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Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 03-178

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Friday, April 18, 2003

EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2002

AND ANNUAL AVERAGES FOR 2002

In the fourth quarter of 2002, 2,127 mass layoff actions were taken by employers that resulted in the

separation of 416,941 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 lower than in October-December 2001. (See table A.) The decline from

fourth quarter 2001 was most notable in administrative and support services, in transportation equipment

manufacturing, and in computer and electronic products manufacturing.

The completion of seasonal work accounted for 46 percent of all events and 213,730 separations during

the period. Layoffs due to internal company restructuring accounted for 16 percent of events, and resulted in

72,208 separations, lower than a year earlier. Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 11 percent of all

events and affected 54,762 workers, down from 83,688 workers in October-December 2001 and the

smallest for the fourth quarter since 1999. Fifty-eight percent of the employers with layoffs in the fourth

quarter indicated that they anticipated some type of recall, higher than a year ago (49 percent).

For all of 2002, extended mass layoff events, at 7,163, and the number of worker separations, at

1,493,065, were lower than in 2001, when there were 8,350 mass layoff events and 1,751,527 separations. Additional information on the annual data is available starting on page 5 of this release.

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

Extended mass layoff separations occurred in 498 of the 1,197 detailed industries for which data are

available. Manufacturing industries accounted for 32 percent of private-sector layoff events and 31 percent

of separations during October-December 2002. The 123,722 worker separations were the third highest for

a fourth quarter, trailing only those for 2001 and 2000. Layoff activity in this sector was concentrated in

food manufacturing (30,142, largely in the highly seasonal fruit and vegetable canning industry), followed by

computer and electronic products (13,867, mostly in semiconductors and related devices). A year earlier,

manufacturing layoff activity was at a fourth-quarter peak, accounting for 36 percent of private-sector events

and 35 percent of separations. (See table 1.)

 Mass Layoff Statistics Program

The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program was discontinued as of Dec. 31, 2002, due

to a lack of funding. However, funds for the MLS resumption were contained in H.J. Res. 2,

the Omnibus Appropriation Bill, signed into law on Feb. 20.
2

 1998

January-March ........... 1,320 208,082 247,315

April-June .................. 1,563 391,461 402,276

July-September .......... 1,234 248,054 256,803

October-December .... 1,734 379,976 325,990

 1999

January-March ........... 1,509 277,780 252,122

April-June .................. 1,444 294,968 242,464

July-September .......... 1,097 241,725 189,973

October-December .... 1,625 334,794 287,685

 2000

January-March ........... 1,330 254,646 221,368

April-June .................. 1,271 258,608 231,471

July-September .......... 1,014 230,103 189,250

October-December .... 2,005 427,070 376,611

 2001

January-March ........... 1,765 342,954 340,210

April-June .................. 2,072 481,886 401,270

July-September .......... 1,815 384,403 370,942

October-December .... 2,698 542,284 502,662

 2002

January-March ........... 1,748 333,304 315,819

April-June .................. 1,905 432,889 352,183

July-September .......... 1,383 309,931 274,576

October-December ... 2,127 416,941 305,208

Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity

p=preliminary. r=revised.

r

Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants

r

r

r

 p

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting accounted for 14 percent of private-sector layoff events and

19 percent of separations, with the layoff activity concentrated in agriculture and forestry support activities.

Layoffs in construction comprised 22 percent of events and 16 percent of separations, mostly in heavy and

civil engineering construction. Separations in this sector have averaged nearly 65,000 for each of the last

3 years. Cutbacks in administrative and waste services accounted for an additional 8 percent of events

and 7 percent of separations, mainly in temporary help services. Worker separations were sharply lower

than a year earlier. Extended mass layoffs in retail trade accounted for an additional 4 percent of events

and 6 percent of separations, primarily in general merchandise stores.

Layoffs in government establishments accounted for 2 percent of all events and 4 percent of separations,

mostly in the administration of environmental programs.

