Technical information: (202) 691-6392

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 04-895

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Tuesday, May 18, 2004

EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2004

In the first quarter of 2004, 1,204 mass layoff actions were taken by employers in the private nonfarm

economy that resulted in the separation of 239,361 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. Both the total

number of layoff events and the number of separations were sharply lower than in January-March 2003 and

were the lowest for a first quarter since 2000. (See table A.) The decline over the year was most notable

in general merchandise stores, administrative and support services, computer and electronic product manufacturing, and air transportation. In the first quarter of 2004, the national unemployment rate was 6.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted; a year earlier it was 6.3 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment, not seasonally

adjusted, increased by 0.2 percent or 247,000 jobs from January-March 2003 to January-March 2004.

The completion of seasonal work accounted for 28 percent of all events and 56,478 separations during

the period—the highest level for a first quarter since 2000. Layoffs due to internal company restructuring

represented 25 percent of events and resulted in 55,376 separations. Permanent closure of worksites

occurred in 17 percent of all events and affected 42,814 workers, the lowest first-quarter level since 1998.

Thirty-five percent of the employers anticipating a recall expected to extend the offer to all laid-off workers,

the highest proportion for a first quarter since 2001.

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

Extended mass layoff separations occurred in 382 of the 1,197 detailed industries for which data are

available. This is the fewest number of industries to have at least one extended mass layoff event in the first

quarter since 1998.

NOTE: Beginning with data for the first quarter of 2004, the scope of extended mass layoffs

and plant closings has been redefined to cover only the private nonfarm economy due to budget

constraints. Quarterly information on layoff events in agriculture and government are no longer

collected. However, the monthly reporting of Mass Layoffs, which is based only on administrative data, will be unaffected and will continue to cover the total economy.

 Also beginning with first quarter 2004, the reasons for layoff presented in table 2 of this

release have been revised. “Domestic relocation” and “overseas relocation” will no longer be

reported. Additional information on domestic and out-of-country moves will be reported at a

later date.
2

 2000

January-March ........... 1,081 202,500 180,205

April-June .................. 1,055 205,861 186,759

July-September .......... 817 174,628 158,394

October-December .... 1,638 332,973 320,909

 2001

January-March ........... 1,546 304,171 306,535

April-June .................. 1,828 430,499 358,611

July-September .......... 1,629 330,391 336,298

October-December .... 2,372 459,771 456,068

 2002

January-March ........... 1,611 299,266 292,998

April-June .................. 1,624 344,606 299,598

July-September .......... 1,186 255,152 254,955

October-December .... 1,916 373,307 370,592

 2003

January-March ........... 1,502 286,947 297,607

April-June .................. 1,799 368,273 348,890

July-September .......... 1,190 236,121 227,568

October-December .... 1,690 325,093 325,765

 2004

January-March ........... 1,204 239,361 165,272

Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity, private

nonfarm sector

p=preliminary. r=revised.

r

Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants

 p

r

r

r

Retail trade accounted for 11 percent of private-nonfarm layoff events and 36 percent of separations

during January-March 2004. (See table 1.) This marked the first time since the program began in 1995 that

a sector other than manufacturing reported the greatest share of separations. In addition, the 86,884 worker

separations in retail trade were the highest for that sector for any quarter since 1995. Layoff activity in this

sector was concentrated in food and beverage stores (54,969, largely in supermarkets and other grocery

stores).

Manufacturing industries accounted for 32 percent of private nonfarm layoff events and 24 percent of

separations. Layoff activity in this sector was concentrated in food manufacturing (11,005), followed by

transportation equipment manufacturing (8,874) and computer and electronic product manufacturing (3,912).

Layoffs in construction comprised 19 percent of events and 10 percent of separations, mostly among

specialty trade contractors. Cutbacks in administrative and waste services accounted for 11 percent of

events and 9 percent of separations, mainly in temporary help services. The accommodation and food

services sector accounted for an additional 4 percent of events and separations during the quarter, primarily

in hotels and motels, except casino hotels.

Information technology-producing industries (communication equipment, communications services,

computer hardware, and software and computer services) accounted for 6 percent of layoff events and

10,556 worker separations in the first quarter, down from 11 percent of layoff events and 28,582
3

Table B. Summary of employer expectations of a recall from extended

layoff, private nonfarm sector, first quarter 2003–first quarter 2004

 Anticipate a recall ..... 35.4 43.2 32.0 58.2 39.9

 Timeframe

 Within 6 months ........ 72.5 84.3 84.5 85.5 83.3

 Within 3 months...... 46.0 55.1 58.3 37.3 49.0

 Size

 At least half................ 80.2 87.6 86.9 91.7 87.5

 All workers............. 33.0 49.2 44.1 45.0 35.2

 Percentage of events

 p=preliminary.

Nature of the recall I

2003

II

2003

III

2003

IV

2003

I

2004

p

separations a year earlier. (See table 8.) This also marked the lowest number of separations in the industry

grouping since the first quarter of 2000. Layoffs in the information technology-producing industries were

most numerous in communications services, 3,816 separations, followed by those in computer hardware.

Reasons for Extended Layoff

Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 28 percent of the extended layoff events

and resulted in 56,478 separations in the first quarter. (See table 2.) Seasonal layoffs were most numerous

among workers in general merchandise stores and specialty trade contractors.

Contract completion accounted for 14 percent of events and resulted in 51,795 separations during the

first quarter. These layoffs were primarily in food and beverage stores and in administrative and support

services.

Internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change, financial difficulty, and reorganireorganization) accounted for 25 percent of layoff events and resulted in 55,376 separations. The number of

such separations was the lowest for a first quarter since 1998. These layoffs were mostly among workers in

food manufacturing, in general merchandise stores, in accommodation, and in hospitals. In the first quarter of

2003, layoff events for these reasons represented 24 percent of events and involved 94,707 workers.

Recall Expectations

Forty percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the first quarter of 2004 indicated they

anticipated some type of recall. This compares with 35 percent of the employers anticipating a recall a year

earlier. (See table B.) Most of the employers not expecting a recall were in administrative and support

services, food manufacturing, and computer and electronic product manufacturing.
4

 Layoff events

 Number Percent Number

Size

 Total........... 1,204 100.0 239,361 100.0

50-99............... 578 48.0 40,846 17.1

100-149........... 256 21.3 30,287 12.7

150-199........... 112 9.3 19,055 8.0

200-299........... 152 12.6 35,674 14.9

300-499........... 57 4.7 20,507 8.7

500-999........... 34 2.8 22,291 9.3

1,000 or more... 15 1.2 70,701 29.5

Table C. Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff, private

nonfarm sector, January-March 2004

p=preliminary.

 Percent

 Separations

p

Among establishments expecting a recall, most employers expected to recall over one-half of the separated employees and to do so within 6 months. Thirty-five percent of the employers expected to extend the

offer to all laid-off workers, the highest proportion for a first quarter since 2001.

Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in which 88 percent of the employers

expected a recall), employers expected to recall laid-off workers in 21 percent of the events, slightly lower

than a year earlier when 23 percent of employers expected a recall. In layoff events due to internal company

restructuring, employers anticipated a recall in only 6 percent of the events.

Size of Extended Layoff

Layoff events during the first quarter continued to be concentrated at the lower end of the extended

layoff-size spectrum, with 69 percent involving fewer than 150 workers. These events, however, accounted

for only 30 percent of all separations. (See table C.) Separations involving 500 or more workers accounted

for 39 percent of all separations, up significantly from 31 percent a year earlier. The average size of layoffs

(as measured by separations per layoff event) differed widely by industry, ranging from a low of 60

separations in amusements, gambling, and recreation to a high of 1,832 in food and beverage stores.

Initial Claimant Characteristics

A total of 165,272 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended mass

lay offs in the first quarter of 2004. Of these claimants, 14 percent were black, 15 percent were Hispanic,

40 percent were women, and 15 percent were 55 years of age or older. (See table 3.) Thirty-seven

percent of claimants were 30 to 44 years of age. Among the civilian labor force for the same period,

11 percent were black, 13 percent were Hispanic, 47 percent were women, and 16 percent were 55

years of age or older. Thirty-six percent of the civilian labor force were ages 30 to 44.

Geographic Distribution

In the first quarter, the number of separations due to extended mass layoff events was highest in the West

(103,337), followed by the Midwest (68,214), the South (38,832), and the Northeast (28,978). (See table

4.) Extended mass layoffs in the West were mainly in food and beverage stores.
5

 Events

Metropolitan area

Total, nonmetropolitan areas ......................... 194 147 31,142 23,356

Total, 331metropolitan areas ......................... 834 612 140,862 93,376

Chicago, Ill. .............................................. 61 57 14,608 10,859

Medford-Ashland, Ore. ............................ - 3 - 3,360

Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif. ................ 40 26 12,345 3,161

New York, N.Y. ...................................... 33 19 6,057 2,592

Detroit, Mich. ........................................... 8 19 1,009 2,428

Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, Mich. .. (1) 11 (1) 1,924

Columbus, Ohio ........................................ (1) 6 (1) 1,923

Las Vegas, Nev.-Ariz. .............................. (1) 4 (1) 1,914

Portland-Vancouver, Ore.-Wash. ............. 18 8 2,669 1,910

San. Jose, Calif. ........................................ 25 15 4,105 1,831

Table D. Mass layoff events and separations, private nonfarm sector, selected metropolitan areas

1

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

p=preliminary.

NOTE: Dash represents zero.

 Separations

I

2003

I

 2004

I

2003

Three of the four regions reported over-the-year decreases in separations, with the largest decrease

occurring in the South (-38,825), followed by the Northeast (-22,919). The West had the only over-theyear increase (+21,566). Seven of the nine geographic divisions reported over-the-year declines in laid-off

workers, with the largest declines in the South Atlantic (-22,802), Middle Atlantic (-17,109), and West

South Central (-11,611) divisions. The largest increase in separations occurred in the Pacific division

(+26,784).

Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the largest number of worker separations occurred in

California (86,839), followed by Illinois (24,332). These two states accounted for 28 percent of all layoff

events and 46 percent of the separations during the first quarter of 2004. They were followed by Florida

(11,719), Ohio (11,192), and Michigan (10,291). (See table 5.) After excluding the substantial impact of

seasonal work, California still reported the most laid-off workers (73,827), largely due to layoffs in food and

beverage stores, credit intermediation and related activities, and sporting goods, hobby, book and music

stores.

Over the year, New York reported the greatest decrease in laid-off workers (-14,804), followed by

Florida (-14,057) and Texas (-11,495). The largest increase occurred in California (+32,462).

Fifty-one percent of events and 39 percent of separations occurred in metropolitan areas in the first

quarter of 2004, a decrease from 56 percent of events and 49 percent of separations during the first quarter

of 2003. Among the 331 metropolitan areas, Chicago, Ill., reported the highest number of separations,

10,859, mainly in specialty trade contractors. Next were Medford-Ashland, Ore., with 3,360 separations

and Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif., with 3,161. (See table D.) Employers located in nonmetropolitan

areas separated 23,356 workers in mass layoffs, down from 31,142 workers in the first quarter of 2003.

p

 I

 2004 p
6

Table E. Index of mass layoff activity, private nonfarm sector,

first quarter 2003 and first quarter 2004

Region First quarter

2004

Over-the-year

change

First quarter

2003

Northeast...................... 92.6 62.1 -30.5

South ........................... 78.1 46.9 -31.2

Midwest ....................... 104.6 113.1 8.5

West............................ 138.2 208.3 70.1

p

p=preliminary.

p

Relative Impacts of Mass Layoffs

The index of mass layoff activity describes a geographic area’s share of national mass layoffs relative

to its share of national employment in establishments with at least 50 workers. This allows for geographic

comparisons that account for differences in each area’s share of employment. (See note and table 6.) A

separate index is calculated that excludes the impact of seasonal work and vacation periods from the

separations data. (See table 7.)

Among the four regions, the West, with an index of 208.3 in the first quarter, recorded the highest

concentration of mass layoffs relative to the region’s employment followed by the Midwest, 113.1. (See

table E.) The Northeast, 62.1, and the South, 46.9, reported indexes well below 100.0, indicating the

relative infrequency of layoffs in those regions.

Over the year, the indexes for the South and Northeast regions recorded declines of 31.2 and 30.5

points, respectively, while those for the West and Midwest posted increases of 70.1 and 8.5 points,

respectively.

Among the nine geographic divisions, the Pacific posted the highest index for the first quarter, 280.3,

primarily due to layoff activity in food and beverage stores, general merchandise stores, and nonstore

retailers. The next highest indexes were reported in the East North Central, 133.9, and Middle Atlantic,

63.6. The East South Central division had the lowest index, 28.5, followed by the Mountain, 38.5, and the

West South Central divisions, 39.5.

Among the 49 states that reported private nonfarm extended mass layoffs during the first quarter of

2004, 39 states reported indexes below 100.0, indicating a relatively small share of layoffs. (See table 6.)

Of the 10 States with indexes above 100.0, California had the highest index of 325.0—due to the high

concentrations of layoff activity in food and beverage stores and in general merchandise stores. (See chart

1.) Relative concentrations of layoffs also were high in Oregon (266.4), Illinois (199.6), and Maine (198.8).

Maryland, at 2.5, had the lowest relative concentration of mass layoffs followed by Arizona (6.5), New

Mexico (8.0), and Alabama (12.8).

After the exclusion of layoffs due to seasonal work and vacation, the Pacific division recorded the highest

index, 295.4, reflecting a high concentration of layoffs in food and beverage stores. (See chart 2.)

At the state level, California reported the highest index, excluding seasonal and vacation period events,

(362.5) for first quarter 2004, followed by Maine (192.4) and Illinois (184.0). The lowest indexes occurred

in Arizona (2.9), Maryland (3.2), New Mexico (10.4), and Idaho (11.5). (See table 7 and chart 2.)
7

Note

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

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

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

employer is contacted for additional information. Data for the first 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.

