Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Technical information: (202) 691-6392 USDL 09-0094 

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

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

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Wednesday, January 28, 2009

MASS LAYOFFS IN DECEMBER 2008 AND ANNUAL TOTALS FOR 2008 

In December, employers took 2,275 mass layoff actions, seasonally adjusted, as measured by new 

filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. 

Department of Labor reported today. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single employer; 

the number of workers involved totaled 226,117 on a seasonally adjusted basis. The number of mass 

layoff events in December decreased by 58 from the prior month, while the number of associated initial 

claims increased slightly by 478. Over the year, the number of mass layoff events increased by 806, and 

the number of associated initial claims increased by 80,201. In December, 871 mass layoff events were 

reported in the manufacturing sector, seasonally adjusted, resulting in 105,402 initial claims. Over the 

month, mass layoff events in manufacturing increased by 3, and initial claims increased by 4,759, the 

fifth consecutive over-the-month increase for both measures. (See table 1.) 

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Events

Total

Private nonfarm Manufacturing

Chart 1. Mass layoff events, seasonally adjusted,

 January 2004-December 2008

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Claims

Total

Private nonfarm Manufacturing

Chart 2. Mass layoff initial claims, seasonally adjusted,

 January 2004-December 2008

Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Mass Layoff Data 

Seasonally adjusted mass layoff data have been revised using updated seasonal 

adjustment factors that incorporate 2008 data. Seasonally adjusted estimates back to 

January 2004 were subject to revision. Revised seasonally adjusted data from January 

2004 forward are shown in table 1. The originally published and revised figures for 

January 2004-November 2008 are available at http://www.bls.gov/mls/home.htm, along 

with additional information about the revisions. 

News United States 

Department 

of Labor 
2

Table A. Industries with the largest number of mass layoff initial claims in December 2008

Year Initial claims

Temporary help services ...................................... 15,246 2005 16,656 

School and employee bus transportation ............. 13,999 2006 14,747 

Highway, street, and bridge construction ............ 13,035 2005 20,088 

Food service contractors ...................................... 12,673 2006 13,903 

Light truck and utility vehicle manufacturing ..... 11,835 2008 11,835 

Motor vehicle metal stamping ............................. 7,523 2008 7,523 

All other motor vehicle parts manufacturing ....... 6,757 2008 6,757 

Automobile manufacturing .................................. 6,208 2005 9,021 

Professional employer organizations ................... 6,101 2008 6,101 

All other plastics product manufacturing ............ 5,789 2008 5,789 

Industry Initial claims December peak

From the start of the recession in December 2007 through December 2008, the total number of mass 

layoff events (seasonally adjusted) was 23,485, and the number of initial claims (seasonally adjusted) 

was 2,394,434. 

For all of 2008, on a not seasonally adjusted basis, the total numbers of mass layoff events at 

21,137, and initial claims at 2,130,220, reached their highest annual levels since 2001 and 2002, 

respectively. Among the twenty-one major industry sectors, six registered series highs for both mass 

layoff events and initial claims for all of 2008—construction; transportation and warehousing; finance 

and insurance; real estate and rental and leasing; management of companies and enterprises; and 

accommodation and food services. Eleven states recorded series highs in mass layoff initial claims 

activity (with data available back to 1996). 

The national unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in December, seasonally adjusted, up from 6.8 

percent the prior month and from 4.9 percent a year earlier. In December, total nonfarm payroll 

employment decreased by 524,000 over the month and by 2,589,000 from a year earlier. 

Industry Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

The number of mass layoff events in December was 3,377 on a not seasonally adjusted basis; the 

number of associated initial claims was 351,305. (See table 2.) Both the number of events and initial 

claimants reached their highest December levels in program history (with data available back to 1995). 

Twelve major industry sectors reported program highs in terms of initial claimants for the month of 

December—mining; construction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; transportation and warehousing; 

finance and insurance; real estate and rental and leasing; management of companies and enterprises; 

administrative and waste services; educational services; accommodation and food services; and other 

services, except public administration.

The manufacturing sector accounted for 41 percent of all mass layoff events and 49 percent of 

initial claims filed in December 2008; a year earlier, manufacturing made up 32 percent of events and 41 

percent of initial claims. This December, the number of manufacturing claimants was greatest in 

transportation equipment (64,336), followed by plastics and rubber products (14,215) and fabricated 
3

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

unemployment insurance, 1996-2008

Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Year Layoff events

metal products (12,576). (See table 3.) The construction industry accounted for 16 percent of mass 

layoff events and 12 percent of associated initial claims during the month. 

