Technical information: (202) 691-6392

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 04-2342

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Thursday, November 18, 2004

EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2004

In the third quarter of 2004, 780 mass layoff actions were taken by employers that resulted in the

separation of 131,452 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released

by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Both the total number of layoff events and

the number of separations were sharply lower than in July-September 2003 and were the lowest for a third

quarter since the program began in 1995. (See table A.) The declines over the year were most notable in

administrative and support services, food manufacturing, and textile mills. Extended mass layoffs that involve

the movement of work within the same company or to a different company, domestically or outside the U.S.,

occurred in about 13 percent of the nonseasonal layoff events and accounted for about 15 percent of the

worker separations in nonseasonal events. (See table B.) In the third quarter of 2004, the national

unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, not seasonally adjusted; a year earlier it was 6.0 percent. Private

nonfarm payroll employment, not seasonally adjusted, increased by 1.5 percent or 1,679,000 jobs from

July-September 2003 to July-September 2004.

Layoffs due to internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change, financial difficulty,

and reorganization) represented 25 percent of events and resulted in 43,680 separations, the lowest level for

a third quarter since 1997. The completion of seasonal work accounted for 20 percent of all events and

resulted in 24,184 separations during the period—the lowest level for any third quarter since data became

available in 1995. Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 21 percent of all events and affected 35,109

workers, the lowest third-quarter level since 1997.

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

Extended mass layoff separations occurred in 303 of the 1,197 detailed industries for which data are

available for the third quarter 2004. This is the fewest number of industries to have at least one extended

mass layoff event in a third quarter since 1995.

Manufacturing industries accounted for 34 percent of private nonfarm layoff events and 32 percent of

separations during July-September 2004. (See table 1.) The 41,982 worker separations in manufacturing

were the fewest for manufacturing for any quarter since 1995. In third quarter 2004, layoff activity in this

sector was concentrated in food manufacturing (7,704), followed by transportation equipment manufacturing

(7,526) and fabricated metal products (3,406).

Administrative and waste services accounted for 13 percent of private nonfarm layoff events and 15 percent of separations, primarily in temporary help services (10,072). Layoffs in the retail trade sector com-
2

 2000

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

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

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

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

 2001

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

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

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

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

 2002

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

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

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

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

 2003

January-March ........... 1,502 286,947 297,608

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 r......... 1,339 276,446 238,056

April-June .................. 1,359 278,031 251,970

July-September .......... 780 131,452 101,456

Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity

r

Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants

r

p

r = revised.

p = preliminary.

r

prised 7 percent of events and 9 percent of separations, mostly among food and beverage stores and in

general merchandise stores. Cutbacks in finance and insurance accounted for 4 percent of events and

8 percent of separations, mainly in credit intermediation and related activities. The construction sector

accounted for 10 percent of events and 7 percent of separations during the quarter, mostly among specialty

trade contractors. Transportation and warehousing accounted for 7 percent of events and 6 percent of

separations during the quarter, primarily in school and employee bus transportation.

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

computer hardware, and software and computer services) accounted for 5 percent of layoff events and

6,677 worker separations in the third quarter, down from 8 percent of layoff events and 14,814 separations

for the same period a year ago. (See table 6.) This also marked the fewest number of separations in the

industry grouping for a third quarter since 2000. Layoffs in the information technology-producing industries

were most numerous in communications services with 2,979 separations, followed by the computer hardware

industry.
3

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

Measure I

2004

III

2004

II

2004

I

2004

Layoff events Separations

Total private nonfarm ........................... 1,339 1,359 780 276,446 278,031 131,452

 Total, excluding seasonal and 980 788 611 212,974 151,183 105,834

 vacation events...........................

 Total, movement of work......... 113 86 77 19,978 16,240 16,091

 1 

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

was either seasonal work or vacation period.

 r = revised.

 p = preliminary.

1

II

2004

III

2004 r p r r p

Reasons for Extended Layoff

Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 20 percent of the extended layoff events

and resulted in 24,184 separations in the third quarter. (See table 2.) Seasonal layoffs were most numerous

among workers in transit and ground passenger transportation, in food manufacturing, and in social assistance.

