Technical information: (202) 691-6392

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 05-2194

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Thursday, November 17, 2005

EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2005

In the third quarter of 2005, employers took 742 mass layoff actions that resulted in the separation of

136,280 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 during the July-September 2004 time period and were at their lowest levels for any third quarter since data collection began in 1995. (See table A.) The declines over the

year were most notable in administrative and support services, credit intermediation and related activities,

and food manufacturing. Extended mass layoffs that involve the movement of work within the same company or to a different company, either domestically or outside the U.S., occurred in 11 percent of the nonseasonal layoff events and 14 percent of worker separations. (See table B.) Among employers who anticipated recalling laid-off workers, 43 percent expected to extend the offer to all laid-off workers. This is

the lowest proportion for a third quarter since 2002.

The data presented in this release reflect early results of contact with employers who had potential layoffs

in September that could have been directly or indirectly related to Hurricane Katrina. In Louisiana, there

were 684 such actions reported in September; in Mississippi, there were 96. In the limited amount of time

available to contact those employers, 27 employers in Louisiana confirmed that they had layoffs due to

 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

The initial job losses associated with Hurricane Katrina, which struck the Gulf Coast on August

29, and Hurricane Rita, which made landfall on September 24, were reported in the September

Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) news release issued on October 25. The extended mass layoff

statistics provide a more complete view of layoff data through employer interviews for mass layoff

events that occurred during the July-September period. Analysis of the hurricane-related job losses

that occurred in September (the last month of the reference period) is extremely limited because very

few employer interviews could be conducted in the time available before the scheduled release of the

third-quarter data.

BLS is receiving interim reports of extended mass layoffs to provide a timely and comprehensive

picture of layoffs associated with the hurricanes. The interim reports related to the storms will be

issued through the regularly scheduled MLS news releases, as data become available.

For additional information on the storms’ impacts on MLS data, including questions and answers

on concepts and definitions, data collection, and future publication plans, please see http://www.bls.

gov/katrina/mlsquestions.htm or call (202) 691-6392.
2

 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 ........... 1,502 286,947 297,608

April-June .................. 1,799 368,273 348,966

July-September .......... 1,190 236,333 227,909

October-December .... 1,690 325,333 326,328

 2004

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

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

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

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

 2005

January-March ........... 1,142 187,128 185,374

April-June .................. 1,203 245,422 212,671

July-September .......... 742 136,280 108,647

Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity

 Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants

r

 = revised.

p

r

r

r

p

Hurricane Katrina that lasted more than 30 days and resulted in 5,893 workers losing their jobs. The

number of extended mass layoff events is likely to rise as more employers are contacted.

The completion of seasonal work accounted for 23 percent of all events and resulted in 35,433 separations during the period—the greatest share of private nonfarm seasonal separations for a third quarter

since the third quarter of 1997. Layoffs due to internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business

ownership change, financial difficulty, and reorganization) represented 22 percent of events and resulted in

33,793 separations, the lowest level for a third quarter since 1997. Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 16 percent of all events and affected 24,818 workers, the fewest number of separations due to

permanent closures for any third quarter since the data were first collected in 1995.

In the third quarter of 2005, the national unemployment rate was 5.0 percent, not seasonally adjusted; a

year earlier it was 5.4 percent. Private nonfarm payroll employment, not seasonally adjusted, increased by

1.8 percent or about 2 million jobs from July-September 2004 to July-September 2005.

= preliminary.
3

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

third quarter 2005

Action Layoff events Separations

Total private nonfarm ............................. 742 136,280

 Total, excluding seasonal and

 vacation events ............................. 566 100,253

 Total events with movement

 of work ................................... 60 13,910

 Movement-of-work actions ..... 74 (3

)

With separations reported .. 56 7,420

With separations unknown . 18 (3)

p

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

layoff was either seasonal work or vacation period.

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

Data not available.

= preliminary.

1

2

 1

 2

 3

p

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

Extended mass layoff separations occurred in 300 of the 1,105 detailed industries for which data are

available for the third quarter of 2005. This is the fewest number of industries to have at least one extended

mass layoff event in a third quarter.

Manufacturing industries accounted for 33 percent of private nonfarm layoff events and separations during

July-September 2005. (See table 1.) The 45,346 worker separations in manufacturing were the fewest for

manufacturing for any third quarter. In the third quarter of 2005, separations in this sector were concentrated

in transportation equipment manufacturing (8,621), followed by food manufacturing (8,398).

The administrative and waste services sector had 11 percent of events and separations, mostly in temporary help services and in professional employer organizations. Layoffs in the transportation and warehousing sector comprised 9 percent of events and 11 percent of separations, mostly among scheduled

passenger air transportation and in school and employee bus transportation. Retail trade accounted for

7 percent of private nonfarm layoff events and 8 percent of separations, primarily in supermarkets and

other grocery stores. Cutbacks in arts, entertainment, and recreation (mainly in skiing facilities) accounted

for 3 percent of events and 8 percent of separations.

Information technology-producing industries (communication equipment, communications services, computer hardware, and software and computer services) accounted for 5 percent of layoff events and 5,412

worker separations in the third quarter of 2005, the fewest number of separations in the industry grouping for

a third quarter since 1997. (See table 6.) In the third quarter of 2004, these industries accounted for 5

percent of layoff events and 8,652 separations. Layoffs in the information technology-producing industries in
4

Table C. Movement-of-work actions by type of separation where the number

of separations is known by employers, third quarter 2005

With separations reported .......... 56 7,420

Out of country............................ 19 2,577

15 2,137

 Different company ................. 4 440

Domestic relocations .................. 37 4,843

27 2,585

 Different company ................. 10 2,258

Within company ......................... 42 4,722

 Domestic ............................... 27 2,585

 Out of country....................... 15 2,137

Different company ...................... 14 2,698

 Domestic ............................... 10 2,258

 Out of country....................... 4 440

Action Layoff events Separations

By location

 1 Only actions for which separations associated with the movement of work

were reported are shown.

 p = preliminary.

By company

p

1

the third quarter of 2005 were most numerous in computer hardware with 2,150 separations, followed by

software and computer services.