Reasons for Extended Layoff

Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 46 percent of the extended layoff events

and resulted in 213,730 separations in the fourth quarter. (See table 2.) Seasonal layoffs typically reach a

yearly peak in the fourth quarter, and 2002 was no exception. Seasonal layoffs this quarter were most numerous among workers in agriculture and forestry support services (largely among farm labor contractors),
3

Table B. Summary of employer expectations of a recall from

extended layoff, fourth quarter 2001–fourth quarter 2002

 Anticipate a recall ..... 49.1 35.3 52.8 36.4 57.6

 Timeframe

 Within 6 months ........ 80.8 77.3 82.0 77.5 78.8

 Within 3 months...... 30.8 46.5 57.4 51.5 32.6

 Size

 At least half................ 87.3 84.9 91.3 82.5 86.4

 All workers............. 36.2 27.7 42.8 32.6 36.5

 Percentage of events

 p=preliminary. r=revised.

Nature of the recall IV

2001

I

2002

II

2002

III

2002

IV

2002 r p

in heavy and civil engineering construction (mainly in highway, street, and bridge construction), and in crop

production (mostly in grape vineyards).

Internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change, financial difficulty, and reorganization) accounted for 16 percent of layoff events and resulted in 72,208 separations. These layoffs were

mostly among workers in general merchandise stores and in computer and electronic products manufacturing.

Lack of demand for products and services (slack work) accounted for 14 percent of events and resulted in 46,099 separations during the fourth quarter, mostly in machinery manufacturing and in transportation equipment manufacturing.

Recall Expectations

Fifty-eight percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the fourth quarter of 2002 indicated they

anticipated some type of recall. This compares with 49 percent of the employers anticipating a recall a year

earlier and 67 percent in fourth quarter 2000. (See table B.) Most of the employers not expecting a recall

were in computer and electronic products manufacturing and in administrative and support services.

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-six percent of the employers expected to extend the

offer to all laid-off workers.

Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in which 95 percent of the employers

expected a recall), employers expected to recall laid-off workers in 26 percent of the events. In layoff

events due to internal company restructuring, employers anticipated a recall in only 5 percent of the events.
4

 Layoff events

 Number Percent Number

Size

 Total........... 2,127 100.0 416,941 100.0

50-99............... 728 34.2 51,718 12.4

100-149........... 508 23.9 59,645 14.3

150-199........... 267 12.6 44,494 10.7

200-299........... 281 13.2 64,307 15.4

300-499........... 212 10.0 78,043 18.7

500-999........... 90 4.2 59,916 14.4

1,000 or more... 41 1.9 58,818 14.1

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

 October-December 2002

p=preliminary.

 Percent

 Separations

p

Size of Extended Layoff

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

layoff-size spectrum, with 58 percent involving fewer than 150 workers. These events, however, accounted

for only 27 percent of all separations. (See table C.) Separations involving 500 or more workers accounted

for 28 percent of all separations, down slightly from 32 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 55 separations in ambulatory health care services to a high of 616 in postal services.

Initial Claimant Characteristics

A total of 305,208 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended mass

layoffs in the fourth quarter of 2002. Of these claimants, 11 percent were black, 35 percent were women,

23 percent were Hispanic, and 14 percent were 55 years of age or older. (See table 3.) Forty percent of

claimants were 30 to 44 years of age. Among the civilian labor force for the same period, 11 percent were

black, 47 percent were women, 13 percent were Hispanic, and 15 percent were 55 years of age or older.

Thirty-seven percent of the civilian labor force were ages 30 to 44.

Geographic Distribution

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

West (165,218), followed by the Midwest (125,083), the Northeast (64,678), and the South (61,962).

(See table 4.) Extended mass layoffs in the West were mainly in agricultural and forestry support activities.

All four regions reported over-the-year decreases in separations, with the largest decrease occurring in

the Midwest (-44,332). Each of the nine geographic divisions reported over-the-year declines in laid-off

workers, with the largest declines in the East North Central and South Atlantic divisions.

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

California (115,631), followed by Illinois (45,455). These two states accounted for 33 percent of total layoff

events and 39 percent of the separations during the fourth quarter of 2002. They were followed by New

York (23,525), Wisconsin (18,560), Washington (16,068), and Pennsylvania (15,122). (See table 5.) After
5

Table D. Selected measures of mass layoff activity, 1996-2002

Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants

1996.................... 5,697 1,184,355 957,745

1997.................... 5,683 1,146,115 1,041,907

1998.................... 5,851 1,227,573 1,232,384

1999.................... 5,675 1,149,267 972,244

2000 ................... 5.620 1,170,427 1,018,700

2001 ................... 8,350 1,751,527 1,615,084

2002 ................... 7,163 1,493,065 1,247,786

r

r

p

p-preliminary. r=revised.

excluding the substantial impact of seasonal work, California still reported the most laid-off workers (30,838),

largely due to layoffs in administrative and support services and in computer and electronic products manufacturing.