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

reorganization) accounted for 25 percent of layoff events and resulted in 43,680 separations, the lowest for

a third quarter since 1997. These layoffs were mostly among workers in credit intermediation and related

activities and in food and beverage stores. Over half of both the internal company restructuring layoff events

and separations were due to reorganization within the company.

Movement of Work

Between July and September of 2004, 77 extended mass layoff events involved the movement of work;

this was about 13 percent of total extended mass layoff events, excluding those for seasonal and vacation

reasons. 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 16,091 workers, about 15 percent of

all separations resulting from nonseasonal/nonvacation mass layoff events. Revised data from the second

quarter of 2004 show that there were 86 extended mass layoff events and 16,240 separations involving the

movement of work. (See table B.) The first quarter of 2004 marked the initial reporting of job loss data

relating to the movement of work in the Bureau’s Mass Layoff Statistics program.

Among the 77 extended mass layoff events with reported relocation of work, 62 percent were permanent closures of worksites, which affected 11,864 workers. In comparison, for the 780 total layoff events

reported for the third quarter of 2004, only 21 percent involved the permanent closure of worksites.

Of the layoffs involving the movement of work, 69 percent of the events and 67 percent of the laid-off

workers were from manufacturing industries during the third quarter of 2004. (See table 7.) Among all
4

Table C. Relocations of work actions by employers

Movement of work .................... 127 112 95

Out-of-country relocations .... 38 33 21

Within company ................. 21 20 16

 Different company............. 17 13 5

Domestic relocations ............. 86 73 71

Within company ................. 67 59 66

 Different company............. 19 14 5

Unable to assign place of

 relocation ........................ 3 6 3

Within company .................... 90 84 84

Domestic ............................ 67 59 66

Out of country ................... 21 20 16

Unable to assign................. 2 5 2

Different company ................. 37 28 11

Domestic ............................ 19 14 5

Out of country ................... 17 13 5

Unable to assign................. 1 1 1

Actions

Relocations of work

I

2004

II

2004 r p

By location

By company

III

2004 r

r = revised.

p = prelimary.

private nonfarm extended layoffs, manufacturing accounted for 34 percent of the events and 32 percent of the

separations.

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

reorganization) accounted for 69 percent of layoff events associated with work relocation and resulted in

11,643 separations during the third quarter. (See table 8.) Most of these were due to reorganization within

the company. In contrast, only 25 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 (56 percent) in the third quarter of 2004, followed by the

South (19 percent), the Northeast (13 percent), and the West (11 percent). (See table 9.)
5

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

 layoff, third quarter 2003-third quarter 2004

 Anticipate a recall .............. 32.0 58.2 39.6 55.1 42.7

 Timeframe

 Within 6 months .................. 84.5 85.5 82.5 84.6 85.0

 Within 3 months................. 58.3 37.3 48.7 55.4 67.6

 Size

 At least half......................... 86.9 91.7 86.4 91.3 86.2

 All workers........................ 44.1 45.0 35.3 52.3 46.8

Nature of the recall III

2004

I

2004

II

2004

IV

2003

III

2003 r p

Percentage of events

r = revised.

p = prelimary.

The 77 extended mass layoff events discussed above involve 95 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 move. 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 relocation of work actions.) Almost 9 in 10

relocations (84 out of 95) associated with movement of work occurred among establishments within the same

company. (See table C.) In 75 percent of these relocations, the work activities were reassigned to places

elsewhere in the U.S. Just over one-fifth of the movement-of-work situations involved out-of-country moves

(21 out of 95). More than three-fourths of these (16 relocations) were within the same company. In the 11

situations where work activities were reassigned to another company under contractual arrangements, half

involved relocation of work to companies within the U.S. and half to companies outside of the U.S.

Recall Expectations

Forty-three percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the third quarter of 2004 indicated they

anticipated some type of recall. This compares with 32 percent of the employers anticipating a recall a year

earlier. (See table D.) Most of the employers not expecting a recall were in administrative and support services, credit intermediation and related activities, and food services and drinking places.