The index of mass layoff activity is calculated as the area’s share, or ratio, of the total number of private

nonfarm separations in the U.S. divided by the same area’s share of U.S. total private nonfarm employment

in establishments that employ at least 50 workers. It facilitates relative area-to-area comparisons by

discounting the absolute size of the area. An index at or near 100.0 indicates the area’s share of mass

layoffs is in line with its share of employment. An index below 100.0 indicates the area has relatively few

layoffs, and, conversely, an index over 100.0 indicates an area with a relatively high level of layoffs.

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

______________________________

 The report on Mass Layoffs in April 2004 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 26, 2004.
Technical Note

The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federalstate program which 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. Establishments 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. Establishments are

identified according to industry classification and location,

and unemployment insurance claimants are identified by such

demographic factors as age, race, sex, 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.

The MLS program was resumed in April 1995; it had been

terminated in November 1992 due to lack of funding. However,

due to changes in concepts and definitions, data from the

resumed program are not comparable to earlier data.

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

Establishment. A unit at a single physical location

at which predominantly one type of economic activity is

conducted.

Extended layoff event. Fifty or more initial claims for

unemployment insurance benefits from an establishment 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 establishment beginning in a

given month, regardless of duration.

Worksite closure. The full closure of either multi-unit

or single-unit establishments or the partial closure of a multiunit establishment where entire worksites affected by layoffs

are closed or planned to be closed.
Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2003 and 2004

Industry

I IV I I IV I I IV I

 2003r 2003r 2004p 2003 2003 2004p 2003r 2003r 2004p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,502 1,690 1,204 286,947 325,093 239,361 297,607 325,765 165,272 

 Mining ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17 20 14 2,255 2,479 1,421 2,716 2,893 1,638 

 Utilities ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 5 5 958 859 557 797 861 462 

 Construction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 221 473 229 28,313 69,121 24,549 32,891 74,899 24,636 

 Manufacturing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 567 532 386 93,440 100,035 57,616 104,010 107,009 48,419 

 Food ..................................................................................................................................................................... 74 121 70 12,635 28,313 11,005 13,396 22,678 9,129 

 Beverage and tobacco products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 16 10 1,318 2,332 1,694 1,517 2,227 1,400 

 Textile mills ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 18 14 1,916 3,230 2,022 1,990 3,291 1,914 

 Textile product mills ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 8 7 ( 2 ) 931 1,045 ( 2 ) 1,135 740 

 Apparel ..................................................................................................................................................................... 22 27 16 4,532 4,426 2,251 4,643 3,641 1,774 

 Leather and allied products ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 3 4 – 423 653 – 306 573 

 Wood products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 31 23 14 3,793 2,906 1,661 3,674 3,887 1,669 

 Paper ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 10 11 2,505 1,039 1,599 2,688 1,026 1,370 

 Printing and related support activities ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 9 13 1,307 1,473 1,732 1,400 1,991 1,062 

 Petroleum and coal products ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 14 5 ( 2 ) 2,280 392 ( 2 ) 2,299 433 

 Chemicals ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 12 14 1,923 1,762 2,055 1,606 1,578 1,479 

 Plastics and rubber products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 23 18 1,941 2,746 2,452 1,783 3,168 1,631 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 31 52 21 4,883 7,722 2,686 4,901 9,102 2,211 

 Primary metals ..................................................................................................................................................................... 32 24 13 5,544 4,578 2,215 5,139 6,120 1,922 

 Fabricated metal products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 32 31 20 3,588 3,794 2,158 4,041 3,912 1,956 

 Machinery ..................................................................................................................................................................... 42 23 20 6,677 4,544 2,135 8,234 5,627 1,826 

 Computer and electronic products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 94 32 32 17,380 5,922 3,912 19,312 5,379 3,581 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ..................................................................................................................................................................... 28 12 13 4,205 3,067 2,312 4,319 2,745 1,719 

 Transportation equipment ..................................................................................................................................................................... 57 48 39 12,471 14,034 8,874 13,666 22,751 7,575 

 Furniture and related products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20 13 19 2,196 2,201 2,965 7,489 1,928 3,031 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23 13 13 3,042 2,312 1,798 2,573 2,218 1,424 

 Wholesale trade ..................................................................................................................................................................... 36 41 28 6,393 9,731 3,579 5,742 6,551 2,567 

 Retail trade ..................................................................................................................................................................... 142 85 132 48,044 32,044 86,884 44,622 33,896 31,324 

 Transportation and warehousing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 70 45 34 21,416 9,546 6,189 21,707 9,608 5,171 

 Information ..................................................................................................................................................................... 81 50 44 16,767 14,588 7,837 16,063 15,937 6,541 

 Finance and insurance ..................................................................................................................................................................... 54 47 46 12,159 7,319 7,207 11,537 8,388 6,608 

 Real estate and rental and leasing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 5 ( 2

 ) 547 903 ( 2 ) 479 422 ( 2 ) 

 Professional and technical services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 40 42 31 6,889 8,369 3,363 5,979 7,225 3,533 

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

 ) 6 5 ( 2 ) 1,384 492 ( 2 ) 1,309 414 

 Administrative and waste services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 173 192 131 36,901 37,051 21,067 38,552 34,487 19,320 

 Educational services ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) 

 Health care and social assistance ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 33 29 1,802 4,039 4,175 2,062 4,049 3,285 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17 35 14 4,003 11,377 1,238 2,582 4,793 1,106 

 Accommodation and food services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 38 62 53 5,300 13,441 9,110 6,277 11,101 8,023 

 Other services, except public administration ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 16 15 1,174 2,562 2,955 994 2,260 1,256 

 Unclassified ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1 2 55 245 229 86 77 281 

 

 

1

 For the first quarter of 2004, data on layoffs were reported by employers data, will be unaffected and will continue to cover the total economy.

in all states and the District of Columbia. Beginning with data for the first quarter 

2

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

of 2004, the scope of extended mass layoffs and plant closings has been redefined 

p

 = preliminary.

to cover only the private nonfarm economy due to budget constraints. Quarterly 

r

 = revised.

information on layoff events in agriculture and government are no longer collected. NOTE: Dash represents zero.