Over the year, Massachusetts reported the greatest decrease in laid-off workers (-12,100), followed by

California (-10,954) and Illinois (-9,774). The largest increase occurred in South Carolina (+1,710).

Review of 2002

For all of 2002, employers reported 7,163 extended mass layoff actions, affecting 1,493,065 workers,

the second highest totals since full-year data became available in 1996. These totals were down from 8,350

events and 1,751,527 separations in 2001. (See table D.) The annual average national unemployment rate

increased from 4.7 percent in 2001 to 5.8 percent in 2002, while nonfarm payroll employment decreased by

0.9 percent, or 1,131,000 jobs.

In the private sector, manufacturing had the largest share of extended events and separations in 2002.

Manufacturing accounted for 34 percent of all mass layoff events—the smallest share since 1999—and

31 percent of all separations—the lowest percentage since 1997. Within manufacturing, separations were

most numerous in computer and electronic products (78,350, mainly in semiconductors and related devices),

food processing (77,630, largely in fruit and vegetable canning), and transportation equipment (57,944 mostly

in aircraft manufacturing). Compared with 2001, 18 of the 21 manufacturing subgroups had declines in the

number of separations, with the largest reported among employers in computer and electronic products

(-53,257), followed by those in transportation equipment (-28,459) and primary metals (-21,603). Food

manufacturing had the largest increase (+5,551).

In 2002, seasonal work continued to be the most cited reason for layoff, accounting for 32 percent of all

layoff events and 37 percent of all separations. These are the second lowest shares for seasonal layoffs since

1996. A year earlier, seasonal layoffs accounted for 27 percent of events and 28 percent of separations.

The layoffs in 2002 occurred primarily in establishments engaged in agriculture and forestry support activities,

crop production, and food manufacturing.

Layoff activity due to internal company restructuring occurred largely among general merchandise stores

and was at levels exceeded only by those in 2001. Employers cited this reason in 1,654 events (23 percent

of the total), resulting in the separation of 375,593 workers (25 percent of the total).
6

The West reported more laid-off workers in 2002 than any other region, 553,868. Layoffs in the West

were mainly in food production (agriculture and forestry support activities, crop production, and food

manufacturing) and were primarily attributed to seasonal factors. The Northeast region continued to report

the lowest annual number of separations (248,624). Compared with 2001, each of the four geographic

regions reported a decrease in laid-off workers, the first time that all four regions had an over-the-year

decrease. The largest decline occurred in the Midwest (-151,463).

Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, California continued to report the largest number

of separated workers (349,332), largely due to seasonal layoffs in agriculture. However, California accounted for its smallest share of events and its second smallest share of separations since 1996. After

California were Illinois (154,424), Florida (97,229), New York (69,977), Texas (68,978), and Pennsylvania

(62,456). These six states accounted for 51 percent of events and 54 percent of separations for the year.

Michigan had the largest over-the-year decline in the number of separations (-77,285); Arizona recorded the

largest over-the-year increase (+22,195).

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 fourth quarter are preliminary and subject

to revision. This release also includes revised data for previous quarters. Data are not seasonally adjusted,

but survey data suggest that there is a seasonal pattern to layoffs. Thus, comparisons between consecutive

quarters should not be used as an indicator of trend. For additional information about the program, see the

Technical Note.