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-seven percent of the employers expected to extend

the offer to all laid-off workers, the highest proportion for a third quarter since 2000.

Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in which 98 percent of the employers

expected a recall), employers expected to recall laid-off workers in 27 percent of the events. A year earlier
6

 Number Percent Number

Size

 Total........... 780 100.0 131,452 100.0

50-99............... 338 43.3 24,332 18.5

100-149........... 178 22.8 20,987 16.0

150-199........... 94 12.1 15,883 12.1

200-299........... 88 11.3 20,977 16.0

300-499........... 47 6.0 17,767 13.5

500-999........... 30 3.8 19,740 15.0

1,000 or more... 5 .6 11,766 9.0

p = preliminary.

 Percent

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

July-September 2004

Layoff events Separations

p

21 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 66 percent involving fewer than 150 workers. These events, however, accounted

for only 34 percent of all separations. (See table E.) Separations involving 500 or more workers accounted

for 24 percent of all separations, down 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 78 separations in

furniture and home furnishings stores to a high of 363 in credit intermediation and related activities.

Initial Claimant Characteristics

A total of 101,456 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended mass

layoffs in the third quarter of 2004. Of these claimants, 17 percent were black, 16 percent were Hispanic,

49 percent were women, and 17 percent were 55 years of age or older. (See table 3.) Thirty-six percent

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

were black, 13 percent were Hispanic, 46 percent were women, and 16 percent were 55 years of age or

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

Geographic Distribution

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

Midwest (46,371), followed by the South (32,912), the West (26,910), and the Northeast (25,259). (See

table 4.) Extended mass layoffs in the Midwest were mainly in transportation equipment manufacturing,

administrative and support services, and food and beverage stores.

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

the West (-67,336), followed by the South (-16,001), the Northeast (-12,512), and the Midwest (-9,032).

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

decline occurring in the Pacific division (-62,952).
7

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

 p = preliminary.

Metropolitan area III

2004

III

2003

III

2004

III

2003 p

Events Separations

Total, nonmetropolitan areas .......................... 161 106 23,886 16,049

Total, 331 metropolitan areas......................... 643 435 110,980 67,051

Chicago, Ill. .............................................. 58 43 12,564 8,457

Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif. ............... 3 6 336 4,449

New York, N.Y. ...................................... 32 29 4,525 4,194

Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif. ............... 39 21 8,029 3,273

Detroit, Mich. ........................................... 16 20 2,338 2,251

Indianapolis, Ind. ...................................... 4 7 1,390 1,824

Modesto, Calif. ......................................... 3 3 3,865 1,524

Boston, Mass.-N.H. ................................. 13 11 2,102 1,396

Newark, N.J. ........................................... 5 8 380 1,390

Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton, Pa. ...... 3 6 380 1,173

p

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

in California (21,835), followed by Florida (16,098) and Illinois (16,086). About nine percent of the

separations in Florida were weather-related, as the state was hit with a number of hurricanes during the

quarter. California, Florida, and Illinois accounted for 33 percent of total layoff events and 41 percent of the

separations during the third quarter of 2004. They were followed by New York (9,953), Michigan (8,000),

Ohio (7,527), and Pennsylvania (7,515). (See table 5.) After excluding the substantial impact of seasonal

work, California still reported the most laid-off workers (18,677), largely due to layoffs in credit intermediation and related activities and in administrative and support services.

Over the year, California reported the greatest decrease in workers laid off during the third quarter

(-56,310), followed by Illinois (-8,287), Washington (-5,976), Massachusetts (-5,901), and North Carolina

(-5,672). The largest increases occurred in Ohio (+2,248) and Indiana (+1,987).

Fifty-six percent of events and 51 percent of separations occurred in metropolitan areas in the third

quarter of 2004, compared to 54 percent of events and 47 percent of separations during the third quarter

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

8,457. Next were Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif., with 4,449 separations, New York, N.Y., with 4,194,

and Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif., with 3,273. (See table F.) Employers located in nonmetropolitan

areas separated 16,049 workers in mass layoffs, down from 23,886 workers in the third quarter of 2003.