However, the monthly reporting of Mass Layoffs , which is based only on administrative 

Separations Initial claimants for

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

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2003 and 2004

Reason for layoff

I IV I I IV I I IV I

 2003r 2003r 2004p 2003 2003 2004p 2003r 2003r 2004p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,502 1,690 1,204 286,947 325,093 239,361 297,607 325,765 165,272 

Automation ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

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

Bankruptcy ..................................................................................................................................................................... 44 26 28 23,257 4,347 8,422 19,117 2,856 5,294 

Business ownership change ..................................................................................................................................................................... 33 25 31 9,980 6,346 4,217 6,003 3,325 2,968 

Contract cancellation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 33 23 29 6,086 4,211 4,238 4,554 2,169 2,752 

Contract completed ..................................................................................................................................................................... 227 207 170 37,736 38,782 51,795 49,372 44,500 25,025 

Domestic relocation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26 18 ( 3

 ) 3,923 3,003 ( 3 ) 3,170 4,640 ( 3 ) 

Environment-related ..................................................................................................................................................................... – ( 2

 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

Financial difficulty ..................................................................................................................................................................... 104 56 84 21,756 12,768 15,755 24,371 9,792 11,959 

Import competition ..................................................................................................................................................................... 22 28 14 6,083 4,910 1,182 4,625 5,507 1,468 

Labor dispute ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 7 4 ( 2 ) 10,568 21,293 ( 2 ) 8,524 637 

Material shortage ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

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

Model changeover ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 2,891 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,332 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

Natural disaster ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 3 – – 741 – – 603 –

Overseas relocation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 9 ( 3

 ) 4,389 901 ( 3 ) 3,219 956 ( 3 ) 

Plant or machine repair ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 6 ( 2

 ) 725 815 ( 2 ) 864 689 ( 2 ) 

Product line discontinued ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 5 8 2,894 507 1,675 3,535 600 705 

Reorganization within company ..................................................................................................................................................................... 185 161 162 39,714 34,662 26,982 38,926 37,851 23,601 

Seasonal work ..................................................................................................................................................................... 279 726 332 47,686 138,510 56,478 44,350 122,986 46,600 

Slack work ..................................................................................................................................................................... 282 190 146 39,000 25,900 16,999 50,468 40,638 18,587 

Vacation period ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 7 3 385 1,293 427 505 1,576 512 

Weather-related ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 28 15 1,447 3,508 1,382 1,750 4,311 1,465 

Other ..................................................................................................................................................................... 40 35 56 6,876 4,755 11,004 9,244 6,488 6,567 

Not reported ..................................................................................................................................................................... 156 124 115 30,267 27,943 15,656 29,404 27,248 15,542 

 

1

 See footnote 1, table 1. p = preliminary.

 

2

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. r = revised.

 

3

 Beginning with data for 2004, these reasons for layoff are no longer used. NOTE: Dash represents zero.

Initial claimants for

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

private nonfarm sector, fourth quarter, 2003 and first quarter, 2004

Total Percent of total

State

Layoff events initial

claimants Black Hispanic

origin Women Persons age 55and over

IV I IV I IV I IV I IV I IV I

 2003r 2004p 2003r 2004p 2003r 2004p 2003r 2004p 2003r 2004p 2003r 2004p 

 Total, private nonfarm1

 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,690 1,204 325,765 165,272 11.2 14.0 15.7 15.4 34.7 40.2 15.1 15.2 

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

 ) 498 ( 2 ) 38.8 58.6 1.6 10.4 35.1 50.1 26.7 8.4 

Alaska ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 5 1,419 426 3.5 2.6 22.5 10.8 27.2 27.9 12.8 10.8 

Arizona ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 ( 2

 ) 1,278 ( 2 ) 6.1 9.1 29.0 26.2 42.9 47.4 13.1 9.8 

Arkansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 41.7 39.9 6.1 1.1 34.8 79.5 7.2 15.1 

California ..................................................................................................................................................................... 251 224 53,969 31,953 8.7 9.9 36.5 31.2 50.2 47.9 11.9 11.5 

Colorado ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 9 3,092 1,013 3.9 4.5 32.9 35.0 25.4 25.0 15.7 15.6 

Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 13 2,098 1,426 11.1 19.4 5.3 18.3 25.6 52.5 16.4 18.9 

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

 ) – ( 2 ) – 4.3 – 1.0 – 13.8 – 10.8 

District of Columbia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 – 486 – 21.0 – 20.4 – 40.5 – 14.4 –

Florida ..................................................................................................................................................................... 107 89 17,862 10,065 17.0 15.2 27.6 34.7 45.8 47.1 16.2 18.2 

Georgia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 27 3,909 5,022 54.6 45.2 1.5 2.8 49.9 37.2 12.8 21.8 

Hawaii ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 5 670 571 1.0 1.4 28.5 27.0 36.0 10.7 11.5 10.9 

Idaho ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 5 3,093 445 .3 1.1 26.5 4.3 47.8 18.7 20.1 15.5 

Illinois ..................................................................................................................................................................... 184 118 33,035 15,718 14.6 20.0 16.9 16.4 27.5 39.9 12.4 14.3 

Indiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 49 28 13,170 3,798 11.6 7.5 3.0 3.4 23.1 34.7 13.5 14.6 

Iowa ..................................................................................................................................................................... 28 12 4,019 1,184 1.4 2.0 3.9 3.4 17.2 40.8 15.3 15.9 

Kansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 9 2,119 731 6.9 12.7 7.5 4.9 22.2 48.2 14.5 17.0 

Kentucky ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 13 1,024 1,595 6.3 23.6 .3 .1 57.0 52.7 11.7 12.2 

Louisiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 8 1,502 684 55.0 44.4 2.1 4.1 34.8 24.1 15.9 13.0 

Maine ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 11 2,108 1,582 2.1 .6 .9 .1 35.3 26.2 16.1 19.4 

Maryland ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 50.0 8.1 1.7 – 8.3 49.6 50.0 14.1 

Massachusetts ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 23 4,168 2,652 5.8 7.8 2.2 3.0 33.9 43.9 18.9 14.1 

Michigan ..................................................................................................................................................................... 97 78 26,993 13,039 14.3 11.8 6.1 3.8 31.9 40.4 15.4 14.3 

Minnesota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 89 23 11,508 2,533 1.6 4.1 10.2 3.8 15.3 39.2 14.7 14.7 

Mississippi ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 3 266 244 76.7 87.3 .4 .4 45.1 48.4 21.4 16.8 

Missouri ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25 16 4,084 1,382 6.2 9.3 .5 1.0 36.6 24.4 24.2 13.9 

Montana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 4 1,163 339 .3 – 2.8 1.2 12.1 9.1 14.9 18.0 

Nebraska ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 6 1,187 449 1.3 19.4 11.1 7.3 15.2 27.4 18.0 14.3 

Nevada ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 6 900 2,053 7.1 11.3 20.6 17.0 26.3 40.8 23.2 28.9 

New Hampshire ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 – 513 – .6 – 1.0 – 23.2 – 22.8 –

New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................................................... 62 43 12,066 6,070 15.1 24.3 13.3 11.2 41.1 43.8 23.5 25.1 

New Mexico ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 ( 2

 ) 172 ( 2 ) .6 1.1 83.1 25.8 50.0 13.5 7.6 5.6 

New York ..................................................................................................................................................................... 93 56 16,422 8,350 7.3 9.5 6.4 5.9 30.1 31.5 16.3 14.1 

North Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 34 16 4,910 1,922 53.9 47.1 5.6 4.4 56.5 48.4 17.4 23.8 

North Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 3 1,100 360 1.0 .3 3.6 .3 12.9 11.7 16.0 20.8 