______________________________

The report on Mass Layoffs in March 2003 will be issued on Wednesday, April 30, 2003.
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, selected quarters, 2001 and 2002

Industry

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

 2001r 2002r 2002p 2001r 2002r 2002p 2001r 2002r 2002p 

 Total1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2,698 1,383 2,127 542,284 309,931 416,941 502,662 274,576 305,208 

Total, private ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2,651 1,319 2,075 526,871 296,403 399,167 491,213 263,230 296,920 

 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ..................................................................................................................................................................... 278 132 281 66,941 41,568 75,647 34,985 18,022 34,193 

 Mining ..................................................................................................................................................................... 34 10 22 5,591 1,517 2,873 5,750 1,451 2,266 

 Utilities ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 ( 2

 ) 6 1,127 ( 2 ) 1,381 1,479 ( 2 ) 713 

 Construction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 459 63 455 65,449 8,503 65,243 68,118 12,158 56,807 

 Manufacturing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 959 499 672 185,209 106,339 123,722 204,706 104,083 109,854 

 Food ..................................................................................................................................................................... 113 50 120 29,713 20,320 30,142 22,789 9,736 20,714 

 Beverage and tobacco products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 ( 2

 ) 4 2,052 ( 2 ) 428 1,555 ( 2 ) 313 

 Textile mills ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25 18 17 5,715 3,001 2,800 5,710 6,692 3,554 

 Textile product mills ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 6 8 952 1,043 783 1,387 1,479 838 

 Apparel ..................................................................................................................................................................... 53 36 23 9,653 7,487 4,283 8,455 6,706 3,518 

 Leather and allied products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 6 8 1,713 484 857 1,580 486 854 

 Wood products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 36 12 35 4,022 1,584 5,111 6,636 2,288 4,513 

 Paper ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25 14 17 3,535 1,959 2,926 3,453 1,907 2,197 

 Printing and related support activities ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 9 8 2,333 1,267 1,435 2,199 1,039 747 

 Petroleum and coal products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 ( 2

 ) 17 2,405 ( 2 ) 2,742 2,248 ( 2 ) 2,654 

 Chemicals ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 10 11 2,338 2,515 1,552 1,752 1,312 1,012 

 Plastics and rubber products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 35 16 16 5,912 2,434 2,456 7,631 2,086 2,411 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 42 11 40 8,796 1,623 6,913 9,061 1,675 5,000 

 Primary metals ..................................................................................................................................................................... 56 30 38 16,812 4,943 6,521 20,305 6,268 7,158 

 Fabricated metal products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 58 25 33 7,304 4,629 4,530 9,512 3,861 3,854 

 Machinery ..................................................................................................................................................................... 78 38 54 10,968 6,755 11,680 18,296 9,030 10,186 

 Computer and electronic products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 151 107 81 27,984 20,799 13,867 28,990 20,752 12,006 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ..................................................................................................................................................................... 34 27 26 8,562 4,952 6,290 10,015 7,247 8,991 

 Transportation equipment ..................................................................................................................................................................... 117 55 76 25,750 15,025 11,690 33,219 15,056 13,498 

 Furniture and related products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 34 10 23 5,360 1,877 3,869 6,285 2,806 3,435 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 22 13 17 3,330 2,897 2,847 3,628 3,080 2,401 

 Wholesale trade ..................................................................................................................................................................... 43 35 33 4,650 5,542 6,681 4,655 4,601 3,744 

 Retail trade ..................................................................................................................................................................... 112 62 84 38,694 18,177 23,561 30,618 17,747 14,177 

 Transportation and warehousing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 100 84 57 26,594 25,097 17,554 21,757 22,046 11,798 

 Information ..................................................................................................................................................................... 92 70 62 17,884 14,787 10,687 21,531 15,649 8,966 

 Finance and insurance ..................................................................................................................................................................... 57 53 37 9,619 10,942 6,592 8,843 10,897 4,517 

 Real estate and rental and leasing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 5 ( 2

 ) 3,057 1,147 ( 2 ) 2,153 1,091 ( 2 ) 

 Professional and technical services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 78 57 52 11,589 9,031 7,657 11,505 8,505 6,203 

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

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

 Administrative and waste services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 199 124 164 45,892 33,379 28,568 41,590 32,442 25,009 

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

 ) 8 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 821 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 704 ( 2 ) 

 Health care and social assistance ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 39 29 5,344 4,448 4,749 3,513 4,122 3,949 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 43 26 32 9,869 7,541 7,807 6,522 3,485 3,845 

 Accommodation and food services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 110 34 56 22,192 4,159 11,422 17,768 3,809 7,266 

 Other services, except public administration ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 12 18 2,479 1,929 2,708 2,187 1,430 1,979 

 Unclassified ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 – 5 3,505 – 613 2,722 – 472 

Government ..................................................................................................................................................................... 47 64 52 15,413 13,528 17,774 11,449 11,346 8,288 

 Federal ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 9 8 2,182 2,165 3,552 2,764 2,124 1,033 

 State ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 13 19 5,683 3,021 7,438 4,282 3,002 4,061 

 Local ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 42 25 7,548 8,342 6,784 4,403 6,220 3,194 

 

 

 1 Data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the r

 = revised.