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
8

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 2004 is now scheduled to be released on Wednesday,

November 24, 2004. Previously, it had been scheduled for release on November 23.

NOTE: The fourth quarter of 2003 marked the final release of extended mass layoff

data for the total economy. Due to budget constraints in the Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS)

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

mass layoffs and plant closings was redefined to cover only the private nonfarm economy.

Quarterly information on layoff events in agriculture and government is no longer collected.

However, the monthly reporting of the MLS program, which is based only on administrative

data, is unaffected and will continue to cover the total economy.

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

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

being collected or reported. Rather, information on domestic and out-of-country moves is

collected and reported as part of additional questions that address the movement of work.

The initial report on movement of work for the first quarter of 2004 contained estimates

of worker separations or job loss specifically associated with the movement of work within

the same company or to other companies, domestically or outside the U.S. (See USDL 04-

1038, June 10, 2004.) While the total number of separations in extended mass layoff events

associated with the movement of work is known for the third quarter (16,091 laid-off

workers in 77 events), it is not possible to disaggregate the number of separations due to

relocations domestically or outside the U.S., within the same company or to other companies.

The reason for this is that employers were unable to provide such information in 13 of the 95

relocations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is exploring ways to obtain more detailed

responses so that resumption of the publication of job loss specifically associated with the

movement of work within the same company or to other companies, domestically or outside

the U.S. may resume in the future.
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 2004, outright refusal to participate in the employer interview

accounted for 5.0 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 13

relocations were unable to provide the number of separations

specifically associated with the movement of work, 4 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, 2003 and 2004

Industry

III II III III II III III II III

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

 Total, private nonfarm1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,190 1,359 780 236,333 278,031 131,452 227,909 251,970 101,456 

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

 ) – 626 ( 2 ) – 392 ( 2 ) –

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

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

 Construction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 106 119 76 13,898 17,801 9,341 17,395 22,321 8,586 

 Manufacturing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 455 302 267 85,977 51,651 41,982 85,742 54,034 36,409 

 Food ..................................................................................................................................................................... 59 69 41 19,256 10,916 7,704 13,473 11,775 6,549 

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

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

 Textile mills ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20 13 7 7,294 2,089 1,198 7,538 1,943 1,074 

 Textile product mills ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 9 7 1,260 2,285 812 914 2,319 1,218 

 Apparel ..................................................................................................................................................................... 28 15 15 4,466 2,204 1,744 4,058 1,836 1,468 

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

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

 Wood products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17 7 5 1,656 758 450 1,968 577 575 

 Paper ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 9 5 1,798 1,127 979 1,203 988 465 

 Printing and related support activities ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 15 7 1,023 2,027 1,144 906 1,780 1,111 

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Chemicals ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 12 9 1,451 1,694 1,116 1,565 1,597 990 

 Plastics and rubber products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 13 23 2,177 1,957 3,223 2,398 1,755 2,513 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 ( 2

 ) 11 1,454 ( 2 ) 2,368 1,603 ( 2 ) 1,877 

 Primary metals ..................................................................................................................................................................... 32 9 9 5,416 1,651 1,007 5,571 2,103 930 

 Fabricated metal products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 29 18 27 4,239 3,407 3,406 4,001 2,768 2,905 

 Machinery ..................................................................................................................................................................... 29 14 10 5,929 1,689 2,103 6,450 1,774 1,290 

 Computer and electronic products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 56 16 15 7,959 3,101 2,397 8,308 3,660 1,897 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 9 9 2,834 1,614 2,219 2,694 1,905 2,788 

 Transportation equipment ..................................................................................................................................................................... 62 43 47 10,880 10,463 7,526 16,821 12,854 6,703 

 Furniture and related products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 18 10 3,736 2,260 1,338 3,405 2,406 1,052 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 8 6 2,637 1,551 909 2,365 1,030 685 