The six-digit NAICS industry with the largest number of initial claims was temporary help services 

(15,246), followed by school and employee bus transportation (13,999) and highway, street, and bridge 

construction (13,035). Among the 10 industries with the highest levels of initial claims, 5 of the 10— 

all other plastics product manufacturing, light truck and utility vehicle manufacturing, motor vehicle 

metal stamping, all other motor vehicle parts manufacturing, and professional employer organizations— 

reached program highs in 2008 for the month of December (with data available back to 1995). (See 

table A.) 

Geographic Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

Of the 4 census regions, the Midwest had the highest number of initial claims due to mass layoffs in 

December (146,155), followed by the South (94,307), the West (65,942), and the Northeast (44,901). 

(See table 5.) Initial claims associated with mass layoffs increased over the year in all 4 regions, with 

the Midwest (+48,809) and the South (+46,802) experiencing the largest increases. In 2008, the 

Northeast and the South regions reported their highest December levels of initial claims in program 

history (with data available back to 1995). 

Of the 9 geographic divisions, the East North Central (108,017) and the Pacific (53,162) had the 

highest numbers of initial claims due to mass layoffs in December. (See table 5.) All 9 divisions 

experienced over-the-year increases in initial claims, led by the East North Central (+33,643) and the 

East South Central (+23,850). This year, the Middle Atlantic, West North Central, East South Central, 

West South Central, and Mountain divisions reached their highest levels of initial claims for December 

in program history. 
4

Table C. Industries with the largest number of mass layoff initial claims in 2008

Initial claims Rank Initial claims Rank

Temporary help services .......................................... 134,699 1 96,991 1

School and employee bus transportation .................. 79,083 2 76,230 2

Food service contractors .......................................... 54,677 3 57,131 3

Professional employer organizations ....................... 54,016 4 31,062 8

Automobile manufacturing ...................................... 51,804 5 51,746 4

Motion picture and video production ....................... 45,394 6 51,133 5

Highway, street, and bridge construction ................. 39,467 7 40,804 6

Light truck and utility vehicle manufacturing .......... 38,450 8 16,522 14

Heavy duty truck manufacturing .............................. 36,788 9 31,076 7

Elementary and secondary schools ........................... 28,996 10 20,385 10

Industry

2008 2007

California recorded the highest number of initial claims filed due to mass layoff events in December 

with 43,265. The states with the next highest number of mass layoff initial claims were Ohio (27,836), 

Illinois (25,885), and Michigan (24,508). (See table 6.) In 2008, 13 states reached program highs in 

initial claims for the month of December—Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, 

Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, and Tennessee. Forty-two states 

and the District of Columbia registered over-the-year increases in initial claims associated with mass 

layoffs, led by Ohio (+12,927), California (+12,675), Illinois (+10,873), and Alabama (+10,483). 

Review of 2008

For all of 2008, the total numbers of mass layoff events at 21,137, and initial claims, at 2,130,220, 

reached their highest annual levels since 2001 and 2002, respectively. (See table B.) 

The 10 detailed industries with the highest number of mass layoff initial claims in 2008 accounted 

for 26 percent of the total for the year. (See table C.) Temporary help services, school and employee 

bus transportation, and food service contractors ranked first, second, and third among the 10 industries 

in both 2008 and 2007. In 2008, light truck and utility vehicle manufacturing entered the top 10 

industries in terms of initial claims, displacing discount department stores. 

Manufacturing accounted for 33 percent of all mass layoff events and 41 percent of initial claims 

filed during 2008, up slightly from 2007 (30 and 38 percent, respectively). The number of manufacturing claimants was highest in transportation equipment manufacturing, 323,676, followed by food 

manufacturing, 72,081, and wood product manufacturing, 56,374. 