District of Columbia. NOTE: Industry data reflect the North American Industry

 

 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. Classification System (NAICS), 2002. Dash represents zero.

 p = preliminary.

Separations Initial claimants for

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

insurance, selected quarters, 2001 and 2002

Reason for separation

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

 2001r 2002r 2002p 2001r 2002r 2002p 2001r 2002r 2002p 

 Total, all reasons1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2,698 1,383 2,127 542,284 309,931 416,941 502,662 274,576 305,208 

Automation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 3 ( 2

 ) 343 406 ( 2 ) 889 273 ( 2 ) 

Bankruptcy ..................................................................................................................................................................... 74 59 43 26,505 23,812 14,649 20,326 19,519 8,896 

Business ownership change ..................................................................................................................................................................... 57 41 32 16,797 11,328 8,301 9,752 8,129 3,915 

Contract cancellation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 51 53 40 8,376 13,421 7,669 9,071 9,038 6,067 

Contract completed ..................................................................................................................................................................... 169 154 190 35,766 28,359 31,900 33,057 36,647 29,939 

Domestic relocation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23 27 18 4,781 4,803 5,103 4,021 3,616 2,660 

Energy-related ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

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

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

Financial difficulty ..................................................................................................................................................................... 181 122 100 38,971 24,514 17,500 35,626 20,983 14,085 

Import competition ..................................................................................................................................................................... 41 17 15 7,394 3,010 2,786 7,568 2,616 2,216 

Labor dispute ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 4 11 555 814 2,300 240 822 2,172 

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

 ) – 4 ( 2 ) – 379 ( 2 ) – 379 

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

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

Natural disaster ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

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

Non-natural disaster ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 ( 2

 ) – 1,336 ( 2 ) – 514 ( 2 ) –

Overseas relocation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 18 18 4,568 4,603 2,834 3,764 3,345 1,726 

Plant or machine repair ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 7 5 364 825 488 877 656 574 

Product line discontinued ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 10 9 1,718 1,729 945 1,463 1,116 932 

Reorganization within company ..................................................................................................................................................................... 191 181 169 38,870 38,091 31,758 33,706 37,221 23,870 

Seasonal work ..................................................................................................................................................................... 991 306 976 207,287 86,968 213,730 154,954 48,477 129,542 

Slack work ..................................................................................................................................................................... 669 268 304 112,064 43,857 46,099 144,223 55,111 50,360 

Vacation period ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 15 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3,605 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,106 ( 2 ) 

Weather-related ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20 ( 2

 ) 17 2,249 ( 2 ) 1,854 3,110 ( 2 ) 1,692 

Other ..................................................................................................................................................................... 111 42 58 20,304 7,268 10,549 24,105 8,262 9,302 

Not reported ..................................................................................................................................................................... 62 51 112 12,861 11,861 16,488 14,321 15,765 15,814 

 

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.

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, third and fourth quarters, 2002

Total Percent of total

State

Layoff events initial

claimants Black Hispanic

origin Women Persons age 55and over

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

 2002r 2002p 2002r 2002p 2002r 2002p 2002r 2002p 2002r 2002p 2002r 2002p 

 Total1

 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,383 2,127 274,576 305,208 14.9 10.6 17.9 23.2 43.7 34.7 15.1 14.0 

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

 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 41.1 32.1 .5 3.8 23.2 73.2 33.0 18.2 

Alaska ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 10 – 1,127 – 3.4 – 27.5 – 26.4 – 14.2 

Arizona ..................................................................................................................................................................... 35 21 5,627 2,558 5.8 6.5 37.0 27.0 37.8 41.9 13.5 16.3 

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

 ) 7 ( 2 ) 3,637 24.3 12.5 7.5 1.1 53.3 37.3 12.1 11.5 

California ..................................................................................................................................................................... 302 480 50,514 58,954 5.6 3.8 46.6 67.1 43.3 39.3 13.7 12.6 