Reasons for Extended Layoff

Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 23 percent of the extended layoff events

and resulted in 35,433 separations in the third quarter. (See table 2.) Seasonal layoffs were most numerous

among workers in amusement, gambling, and recreation (skiing facilities), and in transit and ground passenger

transportation (school and employee bus transportation).

Contract completion accounted for 21 percent of events and resulted in 21,347 separations during the

third quarter. These layoffs were primarily in administrative and support services, followed by specialty trade

contractors.

Within company.......................

Within company.......................
5

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

 layoff, third quarter 2004-third quarter 2005

 Anticipate a recall ............... 41.1 64.2 51.5 61.8 43.9

 Timeframe

 Within 6 months .................. 84.1 84.8 85.5 89.4 86.8

 Within 3 months................. 66.8 33.1 53.4 59.5 63.2

 Size

 At least half ......................... 86.0 92.9 92.5 92.9 86.5

 All workers ........................ 46.7 49.8 43.2 51.1 42.9

Nature of the recall III

2005

I

2005

II

2005

IV

2004

III

2004 r p

Percentage of events

r

 = revised.

p

 = preliminary.

r

Internal company restructuring (due to bankruptcy, business ownership change, financial difficulty, and

reorganization) accounted for 22 percent of layoff events and resulted in 33,793 separations. These layoffs

were mostly among workers in food and beverage stores, credit intermediation and related activities, and in

food manufacturing. Over half of both the internal company restructuring layoff events and separations were

due to reorganization within the company.

Extended mass layoffs that resulted from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are coded as weather-related. At

this time, most employers with layoff events potentially due to Katrina and Rita have not yet been contacted

because of the large number of potential events and the limited time available to complete the contacts before

this release. In Louisiana, interviews were completed with employers for only a limited number of the 684

potential events reported in September. Employers in Louisiana confirmed during these limited contacts that

there were 27 layoff events attributable to the hurricanes and for which 5,893 workers were laid off for more

than 30 days. Among the 5,893 laid-off workers, 63 percent, or 3,709 workers, were separated from their

jobs in retail trade and in administrative and waste services.

Movement of Work

Between July and September of 2005, 60 extended mass layoff events involved the movement of work;

this was about 11 percent of total extended mass layoff events, excluding those for seasonal and vacation

reasons. (See table B.) These movements of work were to other U.S. locations or to locations outside of

the U.S., and they occurred either within the same company or to other companies. The extended mass

layoff events involving movement of work were associated with the separation of 13,910 workers, about 14

percent of all separations resulting from nonseasonal/nonvacation mass layoff events. A year earlier, there

were 84 layoff events and 17,400 separations associated with the movement of work. (See table 10.)
6

 Number Percent Number

Size

 Total............ 742 100.0 136,280 100.0

50-99................ 308 41.5 22,002 16.1

100-149............ 172 23.2 20,469 15.0

150-199............ 82 11.1 13,604 10.0

200-299............ 92 12.4 21,504 15.8

300-499............ 50 6.7 18,869 13.8

500-999............ 19 2.6 12,804 9.4

1,000 or more.... 19 2.6 27,028 19.8

p

 = preliminary.

 Percent

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

July-September 2005

Layoff events Separations

p

Among the 60 extended mass layoff events with reported relocation of work, 52 percent were permanent

closures of worksites, which affected 6,000 workers. In comparison, for the 742 total layoff events reported

for the third quarter of 2005, only 16 percent involved the permanent closure of worksites.

Of the layoffs involving the movement of work, 58 percent of the events and 43 percent of the laid-off

workers were from manufacturing industries during the third quarter of 2005. (See table 7.) Among all private nonfarm extended layoffs, manufacturing accounted for 33 percent of the events and separations.

Internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change, financial difficulty, and reorganization) accounted for 68 percent of layoff events associated with work relocation and resulted in 7,881

separations during the third quarter. (See table 8.) Most of these were due to reorganization within the

company. Only 22 percent of the layoff events in the total private nonfarm economy were because of

internal company restructuring.

Among the regions, the Midwest accounted for the largest proportion of workers in extended mass

layoffs associated with the movement of work (51 percent) in the third quarter of 2005, followed by the

South (24 percent), the West (18 percent), and the Northeast (7 percent).

As noted in table B, the 60 extended layoff events for the third quarter of 2005 discussed above involve

74 identifiable relocations of work. An identifiable relocation of work occurs when the employer provides

sufficient information on the new location of work and/or the number of workers affected by the movement.

Some extended mass layoff events involve more than one relocation-of-work action. For example, an extended mass layoff event at an establishment may involve job loss due to movement of work to both another

domestic location of the company and a location out of the country. This would be counted as two movement-of-work actions. Of the 74 relocations, employers were able to provide information on the specific

separations (7,420 workers) associated with the movement-of-work component of the layoff in 56 actions,

or 76 percent of the total actions for the third quarter of 2005. Thus, a range of 7,420 (separations in

movement-of-work actions where the employer was able to provide specific detail) to 13,910 (total

separations in all layoff events that included movement of work) is established for separations due to the

movement of work in the third quarter. (See table 10.)
7

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

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

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: The geographic boundaries of the metropolitan areas shown in this table are

defined in Office of Management and Budget Bulletin 04-03, February 18, 2004.

Metropolitan area III

2005

III

2004

III

2005

III

2004 p

Events Separations

Total, nonmetropolitan areas............................. 105 103 15,940 19,638

Total, 367 metropolitan areas........................... 507 457 85,331 80,005

New York-Northern New Jersey-Long

 Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ............................... 76 72 12,804 11,188

Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, III.-Ind.-Wis. ...... 43 39 8,457 7,631

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington,

 Minn.-Wis. ............................................... 5 10 640 4,415

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. . 36 27 7,109 3,769

Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich. ..................... 20 17 2,295 3,273

New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, La. ............. (1

) 23 (1) 3,074

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. ..... 8 4 4,710 2,441

Rockford, Ill. ............................................... (1)3(1) 1,877

Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio-Ky.-Ind. ......... (1)7(1) 1,769

St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. ........................................ 3 5 429

p

1,742

In the 56 actions where employers were able to provide more complete separations information, 75

percent of relocations (42 out of 56) occurred among establishments within the same company. (See table

C.) In 64 percent of these relocations, the work activities were reassigned to places elsewhere in the U.S.