Ohio ..................................................................................................................................................................... 114 80 20,962 9,124 9.3 13.3 1.7 1.7 22.8 28.6 12.7 13.2 

Oklahoma ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 9 602 1,118 9.1 4.7 4.2 9.8 37.2 33.7 28.7 19.3 

Oregon ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26 23 5,392 3,822 1.1 1.9 24.9 19.3 42.0 54.4 16.2 17.5 

Pennsylvania ..................................................................................................................................................................... 80 60 18,225 9,726 7.3 8.1 1.9 1.6 37.1 34.2 21.1 18.2 

Rhode Island ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 6 846 458 2.8 1.7 22.5 13.3 34.3 54.1 21.9 31.7 

South Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 7 564 822 36.9 61.9 – 1.5 56.4 61.3 .5 1.7 

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

 ) – ( 2 ) – 1.2 – 2.3 – 28.7 – 11.7 

Tennessee ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 11 513 1,229 17.2 18.1 – – 49.1 51.9 34.9 20.7 

Texas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 37 44 9,083 8,665 16.8 16.7 40.7 41.1 26.4 36.5 11.2 11.6 

Utah ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 5 630 589 .8 .8 9.4 10.4 16.7 34.1 11.1 11.7 

Vermont ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 3 ( 2 ) 167 1.0 – – 1.2 9.7 25.7 12.6 12.6 

Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25 11 5,141 1,701 27.0 45.0 2.2 1.7 44.9 55.4 16.2 22.5 

Washington ..................................................................................................................................................................... 45 23 9,150 3,050 3.3 3.9 23.1 16.0 36.6 40.8 16.7 15.6 

West Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 3 1,206 405 1.4 – – – 23.8 44.9 13.9 11.9 

Wisconsin ..................................................................................................................................................................... 103 55 21,998 6,250 3.5 4.7 10.9 5.6 27.2 28.0 15.4 13.8 

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

 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1.4 2.9 – 4.9 39.4 74.5 39.4 15.7 

Puerto Rico ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 8 1,361 1,080 ( 3

 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 44.4 64.2 6.4 13.7 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. p

 = preliminary.

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

 = revised.

 3 Data are not available. NOTE: Dash represents zero.
Table 4. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2003 and 2004

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

I IV I I IV I I IV I

 2003r 2003r 2004p 2003 2003 2004p 2003r 2003r 2004p 

 United States1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,502 1,690 1,204 286,947 325,093 239,361 297,607 325,765 165,272 

Northeast ..................................................................................................................................................................... 301 296 215 51,897 49,114 28,978 56,458 56,549 30,431 

 New England ..................................................................................................................................................................... 63 61 56 13,165 10,188 7,355 9,949 9,836 6,285 

 Middle Atlantic ..................................................................................................................................................................... 238 235 159 38,732 38,926 21,623 46,509 46,713 24,146 

South ..................................................................................................................................................................... 394 283 246 77,657 50,571 38,832 83,813 47,971 35,222 

 South Atlantic ..................................................................................................................................................................... 233 202 155 48,069 39,473 25,267 41,431 34,138 21,006 

 East South Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 44 22 28 8,301 3,032 3,889 6,362 2,301 3,471 

 West South Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 117 59 63 21,287 8,066 9,676 36,020 11,532 10,745 

Midwest ..................................................................................................................................................................... 423 713 430 75,622 130,985 68,214 84,384 140,175 54,739 

 East North Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 329 547 359 56,970 103,942 57,697 68,332 116,158 47,929 

 West North Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 94 166 71 18,652 27,043 10,517 16,052 24,017 6,810 

West ..................................................................................................................................................................... 384 398 313 81,771 94,423 103,337 72,952 81,070 44,880 

 Mountain ..................................................................................................................................................................... 49 60 33 10,912 12,697 5,694 8,758 10,470 5,058 

 Pacific ..................................................................................................................................................................... 335 338 280 70,859 81,726 97,643 64,194 70,600 39,822 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. West Virginia; East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and 

 p = preliminary. Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and

 r = revised. 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, 2003 and 2004

State

I IV I I IV I I IV I

 2003r 2003r 2004p 2003 2003 2004p 2003r 2003r 2004p 

 Total, private nonfarm1

 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,502 1,690 1,204 286,947 325,093 239,361 297,607 325,765 165,272 

Alabama ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 4 ( 2

 ) 989 513 ( 2 ) 981 498 ( 2 ) 

Alaska ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 10 5 870 1,419 426 870 1,419 426 

Arizona ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 9 ( 2

 ) 2,214 1,232 ( 2 ) 2,528 1,278 ( 2 ) 

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

 ) ( 2 ) 413 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 315 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

California ..................................................................................................................................................................... 247 251 224 54,377 64,354 86,839 49,082 53,969 31,953 

Colorado ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 21 9 5,749 4,526 894 3,364 3,092 1,013 

Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 16 13 1,812 2,938 2,312 1,455 2,098 1,426 

Delaware ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) 

District of Columbia ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 4 – ( 2 ) 486 – ( 2 ) 486 –

Florida ..................................................................................................................................................................... 131 107 89 25,776 21,341 11,719 22,656 17,862 10,065 

Georgia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 21 27 3,304 4,193 6,980 4,087 3,909 5,022 

Hawaii ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 6 5 994 776 616 663 670 571 

Idaho ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 11 5 1,798 2,104 672 1,868 3,093 445 

Illinois ..................................................................................................................................................................... 130 184 118 28,720 38,846 24,332 24,997 33,035 15,718 

Indiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 42 49 28 5,785 6,187 5,160 7,716 13,170 3,798 

Iowa ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17 28 12 2,574 4,120 2,142 2,603 4,019 1,184 

Kansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 10 9 3,836 2,231 1,688 3,326 2,119 731 

Kentucky ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 9 13 3,282 1,554 1,893 2,642 1,024 1,595 

Louisiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 15 8 1,744 1,966 1,233 1,251 1,502 684 

Maine ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 12 11 2,593 2,263 1,849 1,809 2,108 1,582 

Maryland ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 332 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 308 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

Massachusetts ..................................................................................................................................................................... 42 19 23 8,306 3,634 2,552 6,216 4,168 2,652 

Michigan ..................................................................................................................................................................... 33 97 78 4,019 19,639 10,291 11,621 26,993 13,039 

Minnesota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 32 89 23 5,397 12,600 3,339 4,674 11,508 2,533 

Mississippi ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 4 3 1,285 374 369 831 266 244 

Missouri ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 25 16 5,592 5,658 2,030 4,575 4,084 1,382 

Montana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 7 4 500 1,615 335 421 1,163 339 

Nebraska ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 8 6 769 1,315 833 411 1,187 449 

Nevada ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 4 6 ( 2 ) 1,058 2,264 ( 2 ) 900 2,053 

New Hampshire ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 5 – 380 513 – 395 513 –

New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................................................... 45 62 43 5,531 11,677 6,513 6,181 12,066 6,070 

New Mexico ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 172 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 172 ( 2 ) 

New York ..................................................................................................................................................................... 113 93 56 22,953 17,522 8,149 19,660 16,422 8,350 

North Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 34 34 16 10,874 5,735 2,457 8,384 4,910 1,922 

North Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 6 3 351 1,119 350 316 1,100 360 

Ohio ..................................................................................................................................................................... 60 114 80 6,141 18,094 11,192 10,045 20,962 9,124 

Oklahoma ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 5 9 1,094 435 1,072 1,187 602 1,118 

Oregon ..................................................................................................................................................................... 32 26 23 5,039 4,027 6,625 5,487 5,392 3,822 

Pennsylvania ..................................................................................................................................................................... 80 80 60 10,248 9,727 6,961 20,668 18,225 9,726 

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

 ) 8 6 ( 2 ) 737 452 ( 2 ) 846 458 

South Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 4 7 1,360 512 799 951 564 822 

South Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) 

Tennessee ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 5 11 2,745 591 1,224 1,908 513 1,229 

Texas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 89 37 44 18,036 5,040 6,541 33,267 9,083 8,665 

Utah ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 4 5 ( 2 ) 1,190 900 ( 2 ) 630 589 

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

 ) 3 – ( 2 ) 190 – ( 2 ) 167 

Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20 25 11 5,202 5,945 1,631 4,132 5,141 1,701 

Washington ..................................................................................................................................................................... 44 45 23 9,579 11,150 3,137 8,092 9,150 3,050 

West Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 6 3 1,050 1,137 639 742 1,206 405 

Wisconsin ..................................................................................................................................................................... 64 103 55 12,305 21,176 6,722 13,953 21,998 6,250 

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

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

Puerto Rico ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 6 8 2,091 516 1,239 1,932 1,361 1,080 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. r

 = revised.

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

 p = preliminary.

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance
Table 6. State distribution: Index of mass-layoff separations, private nonfarm sector, first quarter 2003 and 2004 

I I IV IV I I

2003 2004p 2001 2002 2003 2004p

 Total, private nonfarm4

 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 100.0 100.0 

Alabama ..................................................................................................................................................................... .34466 .16836 1.31841 1.31701 26.1 12.8 

Alaska ..................................................................................................................................................................... .30319 .17797 .15920 .15909 190.4 111.9 

Arizona ..................................................................................................................................................................... .77157 .12533 1.89576 1.92258 40.7 6.5 

Arkansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... .14393 .34676 .80917 .81912 17.8 42.3 

California ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18.95019 36.27951 11.08415 11.16122 171.0 325.0 

Colorado ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2.00351 .37349 1.51744 1.48043 132.0 25.2 

Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................................................... .63148 .96591 1.30845 1.30016 48.3 74.3 

Delaware ..................................................................................................................................................................... .03171 .39021 .35404 .35100 9.0 111.2 

District of Columbia ..................................................................................................................................................................... .02788 – .44279 .46122 6.3 –

Florida ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8.98284 4.89595 5.83354 5.87120 154.0 83.4 

Georgia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.15143 2.91610 3.03225 3.00849 38.0 96.9 

Hawaii ..................................................................................................................................................................... .34641 .25735 .36879 .38753 93.9 66.4 

Idaho ..................................................................................................................................................................... .62660 .28075 .32591 .33235 192.3 84.5 

Illinois ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10.00882 10.16540 5.12927 5.09340 195.1 199.6 

Indiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2.01605 2.15574 2.37958 2.40849 84.7 89.5 

Iowa ..................................................................................................................................................................... .89703 .89488 1.01966 1.02813 88.0 87.0 

Kansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.33683 .70521 .96610 .95059 138.4 74.2 

Kentucky ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.14377 .79086 1.30421 1.30519 87.7 60.6 

Louisiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... .60778 .51512 1.26456 1.25564 48.1 41.0 

Maine ..................................................................................................................................................................... .90365 .77247 .39122 .38848 231.0 198.8 

Maryland ..................................................................................................................................................................... .11570 .04512 1.83639 1.83694 6.3 2.5 

Massachusetts ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2.89461 1.06617 2.68328 2.64934 107.9 40.2 

Michigan ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.40061 4.29936 3.77703 3.78138 37.1 113.7 

Minnesota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.88084 1.39496 2.10591 2.11175 89.3 66.1 

Mississippi ..................................................................................................................................................................... .44782 .15416 .78610 .78186 57.0 19.7 

Missouri ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.94879 .84809 2.01919 2.03513 96.5 41.7 

Montana ..................................................................................................................................................................... .17425 .13996 .19033 .19145 91.5 73.1 

Nebraska ..................................................................................................................................................................... .26799 .34801 .65628 .64685 40.8 53.8 

Nevada ..................................................................................................................................................................... .13382 .94585 .91549 .94444 14.6 100.1 

New Hampshire ..................................................................................................................................................................... .13243 – .41105 .41161 32.2 –

New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.92753 2.72099 3.07105 3.07490 62.8 88.5 

New Mexico ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01986 .03718 .45824 .46748 4.3 8.0 

New York ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7.99904 3.40448 6.51802 6.51292 122.7 52.3 

North Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3.78955 1.02648 2.84705 2.82846 133.1 36.3 

North Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... .12232 .14622 .19064 .19327 64.2 75.7 

Ohio ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2.14012 4.67578 4.50435 4.48633 47.5 104.2 

Oklahoma ..................................................................................................................................................................... .38126 .44786 1.02064 .99450 37.4 45.0 

Oregon ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.75607 2.76779 1.03989 1.03894 168.9 266.4 

Pennsylvania ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3.57139 2.90816 4.62477 4.62711 77.2 62.9 

Rhode Island ..................................................................................................................................................................... .02579 .18884 .35017 .34991 7.4 54.0 

South Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... .47396 .33381 1.32626 1.32376 35.7 25.2 

South Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... .04635 .05640 .22062 .22232 21.0 25.4 

Tennessee ..................................................................................................................................................................... .95662 .51136 2.27960 2.30159 42.0 22.2 

Texas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6.28548 2.73269 7.21269 7.16884 87.1 38.1 

Utah ..................................................................................................................................................................... .03241 .37600 .72829 .72948 4.5 51.5 

Vermont ..................................................................................................................................................................... – .07938 .17702 .17531 – 45.3 

Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.81288 .68140 2.55478 2.54284 71.0 26.8 

Washington ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3.33825 1.31057 1.82537 1.80444 182.9 72.6 

West Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... .36592 .26696 .43277 .42626 84.6 62.6 

Wisconsin ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4.28825 2.80831 2.22624 2.23393 192.6 125.7 

Wyoming ..................................................................................................................................................................... .04077 .10027 .10600 .10529 38.5 95.2 

 1 The share of separations is the proportion of each State's private nonfarm covered by State unemployment insurance laws.

separations to the total number of private nonfarm separations in the U.S. for 3 The index is the ratio of the share of separations to the share of 

the period. establishment employment, multiplied by 100.

 2 The share of establishment employment is the proportion of each State's 4 See footnote 1, table 1.

private nonfarm covered employment in establishments of 50 workers or more p = preliminary.

to the comparable U.S. total. Covered employment refers to workers who are NOTE: Dash represents zero.