Among the major industry sectors, manufacturing had the largest over-the-year increase in mass 

layoff-related initial claims (+260,213) from 2007 to 2008. Within manufacturing, transportation 

equipment (+95,463), plastics and rubber products (+24,638), and fabricated metal products (+23,083) 

experienced the largest increases from the previous year. Administrative and waste services had the 

second largest increase (+78,183) among the major industry sectors, due to more layoff activity in 

administrative and support services (+77,864). 
5

Among the twenty-one major industry sectors, six registered series highs for both mass layoff 

events and initial claims for all of 2008—construction; transportation and warehousing; finance and 

insurance; real estate and rental and leasing; management of companies and enterprises; and 

accommodation and food services. 

The Midwest reported the highest number of initial claims filed due to mass layoffs during 2008 

(676,591). Layoffs in transportation equipment manufacturing accounted for 30 percent of the claims in 

the Midwest. Fabricated metal product manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and administrative 

and support services, together accounted for an additional 17 percent of layoffs in that region in 2008. 

The fewest number of mass layoff initial claims during 2008 was reported in the Northeast (316,191). 

From 2007 to 2008, all 4 regions had over-the-year increases in the number of initial claims from 

mass layoffs, led by the South (+176,875) and Midwest (+167,160). All 9 geographic divisions also 

experienced higher claimant activity in mass layoffs when compared with 2007, with the largest 

increases occurring in the East North Central (+123,510), the Pacific (+117,939), and the East South 

Central (+65,588). 

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

claims (446,480) filed in mass layoff events during 2008, accounting for 21 percent of the national total. 

The states with the next highest numbers of initial claims were Michigan (132,468), Ohio (131,813), 

Pennsylvania (128,041), and Illinois (103,685). Eleven states—Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, 

Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wyoming—recorded series 

highs in mass layoff claimant activity in 2008, while two states—Maine and Virginia—reported series 

lows. 

For all of 2008, California reported the largest over-the-year increase in initial claims (+88,486), 

followed by Ohio (+48,384) and Florida (+38,960). The largest over-the-year decreases were reported 

in Maryland (-5,056), Virginia (-4,758), and New Jersey (-1,115). 

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 report on Extended Mass Layoffs in Fourth Quarter 2008 is scheduled to be released on 

Friday, February 13. 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 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; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-

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). 

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 one year and 4 weeks in another. The 

effects of these differences could seriously distort the 

seasonal factors if they were ignored in the seasonal 

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

ARIMA program and are permanently removed from the 

final seasonally adjusted series. 
Table 1. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, January 2005 to December 2008,

seasonally adjusted

2005

January ........................................................ 1,474 159,945 1,341 150,403 387 60,842 

February ....................................................... 1,087 117,129 964 106,399 350 42,747 

March ........................................................... 1,204 129,993 1,056 119,466 368 52,667 

April .............................................................. 1,244 134,425 1,111 123,958 396 60,052 

May .............................................................. 1,264 137,475 1,121 124,468 397 54,998 

June ............................................................. 1,196 126,416 1,082 117,568 367 58,003 

July ............................................................... 1,241 130,331 1,094 117,510 354 46,056 

August .......................................................... 1,143 125,536 1,000 113,465 342 47,255 

September ................................................... 2,250 296,913 2,035 252,291 420 55,974 

October ........................................................ 1,109 111,202 991 102,111 320 43,387 

November .................................................... 1,162 113,502 1,027 102,058 325 41,493 

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 

Total Private nonfarm Manufacturing

Date

Events Events Events Initial

claimants

Initial

claimants

Initial

claimants
Table 2. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, January 2005 to December 2008,

not seasonally adjusted

2005

January ........................................................ 2,564 263,952 2,421 253,409 823 108,985 

February ....................................................... 810 74,644 722 68,372 230 24,931 

March ........................................................... 806 88,937 733 83,793 246 33,030 

April .............................................................. 1,373 158,582 1,263 148,133 395 59,129 

May .............................................................. 986 101,358 891 93,332 249 30,424 

June ............................................................. 1,157 120,463 941 103,307 216 32,783 

July ............................................................... 1,981 244,216 1,745 222,377 856 136,210 

August .......................................................... 645 67,582 598 63,484 188 22,531 

September ................................................... 1,662 213,281 1,505 179,042 318 47,497 

October ........................................................ 905 91,941 757 80,694 249 37,276 

November .................................................... 1,254 116,127 1,079 102,182 363 41,442 