Colorado ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 33 3,348 4,900 6.2 5.0 14.3 25.2 43.4 28.4 12.9 13.6 

Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 17 2,536 1,945 12.9 10.4 8.8 6.0 52.8 23.8 16.7 16.2 

Delaware ..................................................................................................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – –

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

 ) 3 ( 2 ) 276 50.6 15.2 .2 18.1 59.3 44.9 15.3 14.1 

Florida ..................................................................................................................................................................... 110 102 19,037 12,115 22.9 20.4 14.4 23.9 48.1 47.0 18.5 15.8 

Georgia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 16 6,580 2,091 33.4 56.1 6.9 1.0 52.7 48.3 11.7 13.7 

Hawaii ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 8 ( 2 ) 1,544 8.9 .5 9.5 48.6 18.8 68.1 9.8 11.7 

Idaho ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 7 357 1,165 .6 1.2 26.3 7.9 37.8 26.6 19.9 13.0 

Illinois ..................................................................................................................................................................... 109 213 23,573 31,110 27.1 14.0 11.4 16.9 43.2 27.6 12.2 12.2 

Indiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26 74 5,910 13,497 7.1 7.3 2.2 2.6 31.9 29.8 15.1 13.4 

Iowa ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 18 492 3,579 .8 1.1 .4 2.7 33.7 29.5 14.8 11.4 

Kansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 10 6,433 1,685 11.9 18.5 2.8 6.1 34.3 40.5 17.3 13.8 

Kentucky ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 28 2,684 3,342 3.7 6.6 .7 1.2 51.4 41.4 18.7 16.5 

Louisiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 22 1,543 2,452 48.2 47.8 3.2 2.8 50.7 27.0 10.0 12.6 

Maine ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 13 ( 2 ) 1,831 – .2 – .1 20.1 47.7 13.2 16.1 

Maryland ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 7 947 1,137 35.1 26.5 1.6 1.1 32.8 47.1 24.9 32.3 

Massachusetts ..................................................................................................................................................................... 42 31 8,555 3,882 6.1 6.8 1.8 1.8 48.5 32.5 18.4 13.0 

Michigan ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 54 2,636 6,240 22.5 13.0 1.9 15.0 49.2 36.6 13.9 12.0 

Minnesota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 22 93 3,800 11,100 3.6 2.5 2.6 8.5 42.3 19.9 14.6 14.5 

Mississippi ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 14 766 1,240 75.3 54.3 .3 .4 50.9 49.1 11.6 16.0 

Missouri ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 34 4,275 5,379 22.0 11.2 1.2 .4 57.6 40.0 16.2 21.0 

Montana ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 11 – 1,474 – .3 – 2.3 – 19.7 – 15.3 

Nebraska ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 9 550 766 11.3 1.3 3.3 12.0 37.1 13.8 13.1 19.2 

Nevada ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 7 1,081 2,151 7.4 8.8 22.0 15.2 26.5 41.2 21.5 21.2 

New Hampshire ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) – ( 2 ) – .3 – 3.0 – 44.6 – 16.1 –

New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................................................... 56 55 8,167 7,639 21.5 16.7 14.9 18.9 53.2 43.2 19.9 20.4 

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

 ) 4 ( 2 ) 326 .8 3.1 56.7 61.0 32.3 31.0 18.7 12.9 

New York ..................................................................................................................................................................... 122 121 25,929 16,641 15.9 9.9 8.3 8.0 46.0 38.7 14.5 17.2 

North Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30 29 6,090 4,403 29.8 36.2 1.6 5.3 48.2 47.9 15.7 13.2 

North Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 8 – 1,140 – .5 – 3.5 – 11.3 – 12.7 

Ohio ..................................................................................................................................................................... 50 106 8,964 14,002 14.4 12.4 1.6 3.8 30.2 19.1 17.6 11.5 

Oklahoma ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 7 667 874 17.4 8.2 15.0 10.1 28.5 18.1 13.0 14.6 

Oregon ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25 41 3,406 6,579 2.8 2.2 8.5 16.8 40.5 36.6 14.7 14.1 

Pennsylvania ..................................................................................................................................................................... 59 77 19,989 19,725 6.3 6.2 3.5 2.5 40.1 35.3 19.0 15.3 