State

Index of mass-layoff 

separations3

Share of 

establishment employment2

Share of 

separations1
Table 7. State distribution: Index of mass-layoff separations (excluding seasonal work and vacation periods),

private nonfarm sector, first quarter 2003 and 2004 

I I IV IV I I

2003 2004p 2001 2002 2003 2004p

 Total, private nonfarm4 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 100.0 100.0 

Alabama ..................................................................................................................................................................... .41402 – 1.31841 1.31701 31.4 –

Alaska ..................................................................................................................................................................... .12768 .04713 .15920 .15909 80.2 29.6 

Arizona ..................................................................................................................................................................... .69660 .05481 1.89576 1.92258 36.7 2.9 

Arkansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... .17289 .45490 .80917 .81912 21.4 55.5 

California ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20.86020 40.46291 11.08415 11.16122 188.2 362.5 

Colorado ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.77247 .18635 1.51744 1.48043 116.8 12.6 

Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................................................... .67483 1.19042 1.30845 1.30016 51.6 91.6 

Delaware ..................................................................................................................................................................... .03810 .51190 .35404 .35100 10.8 145.8 

District of Columbia ..................................................................................................................................................................... – – .44279 .46122 – –

Florida ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10.34763 6.16039 5.83354 5.87120 177.4 104.9 

Georgia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.38314 3.72967 3.03225 3.00849 45.6 124.0 

Hawaii ..................................................................................................................................................................... .41612 .33762 .36879 .38753 112.8 87.1 

Idaho ..................................................................................................................................................................... .55301 .03837 .32591 .33235 169.7 11.5 

Illinois ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8.77150 9.36938 5.12927 5.09340 171.0 184.0 

Indiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.97383 2.36989 2.37958 2.40849 82.9 98.4 

Iowa ..................................................................................................................................................................... .87828 .85445 1.01966 1.02813 86.1 83.1 

Kansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.60585 .62371 .96610 .95059 166.2 65.6 

Kentucky ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.15709 .82814 1.30421 1.30519 88.7 63.5 

Louisiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... .60827 .44559 1.26456 1.25564 48.1 35.5 

Maine ..................................................................................................................................................................... .77948 .74758 .39122 .38848 199.2 192.4 

Maryland ..................................................................................................................................................................... .13898 .05919 1.83639 1.83694 7.6 3.2 

Massachusetts ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2.90862 .98106 2.68328 2.64934 108.4 37.0 

Michigan ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.37142 4.28268 3.77703 3.78138 36.3 113.3 

Minnesota ..................................................................................................................................................................... .97415 .70373 2.10591 2.11175 46.3 33.3 

Mississippi ..................................................................................................................................................................... .53794 .20224 .78610 .78186 68.4 25.9 

Missouri ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.76703 .41161 2.01919 2.03513 87.5 20.2 

Montana ..................................................................................................................................................................... .15908 – .19033 .19145 83.6 –

Nebraska ..................................................................................................................................................................... .29346 .30692 .65628 .64685 44.7 47.4 

Nevada ..................................................................................................................................................................... .16075 1.12740 .91549 .94444 17.6 119.4 

New Hampshire ..................................................................................................................................................................... .13605 – .41105 .41161 33.1 –

New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2.02867 2.96455 3.07105 3.07490 66.1 96.4 

New Mexico ..................................................................................................................................................................... .02386 .04878 .45824 .46748 5.2 10.4 

New York ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7.56501 2.52390 6.51802 6.51292 116.1 38.8 

North Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4.18669 .84897 2.84705 2.82846 147.1 30.0 

North Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... .14694 .07235 .19064 .19327 77.1 37.4 

Ohio ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2.04332 3.07088 4.50435 4.48633 45.4 68.4 

Oklahoma ..................................................................................................................................................................... .45798 .58754 1.02064 .99450 44.9 59.1 

Oregon ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.76828 .81115 1.03989 1.03894 170.0 78.1 

Pennsylvania ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3.56042 3.42439 4.62477 4.62711 77.0 74.0 

Rhode Island ..................................................................................................................................................................... .03098 .21265 .35017 .34991 8.8 60.8 

South Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... .54798 .43791 1.32626 1.32376 41.3 33.1 

South Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... .02847 .02740 .22062 .22232 12.9 12.3 

Tennessee ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.12820 .67085 2.27960 2.30159 49.5 29.1 

Texas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7.55036 3.58497 7.21269 7.16884 104.7 50.0 

Utah ..................................................................................................................................................................... .03893 .10962 .72829 .72948 5.3 15.0 

Vermont ..................................................................................................................................................................... – .07509 .17702 .17531 – 42.8 

Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... .91805 .33104 2.55478 2.54284 35.9 13.0 

Washington ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3.05598 1.32744 1.82537 1.80444 167.4 73.6 

West Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... .40900 .30254 .43277 .42626 94.5 71.0 

Wisconsin ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2.78345 1.94841 2.22624 2.23393 125.0 87.2 

Wyoming ..................................................................................................................................................................... .04898 .13154 .10600 .10529 46.2 124.9 

 1 The share of separations is the proportion of each State's private nonfarm covered by State unemployment insurance laws.

separations to the total number of private nonfarm separations in the U.S. for 3 The index is the ratio of the share of separations (excluding seasonal 

the period. Seasonal work and vacation periods as reasons for layoff are work and vacation periods) to the share of establishment employment,

excluded from these calculations. multiplied by 100.

 2 The share of establishment employment is the proportion of each State's 4 See footnote 1, table 1.

private nonfarm covered employment in establishments of 50 workers or more p = preliminary.

to the comparable U.S. total. Covered employment refers to workers who are NOTE: Dash represents zero.

State

Index of mass-layoff 

separations3

Share of 

separations1

Share of 

establishment employment2
Table 8. Information technology-producing industries: Extended mass layoff events and separations, private nonfarm sector, 1996-2004

Layoff 

events Separations Layoff 

events Separations Layoff 

events Separations Layoff 

events Separations Layoff 

events Separations

1996

First quarter ......................................................................................... 1,263 246,820 27 6,377 11 9,008 6 900 15 3,541 

Second quarter ................................................................................. 1,130 209,688 23 4,475 ( 6

 ) ( 6 ) 10 1,359 4 615 

Third quarter .................................................................................... 847 181,569 28 3,818 ( 6

 ) ( 6 ) 8 1,710 5 1,290 

Fourth quarter ........................................................................................... 1,520 310,045 22 3,214 ( 6

 ) ( 6 ) 8 1,354 9 1,166 

 Total ........................................................................................... 4,760 948,122 100 17,884 20 10,724 32 5,323 33 6,612 

1997

First quarter ......................................................................................... 1,141 226,735 15 2,644 7 899 7 504 9 1,602 

Second quarter ................................................................................. 1,303 280,255 16 2,532 8 863 4 553 ( 6

 ) ( 6 ) 

Third quarter .................................................................................... 851 172,392 15 3,091 6 682 6 983 ( 6