 Wholesale trade ..................................................................................................................................................................... 45 22 19 7,406 4,386 2,701 6,267 3,090 2,066 

 Retail trade ..................................................................................................................................................................... 72 81 57 20,999 15,326 12,188 31,470 16,389 9,050 

 Transportation and warehousing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 75 141 54 14,601 35,933 7,500 13,368 34,669 5,810 

 Information ..................................................................................................................................................................... 49 48 19 12,465 11,281 4,205 11,783 11,805 3,484 

 Finance and insurance ..................................................................................................................................................................... 55 40 33 10,795 7,642 10,098 9,854 7,672 4,707 

 Real estate and rental and leasing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 1,280 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,150 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

 Professional and technical services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 51 63 25 8,561 16,644 5,214 8,080 14,971 3,609 

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

 ) 8 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,045 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,095 ( 2 ) 

 Administrative and waste services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 128 133 102 38,673 29,302 20,058 23,902 25,436 15,076 

 Educational services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 6 7 1,654 645 603 1,725 704 667 

 Health care and social assistance ..................................................................................................................................................................... 48 162 54 5,696 22,326 6,601 4,361 18,284 4,768 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30 52 18 5,386 23,660 2,246 4,658 5,780 1,838 

 Accommodation and food services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30 120 36 5,983 29,855 6,773 5,412 27,145 3,685 

 Other services, except public administration ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 54 7 1,495 8,536 660 1,418 7,119 558 

 Unclassified ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2 1 1 335 52 73 335 52 73 

 

 

1

 For the third quarter of 2004, 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 

p

 = preliminary.

private nonfarm economy. Quarterly information on layoff events in agriculture 

r

 = revised.

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, 2003 and 2004

Reason for layoff

III II III III II III III II III

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

 Total, private nonfarm1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,190 1,359 780 236,333 278,031 131,452 227,909 251,970 101,456 

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

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

Bankruptcy ..................................................................................................................................................................... 40 17 15 15,527 3,342 3,248 12,024 2,597 1,540 

Business ownership change ..................................................................................................................................................................... 32 27 34 6,421 7,370 9,877 4,934 5,260 4,123 

Contract cancellation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23 33 20 19,204 5,171 3,013 2,878 4,027 2,265 

Contract completed ..................................................................................................................................................................... 194 223 148 30,183 42,129 22,319 36,060 44,260 21,396 

Domestic relocation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 28 ( 3

 ) ( 3 ) 4,582 ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 4,213 ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

Financial difficulty ..................................................................................................................................................................... 56 41 39 9,477 7,768 6,356 9,132 4,438 4,248 

Import competition ..................................................................................................................................................................... 29 8 14 7,081 1,606 3,240 5,258 1,001 2,375 

Labor dispute ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 11 ( 2

 ) 4,028 2,160 ( 2 ) 11,962 1,842 ( 2 ) 

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

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

Model changeover ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 4 ( 2

 ) 340 932 ( 2 ) 374 950 ( 2 ) 

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

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

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) 

Overseas relocation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 ( 3

 ) ( 3 ) 3,710 ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 3,288 ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 

Plant or machine repair ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 8 4 618 1,336 633 674 2,240 470 

Product line discontinued ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 10 6 795 2,036 844 811 2,090 723 

Reorganization within company ..................................................................................................................................................................... 143 143 107 26,412 24,862 24,199 31,818 26,515 16,452 

Seasonal work ..................................................................................................................................................................... 160 478 156 34,249 111,175 24,184 26,908 87,987 17,793 

Slack work ..................................................................................................................................................................... 214 122 108 30,891 18,886 12,938 37,250 24,382 14,861 

Vacation period ..................................................................................................................................................................... 22 93 13 3,936 15,673 1,434 3,128 14,254 1,270 

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

 ) ( 2 ) 12 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,492 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,246 

Other ..................................................................................................................................................................... 40 35 30 7,186 6,447 7,953 5,180 4,978 3,433 

Not reported ..................................................................................................................................................................... 167 101 67 31,027 26,290 8,887 31,311 24,415 8,677 

 

1

 See footnote 1, table 1. p = preliminary.