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

 ) 10 ( 2 ) 955 3.3 3.1 28.2 26.1 44.4 57.5 20.7 21.4 

South Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 18 2,115 3,716 53.2 50.1 .1 .2 58.6 40.5 1.7 1.5 

South Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – –

Tennessee ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 15 1,798 1,785 28.3 21.2 – .1 42.5 38.4 20.8 15.8 

Texas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 77 70 25,660 15,285 19.0 17.5 35.4 34.2 40.8 30.9 11.7 11.3 

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

 ) 5 ( 2 ) 734 1.9 .3 9.3 8.4 28.9 24.9 25.3 12.4 

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

 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2.1 .3 1.1 – 25.1 66.1 14.2 22.5 

Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20 26 4,232 3,444 27.4 36.3 1.1 3.0 59.6 53.1 19.6 14.4 

Washington ..................................................................................................................................................................... 41 66 7,354 8,582 4.7 3.7 19.3 39.2 41.4 37.1 15.2 13.6 

West Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 8 658 1,001 .2 .8 – – 23.4 47.9 17.5 17.2 

Wisconsin ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 115 4,717 16,536 3.9 3.8 4.0 13.5 43.9 26.9 15.6 16.1 

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

 ) – ( 2 ) – 1.0 – 1.0 – 40.4 – 26.9 

Puerto Rico ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 3 3,191 463 ( 3

 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 50.6 49.0 7.0 17.1 

 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, selected quarters, 2001 and 2002

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

 2001r 2002r 2002p 2001r 2002r 2002p 2001r 2002r 2002p 

 United States1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2,698 1,383 2,127 542,284 309,931 416,941 502,662 274,576 305,208 

Northeast ..................................................................................................................................................................... 401 300 326 82,297 60,674 64,678 83,553 66,668 52,969 

 New England ..................................................................................................................................................................... 132 63 73 31,589 15,707 16,606 23,452 12,583 8,964 

 Middle Atlantic ..................................................................................................................................................................... 269 237 253 50,708 44,967 48,072 60,101 54,085 44,005 

South ..................................................................................................................................................................... 542 350 373 102,445 69,958 61,962 103,947 73,601 57,007 

 South Atlantic ..................................................................................................................................................................... 292 203 209 59,847 40,614 33,017 55,346 40,084 28,183 

 East South Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 103 48 58 19,216 8,204 11,076 18,495 5,433 6,576 

 West South Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 147 99 106 23,382 21,140 17,869 30,106 28,084 22,248 

Midwest ..................................................................................................................................................................... 897 285 734 169,415 66,696 125,083 172,773 61,350 105,034 

 East North Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 681 215 562 132,627 48,074 97,281 133,436 45,800 81,385 

 West North Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 216 70 172 36,788 18,622 27,802 39,337 15,550 23,649 

West ..................................................................................................................................................................... 858 448 694 188,127 112,603 165,218 142,389 72,957 90,198 

 Mountain ..................................................................................................................................................................... 150 77 89 30,635 16,602 23,888 23,062 11,347 13,412 

 Pacific ..................................................................................................................................................................... 708 371 605 157,492 96,001 141,330 119,327 61,610 76,786 

 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,

selected quarters, 2001 and 2002

State

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

 2001r 2002r 2002p 2001r 2002r 2002p 2001r 2002r 2002p 

 Total1

 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2,698 1,383 2,127 542,284 309,931 416,941 502,662 274,576 305,208 

Alabama ..................................................................................................................................................................... 28 ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 6,754 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 6,507 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

Alaska ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 – 10 1,047 – 1,127 580 – 1,127 

Arizona ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25 35 21 3,747 9,757 5,263 4,300 5,627 2,558 

Arkansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 ( 2

 ) 7 1,758 ( 2 ) 1,525 714 ( 2 ) 3,637 

California ..................................................................................................................................................................... 586 302 480 126,585 79,487 115,631 95,713 50,514 58,954 

Colorado ..................................................................................................................................................................... 46 24 33 7,349 3,522 7,334 6,894 3,348 4,900 

Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23 12 17 3,977 3,591 2,907 2,971 2,536 1,945 

Delaware ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 – – 359 – – 359 – –

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

 ) ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 276 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 276 

