total, private nonfarm1 ................................................... 1,814 1,582 3,140 301,592 290,052 508,859 

 Total, excluding seasonal

 and vacation events2

 .............................................. 1,062 1,366 2,332 171,808 246,132 373,359 

 Total, movement of work3

 ....................................... 69 84 110 11,302 14,938 24,236 

 Movement of work actions ................................. 90 106 150 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 )

 With separations reported ............................ 66 78 111 7,152 9,631 16,061 

 With separations unknown ........................... 24 28 39 ( 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.

Layoff events Separations

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

selected quarters, 2007 and 2008

IV III IV IV III IV

2007 2008r 2008p 2007 2008r 2008p

With separations reported2 ................................. 66 78 111 7,152 9,631 16,061 

By location

 Out-of-country relocations ................................ 27 19 33 2,997 2,312 3,775 

 Within company ............................................ 26 17 28 2,910 2,135 3,436 

 Different company ........................................ 1 2 5 87 177 339 

 Domestic relocations ........................................ 39 59 78 4,155 7,319 12,286 

 Within company ............................................ 38 50 72 3,975 6,522 6,844 

 Different company ........................................ 1 9 6 180 797 5,442 

 Unable to assign place of 

 relocation ....................................................... ––––––

By company

 Within company ................................................ 64 67 100 6,885 8,657 10,280 

 Domestic ....................................................... 38 50 72 3,975 6,522 6,844 

 Out of country ............................................... 26 17 28 2,910 2,135 3,436 

 Unable to assign ........................................... ––––––

 Different company ............................................ 2 11 11 267 974 5,781 

 Domestic ....................................................... 1 9 6 180 797 5,442 

 Out of country ............................................... 1 2 5 87 177 339 

 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
Extended Mass Layoff Events by Reason Categories1

Fourth quarters, 2002-08

0

800600400200

1600140012001000

2002:4 2003:4 2004:4 2005:4 2006:4 2007:4 2008:4

Seasonal Business demand Organizational changes Financial issues Production specific Disaster/Safety 

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

p