Almost 34 percent of the movement-of-work relocations involved out-of-country moves (19 out of 56).

The separation of 2,577 workers was associated with out-of-country relocations, about 3 percent of all

nonseasonal/nonvacation extended mass layoff separations. Domestic relocation of work—both within the

company and to other companies—affected 4,843 workers. (See table 11.)

Recall Expectations

Forty-four percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the third quarter of 2005 indicated they

anticipated some type of recall. This compares with 41 percent of the employers anticipating a recall a year

earlier and is the highest such proportion for a third quarter since 2000. (See table D.) The third quarter

typically has the lowest recall expectations for any quarter of the year. Most employers not expecting a

recall during the third quarter were from administrative and support services and transportation equipment

manufacturing.
8

Among establishments expecting a recall, most employers expected to recall over one-half of the separated employees and to do so within 6 months. Forty-three 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 91 percent of the employers

expected a recall), employers expected to recall laid-off workers in 29 percent of the events. A year earlier,

26 percent of employers expected a recall in nonseasonal and nonvacation events. In layoff events due to

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

Size of Extended Layoff

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

layoff-size spectrum, with 65 percent involving fewer than 150 workers. These events, however, accounted

for only 31 percent of all separations. (See table E.) Separations involving 500 or more workers, while

comprising 5 percent of the events, accounted for 29 percent of all separations, up from 27 percent in JulySeptember 2004. The average size of layoffs (as measured by separations per layoff event) differed widely

by industry, ranging from a low of 77 separations in miscellaneous store retailers to a high of 1,257 in amusements, gambling, and recreation.

Initial Claimant Characteristics

A total of 108,647 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended mass

layoffs in the third quarter of 2005. Of these claimants, 18 percent were black, 12 percent were Hispanic,

45 percent were women, 36 percent were 30 to 44 years of age, and 18 percent were 55 years of age or

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

13 percent were Hispanic, 46 percent were women, 35 percent were age 30 to 44, and 16 percent were 55

years of age or older.

Geographic Distribution

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

Midwest (43,440), followed by the South (39,403), the West (26,856), and the Northeast (26,581). (See

table 4.) Extended mass layoffs in the Midwest were mainly in amusements, gambling, and recreation and in

food production.

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

the West (-12,127), followed by the Northeast (-7,302), the Midwest (-5,976), and the South (-2,923).

Five of the nine geographic divisions reported over-the-year declines in laid-off workers, with the largest

declines occurring in the Pacific (-17,047) and South Atlantic (-8,988) divisions. The Mountain division

reported the largest increase in separations (+4,920), followed closely by the West South Central division

(+4,691).

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

in Illinois (17,068), followed by California (15,363), Florida (14,573), and New York (11,095). These

four states accounted for 42 percent of total layoff events and 43 percent of the separations during the

third quarter of 2005. They were followed by Louisiana (7,124), Ohio (6,621), Michigan (6,205), and

Pennsylvania (6,065). (See table 5.) After excluding the substantial impact of seasonal work, Illinois

reported the most laid-off workers (13,250), largely due to layoffs in administrative and support services.
9

Over the year, California reported the greatest decrease in workers laid off for all reasons during the

third quarter (-17,416), followed by Florida (-7,551) and New York (-5,617). The largest increases

occurred in Louisiana (+5,586), Minnesota (+4,495), and Colorado (+4,061).

Sixty-two percent of events and 59 percent of separations (80,005) occurred in metropolitan areas in

the third quarter of 2005, compared with 57 percent of events and 52 percent of separations (85,331) during the third quarter of 2004. Among the 367 metropolitan areas, New York-Northern New Jersey-Long

Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., reported the highest number of separations, 11,188, in the third quarter of 2005.

Next were Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis., with 7,631 separations, and Minneapolis-St. PaulBloomington, Minn.-Wis., with 4,415 separations. (See table F.) Employers located in nonmetropolitan

areas separated 19,638 workers in mass layoffs, up from 15,940 workers in the third quarter of 2004.

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 third 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 October 2005 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday,

November 23, 2005.
Technical Note

The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state

program which identifies, describes, and tracks 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, gender, ethnic group, and place of residence. The program

yields information on an individual’s entire spell of

unemployment, to the point when regular unemployment

insurance benefits are exhausted.

Definitions

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 complete 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.

Movement of work concepts and questions

Because of the employer interview component, the BLS

decided to use the MLS program as a vehicle for collecting

additional information on offshoring and outsourcing

associated with job loss, by adding questions that address

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

company experiencing the layoff has reassigned work activities

that were performed at a worksite by the company’s employees

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

company under formal arrangements at the same worksite; or (3)

to another company under formal arrangements at another

worksite. The type of work activities subject to movement can

include accounting, customer service, cleaning, warehousing, etc.

 “Overseas relocation” is the movement of work from within

the U.S. to locations outside of the U.S. “Overseas relocation”

can occur within the same company and involve movement of

work to a different location of that company outside of the U.S.,

or to a different company altogether.

“Domestic relocation” is the movement of work to other

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

a different company.

 “Overseas relocation” and “domestic relocation” are no

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

mass layoff news releases. Therefore, the data presented in this

news release are not comparable to those that were presented

in earlier news releases.

 Questions on movement of work and location are asked for

all identified layoff events when the reason for separation is

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

vacation layoff events were excluded because movement of

work appears unlikely.

Questions on movement of work are asked after the analyst

verifies that a layoff in fact occurred and lasted more than 30

days, and obtained the total number of workers separated from

jobs, the date the layoff began, and the economic reason for the

layoff. If the reason for layoff is other than seasonal or vacation,

the employer was asked the following:

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

this location(s) to a different geographic location(s) within your

company?”

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

was performed in-house by your employees to a different

company, through contractual arrangements?”

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

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

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

Layoff actions are classified as “overseas relocation” if the

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

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

is determined if the employer responds “yes” to questions 1

and/or 2 and indicates that the location(s) was within the U.S.

After asking the movement of work questions, the employer

interview continues and responses are obtained for questions

on recall expectations and open/closed status of the worksite.