 

2

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

 

3

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

Initial claimants for

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

private nonfarm sector, second and third quarters, 2004

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

 2004r 2004p 2004r 2004p 2004r 2004p 2004r 2004p 2004r 2004p 2004r 2004p 

 Total, private nonfarm1

 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,359 780 251,970 101,456 18.5 17.3 13.8 15.6 53.7 49.0 19.3 16.9 

Alabama ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 3 1,391 298 59.4 73.8 3.7 3.4 40.5 71.1 16.3 15.1 

Alaska ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 3 1,301 248 3.2 .8 20.1 23.8 40.7 27.4 20.6 19.8 

Arizona ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20 4 3,294 590 6.2 5.9 49.7 46.6 60.9 52.7 17.1 13.4 

Arkansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 – 718 – 57.5 – 1.4 – 79.0 – 10.9 –

California ..................................................................................................................................................................... 170 79 30,698 10,625 10.3 10.6 33.9 40.5 54.2 55.6 16.0 15.5 

Colorado ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 ( 2

 ) 2,525 ( 2 ) 10.5 15.6 22.2 22.6 59.2 50.8 16.2 7.5 

Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 7 3,918 735 11.9 19.9 8.0 9.7 68.1 66.0 17.3 21.0 

Delaware ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 – 885 – 18.8 – 3.6 – 37.2 – 12.5 –

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

 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 63.9 79.1 5.6 – 44.4 90.1 16.7 3.3 

Florida ..................................................................................................................................................................... 129 104 22,460 13,265 21.0 16.8 32.1 31.9 49.5 50.3 21.1 17.8 

Georgia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30 13 6,536 1,673 57.8 51.3 4.0 2.9 61.8 47.6 13.9 14.9 

Hawaii ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 ( 2

 ) 533 ( 2 ) 1.7 2.0 14.4 22.6 57.6 37.2 10.9 7.0 

Idaho ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 ( 2

 ) 706 ( 2 ) .3 – 19.7 40.0 57.1 68.8 21.1 18.0 

Illinois ..................................................................................................................................................................... 111 77 26,230 10,288 24.8 25.1 8.8 11.9 52.9 44.9 18.2 14.7 

Indiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 22 4,080 3,937 18.7 8.3 2.4 1.4 55.9 50.5 25.8 19.3 

Iowa ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 6 922 1,046 1.6 7.5 1.7 9.8 70.8 56.4 21.1 13.3 

Kansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 4 2,340 539 15.7 8.0 2.7 2.6 55.3 46.9 13.2 17.6 

Kentucky ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 15 2,323 1,237 8.0 10.0 .9 – 48.9 45.0 14.2 17.5 

Louisiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 28 11 3,249 943 61.7 52.7 2.1 1.7 69.9 34.4 16.4 10.9 

Maine ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 ( 2

 ) 828 ( 2 ) .7 .7 .2 – 35.4 10.9 13.4 13.8 

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

 ) 523 ( 2 ) 22.4 39.8 1.7 1.6 41.5 49.9 31.2 9.4 

Massachusetts ..................................................................................................................................................................... 28 22 5,232 2,678 12.9 9.0 3.5 5.9 57.1 48.5 22.6 14.9 

Michigan ..................................................................................................................................................................... 64 56 13,746 6,172 17.7 18.3 3.3 4.2 57.9 46.8 17.8 14.2 

Minnesota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23 7 2,673 647 7.8 11.7 7.8 2.6 52.4 40.0 18.5 25.3 

Mississippi ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 ( 2

 ) 642 ( 2 ) 71.2 89.6 .3 .5 55.0 61.6 18.4 12.0 

Missouri ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 9 4,530 1,473 32.1 26.2 .5 .8 71.3 61.6 22.9 22.9 

Montana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 – 332 – .3 – 4.8 – 59.9 – 10.2 –

Nebraska ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 5 757 465 19.7 10.8 4.5 3.7 51.9 36.8 25.0 16.1 