 ) ( 6 ) 

Fourth quarter ........................................................................................... 1,376 268,461 18 3,667 4 762 6 475 4 819 

 Total ........................................................................................... 4,671 947,843 64 11,934 25 3,206 23 2,515 18 3,237 

1998

First quarter ......................................................................................... 1,115 178,251 29 5,212 8 1,550 7 725 9 1,685 

Second quarter ................................................................................. 1,333 336,536 37 8,455 5 357 7 1,317 5 650 

Third quarter .................................................................................... 1,028 201,186 63 11,066 5 1,175 12 3,031 5 1,051 

Fourth quarter ........................................................................................... 1,383 275,272 37 11,336 5 974 7 1,898 6 764 

 Total ........................................................................................... 4,859 991,245 166 36,069 23 4,056 33 6,971 25 4,150 

1999

First quarter ......................................................................................... 1,262 230,711 35 4,363 10 1,796 10 1,600 6 1,002 

Second quarter ................................................................................. 1,194 246,251 28 3,891 7 1,731 8 1,097 ( 6

 ) ( 6 ) 

Third quarter .................................................................................... 898 184,429 22 11,546 7 1,141 5 840 ( 6

 ) ( 6 ) 

Fourth quarter ........................................................................................... 1,202 240,060 18 2,757 5 526 4 807 6 1,430 

 Total ........................................................................................... 4,556 901,451 103 22,557 29 5,194 27 4,344 18 3,930 

2000

First quarter ......................................................................................... 1,081 202,500 22 5,195 14 2,717 9 1,402 4 771 

Second quarter ................................................................................. 1,055 205,861 18 8,862 22 9,114 7 805 7 977 

Third quarter .................................................................................... 817 174,628 10 1,678 12 1,422 4 1,465 6 1,280 

Fourth quarter ........................................................................................... 1,638 332,973 16 3,070 22 3,521 5 946 7 1,020 

 Total ........................................................................................... 4,591 915,962 66 18,805 70 16,774 25 4,618 24 4,048 

2001

First quarter ......................................................................................... 1,546 304,171 91 20,991 44 7,963 22 4,441 24 5,312 

Second quarter ................................................................................. 1,828 430,499 161 38,986 87 12,943 36 12,109 28 6,386 

Third quarter .................................................................................... 1,629 330,391 142 24,813 55 6,820 39 8,200 36 7,134 

Fourth quarter ........................................................................................... 2,372 459,771 109 17,797 56 8,290 43 10,124 48 11,252 

 Total ........................................................................................... 7,375 1,524,832 503 102,587 242 36,016 140 34,874 136 30,084 

2002

First quarter ......................................................................................... 1,611 299,266 84 18,574 39 4,442 32 8,192 42 6,664 

Second quarter ................................................................................. 1,624 344,606 69 11,764 49 5,454 27 4,870 53 8,538 

Third quarter .................................................................................... 1,186 255,152 76 15,017 42 5,415 34 6,529 42 7,945 

Fourth quarter ........................................................................................... 1,916 373,307 74 14,298 32 7,071 19 3,645 39 8,987 

 Total ........................................................................................... 6,337 1,272,331 303 59,653 162 22,382 112 23,236 176 32,134 

2003

First quarter ......................................................................................... r1,502 286,947 71 11,900 33 5,689 23 4,402 41 6,591 

Second quarter ................................................................................. r1,799 368,273 54 9,221 27 4,124 21 3,098 29 5,891 

Third quarter .................................................................................... r1,190 236,121 46 6,488 26 4,433 9 1,289 15 2,393 

Fourth quarter ........................................................................................... r1,690 325,093 25 5,080 14 1,984 9 1,619 28 6,635 

 Total ........................................................................................... 6,181 1,216,434 196 32,689 100 16,230 62 10,408 113 21,510 

2004

First quarterp 

............................................................................................................. 1,204 239,361 28 3,176 15 2,784 7 780 22 3,816 

 

1

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

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

 

2

 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry and computer and office machine repair.

Classification System (NAICS), are: semiconductor machinery manufacturing; office 

4

 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American 

machinery manufacturing; electronic computer manufacturing; computer storage Industry Classification System (NAICS), are: telephone apparatus manufacturing; 

device manufacturing; computer terminal manufacturing; other computer peripheral audio and video equipment manufacturing; broadcast and wireless communications 

equipment mfg.; electron tube manufacturing; bare printed circuit board manufacturing; equip.; fiber optic cable manufacturing; software reproducing; and magnetic and 

semiconductors and related device mfg.; electronic capacitor manufacturing; electronic optical recording media mfg.

resistor manufacturing; electronic coils, transformers, and inductors; electronic 

5

 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American 

connector manufacturing; printed circuit assembly manufacturing; other electronic Industry Classification System (NAICS), are: wired telecommunications carriers; 

component manufacturing; industrial process variable instruments; electricity and signal cellular and other wireless carriers; telecommunications resellers; cable and other 

testing instruments; analytical laboratory instrument mfg.; computer and software program distribution; satellite telecommunications; other telecommunications; 

merchant wholesalers; and computer and software stores. and communication equipment repair.

 

3

 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry 

6

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

Classification System (NAICS), are: software publishers; internet service providers; 

p

 = preliminary.

web search portals; data processing and related services; computer and software 

r

 = revised.

merchant wholesalers; computer and software stores; custom computer programming 

Communications 

services5

Information technology-producing industries1

Total extended 

mass layoffs

Year

Computer 

hardware2

Software and 

computer services3

Communications 

equipment4
AK HI

TX

OK

AR

AL MS

TN

SC

NC

LA

FL

GA

UT

NM AZ

CA

OR

WA

NV

CO

WY

ID

MT

KS MO

IA

MN

ND

SD

NE

KY

WI

IL IN OH

MI

WV

VA

MD

DE

PA

NY

NJ

VT

Pacific

Mountain West North Central East North Central

Middle

Atlantic

New England

West South

Central

East South

Central

Chart 1. Index of private nonfarm mass-layoff separatio

first quarter 2004

20

16

13

80

40

39

Note: The index is the ratio of the share of private nonfarm

separations to the share of private nonfarm covered employment

in establishments of 50 or more workers, multiplied by 100.

Source: Mass Layoff Statistics
AK HI

TX

OK

AR

AL MS

TN

SC

NC

LA

FL

GA

UT

NM AZ

CA

OR

WA

NV

CO

WY

ID

MT

KS MO

IA

MN

ND

SD

NE

KY

WI

IL IN OH

MI

WV

VA

MD

DE

PA

NY

NJ

VT

Pacific

Mountain West North Central East North Central

Middle

Atlantic

New England

West South

Central

East South

Central

Chart 2. Index of private nonfarm mass-layoff separatio

(excluding seasonal work and vacation period),

first quarter 2004

20

16

13

80

40

39

Note: The index is the ratio of the share of private nonfarm

separations to the share of private nonfarm covered employment

in establishments of 50 or more workers, multiplied by 100.

Source: Mass Layoff Statistics