Reliability of the data

The identification of establishments and layoff events in the

MLS program and associated characteristics of claimants is
based on administrative data on covered establishments and

unemployment insurance claims, and, therefore, is not subject

to issues associated with sampling error. Nonsampling errors

such as typographical errors may occur but are not likely to be

significant. While the MLS establishments and layoff events

are not subject to sampling error, and all such employers are

asked the employer interview questions, the employer

responses are subject to nonsampling error. Nonsampling error

can occur for many reasons, including the inability to obtain

information for all respondents, inability or unwillingness of

respondents to provide correct information, and errors made in

the collection or processing of the data. For the third quarter

of 2005, outright refusal to participate in the employer interview

accounted for 3.1 percent of all private nonfarm events.

Although included in the total number of instances involving

the movement of work, for the third quarter, employers in 18

relocations were unable to provide the number of separations

specifically associated with the movement of work, 5 of which

involved out-of-country moves.

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200;

TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339.
Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

Industry

III II III III II III III II III

 2004r 2005r 2005p 2004r 2005r 2005p 2004r 2005r 2005p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 .................................. 886 1,203 742 164,608 245,422 136,280 148,575 212,671 108,647 

 Mining ............................................................. – – 4 – – 1,305 – – 929 

 Utilities ............................................................ – 5 ( 2 ) – 771 ( 2 ) – 683 ( 2 )

 Construction .................................................... 83 110 78 10,962 15,094 8,746 12,969 17,719 9,049 

 Manufacturing ................................................. 304 269 244 51,695 44,075 45,346 49,999 47,866 39,581 

 Food ........................................................... 54 60 41 12,587 9,495 8,398 11,970 10,272 6,080 

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

 Textile mills ................................................ 7 ( 2 ) 12 1,206 ( 2 ) 1,443 1,385 ( 2 ) 1,962 

 Textile product mills ................................... 7 3 5 812 243 520 1,241 275 726 

 Apparel ....................................................... 19 13 12 2,925 1,573 1,215 2,463 1,635 1,300 

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

 Wood products ........................................... 5 6 9 450 690 2,568 608 780 2,571 

 Paper ......................................................... 6 5 7 1,079 389 788 875 446 697 

 Printing and related support activities ........ 8 11 4 1,260 1,682 459 1,298 1,754 339 

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

 Chemicals ................................................. 9 ( 2

 ) 8 1,134 ( 2 ) 1,521 1,112 ( 2 ) 1,418 

 Plastics and rubber products ..................... 25 11 6 3,602 1,161 700 3,222 1,765 618 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ..................... 12 9 10 2,503 1,236 1,154 2,240 1,363 1,192 

 Primary metals ........................................... 10 11 5 1,085 1,885 1,436 1,076 1,940 624 

 Fabricated metal products ......................... 31 18 23 4,135 2,942 2,376 4,127 2,611 2,504 

 Machinery .................................................. 11 19 23 2,199 2,415 5,255 1,386 2,836 4,192 

 Computer and electronic products ............. 19 24 16 2,967 3,533 3,023 2,854 3,715 1,800 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ......... 9 13 7 2,219 2,633 2,916 3,325 4,083 2,886 

 Transportation equipment .......................... 50 45 38 8,403 11,266 8,621 8,235 11,619 7,695 

 Furniture and related products ................... 11 13 6 1,688 1,770 1,378 1,353 1,840 1,474 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing .................... 7 3 9 1,102 213 1,106 880 269 1,106 

 Wholesale trade .............................................. 24 19 29 3,222 3,726 3,701 2,786 3,180 2,838 

 Retail trade ...................................................... 62 42 49 14,978 9,521 11,357 13,268 9,114 9,111 

 Transportation and warehousing .................... 66 132 69 10,128 30,966 14,554 9,051 28,807 11,157 

 Information ...................................................... 27 32 20 6,717 6,694 2,507 5,742 6,831 2,370 

 Finance and insurance .................................... 36 27 16 11,516 4,935 3,897 8,188 5,518 3,632 

 Real estate and rental and leasing ................. 3 6 ( 2 ) 844 983 ( 2 ) 852 1,031 ( 2 )

 Professional and technical services ................ 26 64 28 5,792 27,253 4,378 4,682 16,009 4,456 

 Management of companies and enterprises ... 4 4 ( 2 ) 547 499 ( 2 ) 449 405 ( 2 )

 Administrative and waste services .................. 112 107 82 26,174 18,067 15,003 23,685 19,111 12,441 

 Educational services ....................................... 8 7 7 693 573 906 792 774 739 

 Health care and social assistance .................. 60 167 39 9,894 22,871 4,292 6,326 18,603 3,389 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ................. 20 34 21 2,605 20,476 10,443 2,794 3,741 2,430 

 Accommodation and food services ................. 42 117 42 7,801 30,156 8,084 6,089 25,132 4,693 

 Other services, except public administration .. 9 61 9 1,040 8,762 1,076 903 8,147 902 

 Unclassified ..................................................... – – 1 – – 138 – – 138 

 1

 For the third quarter of 2005, data on layoffs were reported by employers administrative data, will be unaffected and will continue to cover the

in all states and the District of Columbia. Due to budget constraints in the MLS total economy.

program, beginning with data for the first quarter of 2004, the scope of quarterly 2

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

extended mass layoffs and plant closings has been redefined to cover only the r

 = revised.

private nonfarm economy. Quarterly information on layoff events in agriculture p

 = preliminary.

and government are no longer being collected. However, the monthly reporting NOTE: Dash represents zero.

of the MLS program in the release, Mass Layoffs , which is based only on

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, 2004 and 2005

Reason for layoff

III II III III II III III II III

 2004r 2005r 2005p 2004r 2005r 2005p 2004r 2005r 2005p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ......................... 886 1,203 742 164,608 245,422 136,280 148,575 212,671 108,647 

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

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

Bankruptcy ............................................... 19 18 15 3,688 4,159 4,960 2,764 2,889 3,317 

Business ownership change .................... 38 20 26 13,084 6,140 4,951 7,012 4,396 4,189 

Contract cancellation ............................... 26 18 16 4,301 2,207 3,038 3,577 2,124 2,453 