Florida ..................................................................................................................................................................... 137 110 102 21,666 22,225 14,013 21,407 19,037 12,115 

Georgia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 15 16 10,998 3,372 2,367 4,545 6,580 2,091 

Hawaii ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17 ( 2

 ) 8 2,165 ( 2 ) 1,925 2,372 ( 2 ) 1,544 

Idaho ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17 4 7 2,887 504 1,982 2,017 357 1,165 

Illinois ..................................................................................................................................................................... 254 109 213 55,229 29,186 45,455 44,684 23,573 31,110 

Indiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 72 26 74 12,389 5,524 13,945 15,689 5,910 13,497 

Iowa ..................................................................................................................................................................... 50 5 18 6,327 556 2,602 9,224 492 3,579 

Kansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 15 10 7,385 8,081 2,031 8,701 6,433 1,685 

Kentucky ..................................................................................................................................................................... 32 21 28 6,189 3,876 4,590 5,823 2,684 3,342 

Louisiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 27 15 22 4,321 2,052 2,889 3,195 1,543 2,452 

Maine ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 ( 2

 ) 13 5,103 ( 2 ) 4,659 2,714 ( 2 ) 1,831 

Maryland ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 6 7 3,840 1,495 1,316 2,812 947 1,137 

Massachusetts ..................................................................................................................................................................... 78 42 31 19,373 10,011 7,273 15,253 8,555 3,882 

Michigan ..................................................................................................................................................................... 108 12 54 14,550 3,993 5,092 22,100 2,636 6,240 

Minnesota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 98 22 93 14,693 4,336 14,863 13,717 3,800 11,100 

Mississippi ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 6 14 2,386 1,057 2,211 2,045 766 1,240 

Missouri ..................................................................................................................................................................... 45 24 34 6,748 4,890 5,835 6,133 4,275 5,379 

Montana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 – 11 2,118 – 2,258 1,056 – 1,474 

Nebraska ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 4 9 ( 2 ) 759 1,331 ( 2 ) 550 766 

Nevada ..................................................................................................................................................................... 27 10 7 7,177 1,106 3,923 3,884 1,081 2,151 

New Hampshire ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 ( 2

 ) – 1,945 ( 2 ) – 1,638 ( 2 ) –

New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................................................... 56 56 55 9,566 8,538 9,425 10,925 8,167 7,639 

New Mexico ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 ( 2

 ) 4 1,568 ( 2 ) 798 782 ( 2 ) 326 

New York ..................................................................................................................................................................... 118 122 121 22,140 24,390 23,525 18,007 25,929 16,641 

North Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 63 30 29 14,362 7,541 6,483 12,390 6,090 4,403 

North Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 – 8 1,546 – 1,140 1,473 – 1,140 

Ohio ..................................................................................................................................................................... 138 50 106 23,077 5,711 14,229 26,886 8,964 14,002 

Oklahoma ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 4 7 2,145 793 902 3,371 667 874 

Oregon ..................................................................................................................................................................... 39 25 41 8,619 4,223 6,579 7,950 3,406 6,579 

Pennsylvania ..................................................................................................................................................................... 95 59 77 19,002 12,039 15,122 31,169 19,989 19,725 

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

 ) 10 870 ( 2 ) 1,026 555 ( 2 ) 955 

South Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 14 18 1,551 1,760 3,261 5,876 2,115 3,716 

South Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... – – – – – – – – –

Tennessee ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25 19 15 3,887 3,052 4,162 4,120 1,798 1,785 

Texas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 103 77 70 15,158 17,753 12,553 22,826 25,660 15,285 

Utah ..................................................................................................................................................................... 22 ( 2

 ) 5 5,789 ( 2 ) 1,350 4,129 ( 2 ) 734 

Vermont ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 321 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 321 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30 20 26 6,758 2,926 3,989 7,644 4,232 3,444 

Washington ..................................................................................................................................................................... 61 41 66 19,076 11,955 16,068 12,712 7,354 8,582 

West Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 6 8 ( 2 ) 870 1,312 ( 2 ) 658 1,001 

Wisconsin ..................................................................................................................................................................... 109 18 115 27,382 3,660 18,560 24,077 4,717 16,536 

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) 

Puerto Rico ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23 12 3 4,691 2,616 769 4,484 3,191 463 

 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