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 

Total Private nonfarm Manufacturing

Date

Events Events Events Initial

claimants

Initial

claimants

Initial

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

Mass layoff events Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

December October November December December October November December

2007 2008 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008

Seasonally adjusted

 Total .............................................................. 1,469 2,204 2,333 2,275 145,916 230,330 225,639 226,117 

 Total, private nonfarm ....................................... 1,354 2,042 2,185 2,100 136,914 216,095 213,288 212,559 

 Manufacturing ................................................. 447 687 868 871 56,152 92,256 100,643 105,402 

Not seasonally adjusted

 Total 1 ............................................................ 2,167 2,125 2,574 3,377 224,214 221,784 241,589 351,305 

Total, private ....................................................... 2,102 2,034 2,502 3,278 219,227 213,602 235,560 343,963 

 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ......... 31 117 113 46 2,329 8,049 8,903 3,743 

 Total, private nonfarm ....................................... 2,071 1,917 2,389 3,232 216,898 205,553 226,657 340,220 

 Mining .............................................................. 28 6 22 43 2,136 449 2,004 4,191 

 Utilities ............................................................. 4 ( 2 ) 3 6 225 ( 2 ) 332 355 

 Construction .................................................... 461 206 382 544 35,564 14,864 29,775 40,579 

 Manufacturing ................................................. 699 689 997 1,378 91,754 100,457 107,620 172,529 

 Food ............................................................ 68 75 71 77 10,267 11,144 7,123 7,797 

 Beverage and tobacco products ................. 7 ( 2 ) 9 12 640 ( 2 ) 620 1,222 

 Textile mills ................................................. 12 20 19 44 2,281 2,925 2,558 4,725 

 Textile product mills 3

 .................................. 8 10 10 7 848 792 669 672 

 Apparel 3 ..................................................... 16 9 16 22 1,311 914 1,783 2,479 

 Leather and allied products ......................... 4 ( 2 ) 3 4 435 ( 2 ) 270 800 

 Wood products ............................................ 59 68 93 86 5,698 6,932 9,439 8,465 

 Paper ........................................................... 5 17 28 34 571 1,392 2,645 4,384 

 Printing and related support activities ......... 11 10 14 20 830 1,042 1,527 1,904 

 Petroleum and coal products ...................... 12 ( 2 ) 11 12 1,163 ( 2 ) 929 1,124 

 Chemicals ................................................... 12 13 20 23 995 1,394 2,042 2,046 

 Plastics and rubber products 3

 .................... 57 47 74 136 5,069 4,903 7,013 14,215 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ...................... 61 21 55 89 5,979 1,755 4,937 9,104 

 Primary metals ............................................ 37 48 74 83 4,022 6,038 7,813 8,558 

 Fabricated metal products .......................... 55 47 104 145 5,252 4,632 8,905 12,576 

 Machinery 3

 ................................................. 37 43 62 75 6,864 7,897 9,019 7,531 

 Computer and electronic products .............. 21 36 40 53 1,559 3,705 3,592 5,245 

 Electrical equipment and appliances .......... 16 21 27 51 1,495 3,873 2,891 9,049 

 Transportation equipment 3

 ......................... 171 149 190 352 31,910 36,110 25,042 64,336 

 Furniture and related products 3

 .................. 19 32 55 37 2,868 2,902 6,716 4,764 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing 3 ................... 11 13 22 16 1,697 1,210 2,087 1,533 

 Wholesale trade .............................................. 24 38 65 60 1,762 2,573 4,779 5,374 

 Retail trade ...................................................... 103 161 155 142 8,839 15,328 13,429 12,104 

 Transportation and warehousing .................... 150 75 99 196 15,573 6,007 7,749 22,751 

 Information ...................................................... 51 49 48 71 8,770 7,820 5,390 9,138 

 Finance and insurance 3

 ................................. 36 63 48 40 2,311 5,025 3,591 2,998 

 Real estate and rental and leasing 3

 ............... 6 15 18 16 322 1,014 1,084 1,382 

 Professional and technical services 3 .............. 50 46 66 76 5,303 3,022 6,695 6,280 

 Management of companies and enterprises ... 5 ( 2 ) 10 17 448 ( 2 ) 656 2,433 

 Administrative and waste services 3 ................ 218 334 280 348 19,367 30,945 26,341 31,069 

 Educational services ....................................... 8 5 5 11 487 292 365 634 