Contract completed ................................. 164 207 159 29,340 32,668 21,347 32,485 36,819 21,098 

Energy-related ......................................... – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

Financial difficulty .................................... 44 35 31 9,090 5,392 5,868 6,282 4,679 4,858 

Import competition ................................... 14 10 13 3,240 1,577 2,649 2,995 1,011 2,402 

Labor dispute ........................................... ( 2 ) 5 10 ( 2 ) 965 6,271 ( 2 ) 870 4,495 

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

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

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

Natural disaster ....................................... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 )

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

Plant or machine repair ........................... 4 ( 2 ) 3 633 ( 2 ) 280 496 ( 2 ) 193 

Product line discontinued ........................ 9 8 10 1,551 2,600 1,240 1,384 1,670 1,117 

Reorganization within company ............... 122 105 93 27,587 16,781 18,014 24,098 17,097 13,741 

Seasonal work ......................................... 177 484 168 29,774 123,834 35,433 25,797 84,524 20,783 

Slack work ............................................... 118 127 105 14,501 18,297 16,151 19,334 27,239 17,814 

Vacation period ........................................ 14 84 8 1,512 13,893 594 1,378 12,801 591 

Weather-related ....................................... 13 ( 2 ) 27 1,864 ( 2 ) 5,893 1,869 ( 2 ) 4,522 

Other ........................................................ 35 22 22 9,438 3,657 4,273 4,448 3,501 1,981 

Not reported ............................................. 79 54 28 13,396 12,297 4,105 12,973 11,943 4,105 

 1

 See footnote 1, table 1. p = preliminary.

 2

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

 r

 = revised.

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, second and third quarters, 2005

Total Percent of total

State

Layoff events initial

claimants Black Hispanic

origin Women Persons age 55and over

II III II III II III II III II III II III

 2005r 2005p 2005r 2005p 2005r 2005p 2005r 2005p 2005r 2005p 2005r 2005p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ........... 1,203 742 212,671 108,647 17.9 18.2 13.1 12.1 55.2 44.7 20.9 18.2 

Alabama ...................................... 3 3 343 331 53.1 60.4 2.6 2.4 84.0 44.1 21.6 22.7 

Alaska .......................................... 9 3 1,264 280 3.8 2.1 19.1 21.8 41.5 29.6 22.7 20.0 

Arizona ........................................ 9 ( 2 ) 1,513 ( 2 ) 2.9 .7 56.3 55.6 54.0 7.1 16.9 24.2 

Arkansas ..................................... 6 ( 2 ) 1,000 ( 2 ) 58.5 65.4 .7 – 71.5 88.5 20.4 23.1 

California ..................................... 134 82 21,573 9,845 9.6 10.7 33.0 32.1 57.4 50.9 18.7 18.1 

Colorado ...................................... 12 5 1,500 478 4.6 4.0 25.3 13.0 58.4 37.7 19.5 24.9 

Connecticut ................................. 13 9 2,704 863 10.5 11.4 6.4 10.9 68.8 59.9 23.6 21.4 

Delaware ..................................... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) – 15.3 – 1.7 – 21.0 – 14.6 –

District of Columbia ..................... – ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) – 29.1 – 25.6 – 48.8 – 20.9 

Florida ......................................... 112 74 16,197 10,872 19.2 16.1 33.7 30.2 48.0 48.5 20.6 17.9 

Georgia ........................................ 26 13 3,992 1,740 58.3 51.1 1.3 .3 64.5 60.6 17.4 15.5 

Hawaii .......................................... 5 ( 2 ) 466 ( 2 ) 1.1 3.1 15.2 12.4 49.8 47.3 16.5 26.5 

Idaho ........................................... 8 7 762 1,048 .7 .5 11.3 29.1 55.2 60.1 22.2 25.2 

Illinois .......................................... 104 75 23,571 11,109 24.8 23.1 9.9 11.4 57.4 40.7 19.5 16.0 

Indiana ......................................... 24 10 5,276 1,386 14.2 6.1 2.1 1.9 50.3 40.7 21.7 18.5 

Iowa ............................................. 7 3 888 1,692 1.5 1.5 .9 .6 85.2 39.5 28.3 10.5 

Kansas ........................................ 13 ( 2 ) 2,225 ( 2 ) 13.8 5.0 2.1 5.0 51.4 54.6 26.2 12.8 

Kentucky ...................................... 18 15 1,818 1,529 12.8 13.2 .3 .3 45.6 47.8 19.9 16.4 

Louisiana ..................................... 23 34 3,268 6,469 56.9 56.5 1.6 4.0 57.7 54.6 18.6 13.7 

Maine ........................................... 6 3 862 291 1.2 1.4 .3 – 44.7 75.6 15.4 19.2 

Maryland ...................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 48.4 36.6 5.3 .4 80.5 35.3 34.2 21.0 

Massachusetts ............................ 16 19 3,392 2,558 13.0 7.8 3.5 2.3 58.5 50.6 21.8 21.7 

Michigan ...................................... 73 38 13,772 6,176 15.7 16.4 3.6 2.6 54.6 33.6 18.2 14.8 

Minnesota .................................... 23 18 4,075 3,742 10.2 3.6 6.0 1.8 42.8 19.4 19.7 16.8 

Mississippi ................................... 11 ( 2 ) 1,391 ( 2 ) 64.1 77.4 .9 4.2 63.1 42.9 16.1 20.3 

Missouri ....................................... 26 8 4,443 992 28.3 37.4 .4 1.2 73.1 64.1 25.9 23.9 

Montana ...................................... 7 ( 2

 ) 555 ( 2 ) .2 .4 3.8 1.8 69.2 14.3 23.6 26.8 

Nebraska ..................................... 8 ( 2 ) 983 ( 2 ) 12.0 1.7 5.6 25.6 52.5 22.3 23.3 9.1 

Nevada ........................................ 3 ( 2 ) 320 ( 2 ) 28.8 5.9 18.1 17.0 68.4 40.4 29.1 26.6 

New Hampshire ........................... 5 ( 2 ) 591 ( 2 ) .7 1.1 .8 – 58.0 56.7 27.7 34.4 

New Jersey .................................. 54 29 13,403 3,711 19.2 24.9 11.2 11.3 69.8 50.8 34.6 29.3 

New Mexico ................................. 4 ( 2 ) 538 ( 2 ) 1.1 4.3 42.4 17.4 37.5 23.9 15.4 10.9 

New York ..................................... 93 80 17,225 11,645 10.2 15.3 7.5 11.0 40.6 48.0 19.6 18.5 

North Carolina ............................. 9 20 932 4,084 30.9 33.3 6.8 3.8 61.3 50.0 22.3 19.8 

North Dakota ............................... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) – – – .7 – 11.6 – 13.0 –

Ohio ............................................. 76 36 10,700 6,103 17.5 12.6 2.4 1.5 56.2 42.7 17.5 14.3 

Oklahoma .................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 13.0 19.1 3.1 2.5 27.2 26.3 18.5 12.6 

Oregon ........................................ 19 5 3,681 920 2.3 .5 13.7 31.8 70.3 55.4 28.8 22.2 

Pennsylvania ............................... 72 64 14,945 8,602 11.6 5.9 3.4 2.4 55.1 40.6 25.3 22.0 

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

 ) 303 ( 2 ) 2.6 1.7 6.9 6.7 62.4 95.0 31.7 25.0 

South Carolina ............................. 11 4 2,015 764 79.0 45.3 .1 .3 79.1 50.4 3.0 1.3 

South Dakota ............................... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) – 2.2 – 1.1 – 80.2 – 38.5 –

Tennessee ................................... 7 12 1,007 2,017 22.2 13.3 – – 55.8 50.5 23.8 30.3 

Texas ........................................... 43 21 9,917 2,905 20.4 16.4 42.6 39.7 45.9 34.7 14.2 15.7 

Utah ............................................. 10 ( 2 ) 884 ( 2 ) 1.5 4.3 19.3 26.9 64.6 60.7 12.3 5.6 

Vermont ....................................... 7 – 1,413 – .7 – .2 – 44.5 – 18.5 –

Virginia ........................................ 12 10 2,367 1,034 62.9 44.0 1.2 1.8 72.0 46.5 14.2 18.2 

Washington ................................. 29 8 4,605 832 5.3 7.0 13.6 5.3 47.5 35.3 18.5 23.3 

West Virginia ............................... 4 3 479 401 .6 .2 – – 25.9 9.7 16.3 12.0 

Wisconsin .................................... 38 10 7,143 1,369 7.8 7.3 4.7 2.6 57.0 25.6 25.9 17.7 

Wyoming ..................................... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) – – – – – 30.0 – 3.8 –

Puerto Rico .................................. 26 6 6,946 1,458 ( 3

 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 58.7 62.8 7.5 7.5 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. r

 = revised.

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

 = preliminary.

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

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

III II III III II III III II III

 2004r 2005r 2005p 2004r 2005r 2005p 2004r 2005r 2005p 

 United States1 ................................... 886 1,203 742 164,608 245,422 136,280 148,575 212,671 108,647 

Northeast .................................................. 235 269 206 33,883 56,760 26,581 38,254 54,838 27,820 

 New England ........................................ 38 50 33 4,873 10,471 4,157 6,168 9,265 3,862 

 Middle Atlantic ...................................... 197 219 173 29,010 46,289 22,424 32,086 45,573 23,958 

South ........................................................ 245 290 216 42,326 50,498 39,403 39,923 46,779 33,012 

 South Atlantic ....................................... 169 178 127 31,692 30,861 22,704 28,562 27,873 19,219 

 East South Central ............................... 36 39 31 5,139 7,152 6,513 4,138 4,559 4,089 

 West South Central .............................. 40 73 58 5,495 12,485 10,186 7,223 14,347 9,704 

Midwest .................................................... 258 394 202 49,416 75,783 43,440 42,422 73,313 32,831 

 East North Central ................................ 220 315 169 41,397 63,403 34,246 36,086 60,462 26,143 

 West North Central ............................... 38 79 33 8,019 12,380 9,194 6,336 12,851 6,688 

West ......................................................... 148 250 118 38,983 62,381 26,856 27,976 37,741 14,984 

 Mountain ............................................... 15 54 18 2,640 25,463 7,560 2,326 6,152 2,881 

 Pacific ................................................... 133 196 100 36,343 36,918 19,296 25,650 31,589 12,103 

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

 r = revised. Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and

 p = preliminary. Texas: East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin;

 NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North

census divisions are: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana,

New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California,

New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.

Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and
Table 5. State distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

State

III II III III II III III II III

 2004r 2005r 2005p 2004r 2005r 2005p 2004r 2005r 2005p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ........................ 886 1,203 742 164,608 245,422 136,280 148,575 212,671 108,647 

Alabama ................................................... 3 3 3 350 232 444 431 343 331 

Alaska ...................................................... 3 9 3 370 1,264 354 370 1,264 280 

Arizona ..................................................... 4 9 ( 2 ) 548 3,412 ( 2 ) 606 1,513 ( 2 )

Arkansas .................................................. – 6 ( 2 ) – 1,266 ( 2 ) – 1,000 ( 2 )

California .................................................. 107 134 82 32,779 25,863 15,363 21,375 21,573 9,845 

Colorado .................................................. ( 2 ) 12 5 ( 2 ) 14,811 4,691 ( 2 ) 1,500 478 

Connecticut .............................................. 7 13 9 1,625 3,022 1,355 1,374 2,704 863 

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

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

Florida ...................................................... 115 112 74 22,124 20,309 14,573 20,327 16,197 10,872 

Georgia .................................................... 13 26 13 2,267 3,298 1,002 1,847 3,992 1,740 

Hawaii ...................................................... ( 2 ) 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 478 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 466 ( 2 )

Idaho ........................................................ 7 8 7 1,120 925 1,185 1,070 762 1,048 

Illinois ....................................................... 77 104 75 16,086 27,990 17,068 13,810 23,571 11,109 

Indiana ..................................................... 22 24 10 6,921 5,419 2,614 4,572 5,276 1,386 

Iowa ......................................................... 9 7 3 908 1,125 1,510 1,445 888 1,692 

Kansas ..................................................... 5 13 ( 2 ) 1,659 2,566 ( 2 ) 808 2,225 ( 2 )