 Health care and social assistance .................. 31 39 33 36 2,484 2,823 2,775 2,626 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ................. 20 42 33 23 1,238 3,106 2,642 1,503 

 Accommodation and food services ................. 158 125 115 199 18,717 10,278 10,682 22,312 

 Other services, except public administration .. 19 16 10 24 1,598 962 748 1,821 

 Unclassified .................................................... – 2 – 2 – 136 – 141 

Government ........................................................ 65 91 72 99 4,987 8,182 6,029 7,342 

 Federal ............................................................ 10 19 11 10 841 1,746 860 1,011 

 State ................................................................ 12 30 21 19 1,016 2,985 1,797 1,296 

 Local ................................................................ 43 42 40 70 3,130 3,451 3,372 5,035 

 1 Data were reported by all states and the District of Columbia. due to a change in NAICS versions.

 2

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

 3

 Data beginning in 2008 are not strictly comparable to prior years

Industry
Table 4. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, October 2006 to December 2008,

not seasonally adjusted

Extended mass layoffs 

lasting more than 30 days Realization rates 1

Events Initial

claimants Events Initial

claimants Events Initial

claimants Events Initial

claimants

2006

October ...................................... 964 98,804 820 88,133 

November .................................. 1,315 136,186 1,172 125,009 

December .................................. 2,249 254,503 2,126 244,783 

Fourth Quarter ........................... 4,528 489,493 4,118 457,925 1,640 330,954 39.8 72.3 

2007

January ...................................... 1,407 134,984 1,263 124,475 

February .................................... 935 86,696 861 82,097 

March ......................................... 1,082 123,974 1,015 118,431 

First Quarter ............................... 3,424 345,654 3,139 325,003 1,110 199,250 35.4 61.3 

April ............................................ 1,219 127,444 1,115 118,040 

May ............................................ 923 85,816 856 81,153 

June ........................................... 1,599 172,810 1,318 148,669 

Second Quarter ......................... 3,741 386,070 3,289 347,862 1,421 259,234 43.2 74.5 

July ............................................ 1,599 175,419 1,450 164,939 

August ........................................ 963 93,458 908 88,345 

September ................................. 717 67,385 667 64,026 

Third Quarter ............................. 3,279 336,262 3,025 317,310 1,018 173,077 33.7 54.5 

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 1,814 347,149 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 1,340 258,767 35.9 70.3 

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 1,756 335,854 44.7 81.3 

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 2,p 1,330 2,p 181,386 p

 31.4 p 41.1 

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 

 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.

Mass layoffs

Total mass layoffs

Private nonfarm

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

not seasonally adjusted

Mass layoff events Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

December October November December December October November December

2007 2008 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008

 United States 1

 ......................................... 2,167 2,125 2,574 3,377 224,214 221,784 241,589 351,305 

Northeast .......................................................... 392 270 314 491 36,859 23,945 28,791 44,901 

 New England ................................................ 56 25 40 70 5,777 2,522 3,505 7,024 

 Middle Atlantic .............................................. 336 245 274 421 31,082 21,423 25,286 37,877 

South ................................................................ 388 538 616 815 47,505 53,087 56,608 94,307 

 South Atlantic ............................................... 192 295 304 362 18,797 25,535 25,648 33,456 

 East South Central ....................................... 120 111 196 296 18,538 15,162 19,725 42,388 

 West South Central ...................................... 76 132 116 157 10,170 12,390 11,235 18,463 

Midwest ............................................................ 884 511 824 1,278 97,346 75,210 85,730 146,155 

 East North Central ........................................ 667 406 645 961 74,374 60,196 65,287 108,017 

 West North Central ....................................... 217 105 179 317 22,972 15,014 20,443 38,138 

West ................................................................. 503 806 820 793 42,504 69,542 70,460 65,942 

 Mountain ....................................................... 67 98 126 139 4,968 9,191 11,050 12,780 

 Pacific ........................................................... 436 708 694 654 37,536 60,351 59,410 53,162 

 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

not seasonally adjusted

Mass layoff events Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

December October November December December October November December

2007 2008 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008

 Total 1

 .............................................. 2,167 2,125 2,574 3,377 224,214 221,784 241,589 351,305 

Alabama .............................................. 33 26 48 88 3,677 3,865 5,289 14,160 