Kentucky .................................................. 17 18 15 2,345 1,853 2,576 1,674 1,818 1,529 

Louisiana .................................................. 12 23 34 1,538 3,654 7,124 1,173 3,268 6,469 

Maine ....................................................... ( 2 ) 6 3 ( 2 ) 2,020 207 ( 2 ) 862 291 

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

Massachusetts ......................................... 22 16 19 2,364 3,111 2,445 3,832 3,392 2,558 

Michigan ................................................... 56 73 38 8,545 12,049 6,205 7,516 13,772 6,176 

Minnesota ................................................ 7 23 18 856 3,190 5,351 775 4,075 3,742 

Mississippi ................................................ 4 11 ( 2 ) 593 3,769 ( 2 ) 589 1,391 ( 2 )

Missouri .................................................... 12 26 8 2,345 4,467 1,876 2,386 4,443 992 

Montana ................................................... – 7 ( 2

 ) – 1,276 ( 2 ) – 555 ( 2 ) 

Nebraska .................................................. 5 8 ( 2 ) 2,251 791 ( 2 ) 922 983 ( 2 )

Nevada ..................................................... – 3 ( 2 ) – 320 ( 2 ) – 320 ( 2 )

New Hampshire ....................................... 4 5 ( 2 ) 434 588 ( 2 ) 434 591 ( 2 )

New Jersey .............................................. 34 54 29 4,266 19,035 5,264 4,824 13,403 3,711 

New Mexico ............................................. ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 538 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 538 ( 2 )

New York ................................................. 97 93 80 16,712 18,594 11,095 14,402 17,225 11,645 

North Carolina .......................................... 15 9 20 2,196 754 3,702 1,936 932 4,084 

North Dakota ............................................ – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

Ohio ......................................................... 48 76 36 7,527 10,470 6,621 6,848 10,700 6,103 

Oklahoma ................................................. ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Oregon ..................................................... 8 19 5 1,722 4,432 1,515 1,397 3,681 920 

Pennsylvania ............................................ 66 72 64 8,032 8,660 6,065 12,860 14,945 8,602 

Rhode Island ............................................ 4 3 ( 2

 ) 395 317 ( 2 ) 389 303 ( 2 ) 

South Carolina ......................................... 10 11 4 1,527 1,798 390 1,224 2,015 764 

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

Tennessee ............................................... 12 7 12 1,851 1,298 3,293 1,444 1,007 2,017 

Texas ....................................................... 26 43 21 3,609 6,702 2,581 5,704 9,917 2,905 

Utah ......................................................... ( 2 ) 10 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3,381 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 884 ( 2 )

Vermont ................................................... – 7 – – 1,413 – – 1,413 –

Virginia ..................................................... 11 12 10 2,843 2,383 1,234 2,487 2,367 1,034 

Washington .............................................. 13 29 8 1,260 4,881 1,861 2,309 4,605 832 

West Virginia ............................................ ( 2 ) 4 3 ( 2 ) 463 1,067 ( 2 ) 479 401 

Wisconsin ................................................. 17 38 10 2,318 7,475 1,738 3,340 7,143 1,369 

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

Puerto Rico .............................................. 14 26 6 1,350 3,655 480 3,709 6,946 1,458 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. p

 = preliminary.

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

 r = revised.

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance
Table 6. Information technology-producing industries: Extended mass layoff events and separations, private nonfarm sector, 1998-2005

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 ............................................ 1,502 286,947 71 11,900 33 5,689 23 4,402 41 6,591 

Second quarter ...................................... 1,799 368,273 54 9,221 27 4,124 21 3,098 29 5,891 

Third quarter .......................................... 1,190 236,333 46 6,488 26 4,433 9 1,289 15 2,604 

Fourth quarter ........................................ 1,690 325,333 25 5,080 14 1,984 9 1,619 28 6,635 

 Total ................................................... 6,181 1,216,886 196 32,689 100 16,230 62 10,408 113 21,721 

2004

First quarter ............................................ 1,339 276,503 27 3,222 16 2,992 8 894 23 4,197 

Second quarter ...................................... 1,358 278,831 18 2,959 21 3,576 – – 22 5,295 

Third quarter .......................................... 886 r 164,608 13 2,288 15 1,617 4 430 13 4,317 

Fourth quarter ........................................ 1,427 273,967 18 3,055 10 1,547 4 563 23 3,457 

 Total ................................................... 5,010 r 993,909 76 11,524 62 9,732 16 1,887 81 17,266 

2005

First quarter ............................................ r

 1,142 r 187,128 13 1,526 13 2,679 4 439 17 r

 3,569

Second quarter ...................................... r

 1,203 r 245,422 r 20 r 2,855 r 17 r 2,106 4 842 11 r 1,904

Third quarter

p

 ......................................... 742 136,280 18 2,150 8 1,150 ( 6 ) ( 6 ) 10 1,037 

 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; NOTE: Dash represents zero.

web search portals; data processing and related services; computer and software r = revised. 

merchant wholesalers; computer and software stores; custom computer programming p = preliminary. 

Total extended

mass layoffs

Layoff

events

Layoff

events

Communications Year

Separations Separations Separations

hardware2 computer services3

Layoff

events

Communications

Layoff

events

Information technology-producing industries1

services5

Software and

Separations Separations

Computer

equipment4

Layoff

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

selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

III II III III II III

2004 2005r 2005p 2004 2005r 2005p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ............................................... 84 73 60 17,400 11,922 13,910 

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

 Utilities ......................................................................... – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

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

 Manufacturing .............................................................. 58 44 35 11,575 6,149 5,959 

 Food ........................................................................ 4 4 4 924 480 838 

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

 Textile mills ............................................................. – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

 Textile product mills ................................................ ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 )

 Apparel ................................................................... 4 3 3 613 236 347 

 Leather and allied products .................................... – – – – – –

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

 Paper ...................................................................... 4 – ( 2 ) 761 – ( 2 )

 Printing and related support activities ..................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

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

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

 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) 

 Plastics and rubber products .................................. 7 3 ( 2 ) 1,235 476 ( 2 )

 Nonmetallic mineral products ................................. 3 ( 2 ) – 467 ( 2 ) –

 Primary metals ........................................................ – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Fabricated metal products ...................................... 4 6 5 755 975 534 

 Machinery ............................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 441 

 Computer and electronic products .......................... 6 6 5 1,331 1,004 994 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ...................... 4 3 ( 2 ) 1,660 715 ( 2 )

 Transportation equipment ....................................... 7 10 7 1,793 1,174 1,665 

 Furniture and related products ................................ ( 2 ) 4 – ( 2 ) 586 –

 Miscellaneous manufacturing ................................. 3 – – 540 – –

 Wholesale trade ........................................................... 5 ( 2

 ) 5 704 ( 2 ) 744 

 Retail trade .................................................................. 11 5 4 2,290 1,150 1,078 

 Transportation and warehousing ................................. – 3 4 – 689 4,489 

 Information ................................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Finance and insurance ................................................ 5 9 6 735 1,461 695 

 Real estate and rental and leasing .............................. – – – – – –

 Professional and technical services ............................. ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 971 ( 2 )

 Management of companies and enterprises ............... – – – – – –

 Administrative and waste services ............................... – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 )

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

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

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ............................. – – – – – –

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

 Other services, except public administration ............... – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

 Unclassified ................................................................. ––––––

 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. p = preliminary.

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

 r = revised.

Layoff events Separations

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

selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

III II III III II III

2004 2005r 2005p 2004 2005r 2005p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 .................................. 84 73 60 17,400 11,922 13,910 

Automation ....................................................... ––––––

Bankruptcy ....................................................... – – – – – –

Business ownership change ............................ 9 3 ( 2 ) 1,391 615 ( 2 )

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

Contract completed .......................................... – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

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

Environment-related ......................................... – – – – – –

Financial difficulty ............................................. 5 6 5 882 924 666 

Import competition ............................................ 4 6 6 1,296 457 925 

Labor dispute ................................................... – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

Material shortage ............................................. – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

Model changeover ............................................ – – – – – –

Natural disaster ................................................ ––––––

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

Plant or machine repair .................................... – – – – – –

Product line discontinued ................................. ( 2 ) 3 5 ( 2 ) 331 481 

Reorganization within company ....................... 44 46 34 10,491 7,855 7,001 

Seasonal work .................................................. ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 )

Slack work ........................................................ 4 3 ( 2 ) 887 645 ( 2 )

Vacation period ................................................ ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 )

Weather-related ............................................... – – – – – –

Other ................................................................ 13 3 ( 2 ) 2,102 661 ( 2 )

Not reported ..................................................... – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. r = revised.

 2

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

 3

 The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers NOTE: Dash represents zero.

when the reason for layoff was either seasonal work or vacation period.

Layoff events Separations

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

selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations

III II III III II III

2004 2005r 2005p 2004 2005r 2005p 

 United States1 ...................................... 84 73 60 17,400 11,922 13,910 

Northeast ..................................................... 11 18 6 2,366 3,499 923 

 New England ........................................... 3 7 ( 2

 ) 932 976 ( 2 ) 

 Middle Atlantic ......................................... 8 11 ( 2 ) 1,434 2,523 ( 2 )

South ........................................................... 19 19 20 3,116 2,669 3,373 

 South Atlantic ........................................... 11 13 10 1,853 1,644 1,274 

 East South Central ................................... 8 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,263 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 West South Central .................................. – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Midwest ........................................................ 40 17 15 9,224 2,929 7,076 

 East North Central ................................... 36 14 ( 2

 ) 8,043 2,566 ( 2 ) 

 West North Central .................................. 4 3 ( 2 ) 1,181 363 ( 2 )

West ............................................................. 14 19 19 2,694 2,825 2,538 

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

 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 375 ( 2 ) 

 Pacific ...................................................... ( 2 ) 16 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,450 ( 2 )

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

 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas,

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

 p = preliminary. Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, 

 NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: 

 the census divisions are: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massa- Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and 

chusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic: Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.

New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, Dash represents zero.

District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South 
Table 10. Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

III II III III II III

2004 2005r 2005p 2004 2005r 2005p

Total, private nonfarm1 ................................................... r886 1,203 742 r164,608 245,422 136,280 

 Total, excluding seasonal

 and vacation events2

 .............................................. r695 635 566 r133,322 107,695 100,253 

 Total, movement of work3

 ....................................... 84 73 60 17,400 11,922 13,910 

 Movement of work actions ................................. 103 98 74 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 )

 With separations reported ............................ 88 74 56 13,999 9,527 7,420 

 With separations unknown ........................... 15 24 18 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 )

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. 4 Data are not available.

 2 The question on movement of work were not asked of employers r = revised.

when the reason for layoff was either seasonal work or vacation period. p = preliminary.

 3 Movement of work can involve more than one action.

Layoff events Separations

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

selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

III II III III II III

2004 2005r 2005p 2004 2005r 2005p

With separations reported2 ................................. 88 74 56 13,999 9,527 7,420 

By location

 Out-of-country relocations ................................ 18 28 19 3,618 2,815 2,577 

 Within company ............................................ 13 19 15 3,222 1,938 2,137 

 Different company ........................................ 5 9 4 396 877 440 

 Domestic relocations ........................................ 68 42 37 9,081 6,018 4,843 

 Within company ............................................ 63 35 27 8,831 5,330 2,585 

 Different company ........................................ 5 7 10 250 688 2,258 

 Unable to assign place of 

 relocation ....................................................... 2 4 – 1,300 694 –

By company

 Within company ................................................ 78 58 42 13,353 7,962 4,722 

 Domestic ....................................................... 63 35 27 8,831 5,330 2,585 

 Out of country ............................................... 13 19 15 3,222 1,938 2,137 

 Unable to assign ........................................... 2 4 – 1,300 694 –

 Different company ............................................ 10 16 14 646 1,565 2,698 

 Domestic ....................................................... 5 7 10 250 688 2,258 

 Out of country ............................................... 5 9 4 396 877 440 

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

 1

 Only actions for which separations associated with the r = revised.

movement of work were reported are shown. p = preliminary.

 2

 See footnote 1, table 1. Note: Dash represents zero.

Actions

Layoff events1 Separations