Alaska ................................................. ( 2 ) 13 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,631 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Arizona ................................................ 4 13 20 13 263 979 1,603 1,213 

Arkansas ............................................. 8 18 21 25 680 1,877 2,026 2,517 

California ............................................. 370 621 580 546 30,590 51,286 47,690 43,265 

Colorado ............................................. 12 11 15 24 767 1,143 1,162 2,023 

Connecticut ......................................... 10 4 3 10 854 540 186 799 

Delaware ............................................. 4 ( 2 ) 6 8 241 ( 2 ) 415 817 

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

Florida ................................................. 62 176 151 104 5,088 12,946 10,582 6,931 

Georgia ............................................... 36 61 51 83 3,111 6,825 4,970 8,508 

Hawaii ................................................. 12 9 9 15 1,161 910 641 1,650 

Idaho ................................................... 12 22 27 25 844 2,682 2,298 2,347 

Illinois .................................................. 140 64 126 202 15,012 7,842 11,564 25,885 

Indiana ................................................ 64 63 111 156 7,654 7,961 13,420 16,762 

Iowa .................................................... 52 23 49 82 6,337 3,818 8,213 10,005 

Kansas ................................................ 27 18 14 38 3,441 2,543 1,321 7,949 

Kentucky ............................................. 62 46 78 131 12,727 8,327 9,210 21,570 

Louisiana ............................................ 15 22 13 17 1,274 1,662 1,093 2,430 

Maine .................................................. 4 ( 2 ) 4 7 278 ( 2 ) 451 530 

Maryland ............................................. 29 11 7 15 2,628 885 828 1,002 

Massachusetts .................................... 22 11 18 38 2,131 980 1,459 4,289 

Michigan ............................................. 213 81 157 248 25,005 16,851 14,657 24,508 

Minnesota ........................................... 46 23 60 67 4,386 1,880 5,442 7,374 

Mississippi .......................................... 9 17 34 27 640 1,513 2,736 2,399 

Missouri .............................................. 77 35 44 107 7,517 5,877 3,087 10,625 

Montana .............................................. 4 5 11 8 264 573 1,226 630 

Nebraska ............................................ 9 5 4 12 864 819 450 1,334 

Nevada ............................................... 19 29 33 41 1,370 2,421 2,992 4,303 

New Hampshire .................................. 6 3 4 4 560 310 311 255 

New Jersey ......................................... 93 45 46 80 8,389 3,670 5,665 6,910 

New Mexico ........................................ 7 5 9 16 702 396 554 1,170 

New York ............................................ 72 54 79 111 6,700 4,725 7,366 10,511 

North Carolina ..................................... 7 18 34 33 789 1,838 3,410 3,314 

North Dakota ....................................... 5 ( 2 ) 5 8 356 ( 2 ) 1,631 666 

Ohio .................................................... 149 118 120 224 14,909 17,764 11,680 27,836 

Oklahoma ........................................... 13 6 18 20 1,732 1,137 1,708 3,210 

Oregon ................................................ 32 36 60 51 3,763 3,883 7,259 4,413 

Pennsylvania ...................................... 171 146 149 230 15,993 13,028 12,255 20,456 

Rhode Island ....................................... 10 3 – 7 1,465 325 – 820 

South Carolina .................................... 29 23 36 84 4,236 2,268 3,916 9,381 

South Dakota ...................................... ( 2 ) – 3 3 ( 2 ) – 299 185 

Tennessee .......................................... 16 22 36 50 1,494 1,457 2,490 4,259 

Texas .................................................. 40 86 64 95 6,484 7,714 6,408 10,306 

Utah .................................................... 8 9 10 12 706 721 1,161 1,094 

Vermont .............................................. 4 ( 2 ) 11 4 489 ( 2 ) 1,098 331 

Virginia ................................................ 21 4 16 27 2,390 655 1,316 2,782 

Washington ......................................... 21 29 44 40 1,940 2,641 3,724 3,663 

West Virginia ....................................... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) 6 ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) 416 

Wisconsin ........................................... 101 80 131 131 11,794 9,778 13,966 13,026 

Wyoming ............................................. ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) 276 ( 2 ) –

Puerto Rico ......................................... 3 13 14 16 279 1,117 1,686 1,285 

1

 See footnote 1, table 3. NOTE: Dash represents zero. 2

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

State