Nevada ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 – 611 – 24.4 – 15.4 – 56.0 – 19.1 –

New Hampshire ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 3 573 313 1.6 1.6 .7 4.5 72.3 60.7 30.0 17.6 

New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................................................... 55 29 13,860 3,646 17.3 29.1 10.1 16.2 68.6 64.1 31.9 24.8 

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

 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1.6 6.1 42.1 69.0 29.4 57.4 14.3 6.9 

New York ..................................................................................................................................................................... 79 69 18,736 8,670 16.0 16.7 7.5 9.6 48.6 54.8 19.1 19.9 

North Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 15 2,237 1,739 41.7 42.8 2.0 3.0 53.9 51.7 22.2 15.8 

North Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – –

Ohio ..................................................................................................................................................................... 82 48 12,264 5,790 17.5 11.2 1.9 1.6 47.7 42.9 16.3 16.3 

Oklahoma ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 ( 2

 ) 558 ( 2 ) 6.3 21.3 5.2 2.7 43.7 39.9 15.8 20.1 

Oregon ..................................................................................................................................................................... 22 8 3,525 1,393 2.4 1.7 15.5 26.9 61.8 58.7 24.9 24.6 

Pennsylvania ..................................................................................................................................................................... 89 61 21,105 9,132 9.0 6.9 2.0 2.5 46.4 40.9 23.2 19.1 

Rhode Island ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 4 2,017 389 5.5 1.5 10.5 49.9 78.2 51.7 24.4 17.0 

South Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 5 1,878 338 54.3 53.3 – – 78.3 55.9 2.4 7.1 

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

 ) – ( 2 ) – 1.1 – 1.7 – 59.9 – 28.2 –

Tennessee ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 12 1,377 1,032 23.2 13.7 – – 58.0 37.0 24.7 21.6 

Texas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 47 26 11,178 4,155 13.9 18.7 46.2 40.1 29.7 31.8 10.7 11.8 

Utah ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 ( 2

 ) 407 ( 2 ) 1.0 1.6 8.6 4.8 72.5 76.2 12.3 4.8 

Vermont ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 – 1,248 – .8 – .2 – 41.4 – 16.3 –

Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 28 10 4,086 1,579 53.0 48.8 1.3 3.0 65.7 54.1 16.3 14.4 

Washington ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 12 2,444 1,770 6.5 6.4 13.1 20.3 39.2 46.1 14.7 14.6 

West Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 ( 2

 ) 509 ( 2 ) .4 .5 – – 26.7 50.5 19.4 8.5 

Wisconsin ..................................................................................................................................................................... 58 13 9,546 2,090 11.2 5.9 3.4 5.3 57.9 54.4 25.3 14.3 

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

 ) – ( 2 ) – – – – – 28.1 – 1.6 –

Puerto Rico ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 13 2,811 2,835 ( 3

 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 50.3 61.2 8.3 7.8 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. p

 = preliminary.

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

 = revised.

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

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2003 and 2004

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

III II III III II III III II III

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

 United States1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,190 1,359 780 236,333 278,031 131,452 227,909 251,970 101,456 

Northeast ..................................................................................................................................................................... 254 299 196 37,771 58,740 25,259 40,187 67,517 25,701 

 New England ..................................................................................................................................................................... 57 76 37 10,671 13,706 4,235 8,009 13,816 4,253 

 Middle Atlantic ..................................................................................................................................................................... 197 223 159 27,100 45,034 21,024 32,178 53,701 21,448 

South ..................................................................................................................................................................... 278 363 223 48,913 66,954 32,912 47,920 60,622 27,739 

 South Atlantic ..................................................................................................................................................................... 175 231 152 32,875 45,618 23,616 30,424 39,186 19,298 

 East South Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 50 43 32 8,595 8,142 4,344 6,708 5,733 3,010 

 West South Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 53 89 39 7,443 13,194 4,952 10,788 15,703 5,431 

Midwest ..................................................................................................................................................................... 304 416 247 55,403 78,966 46,371 58,078 77,265 32,447 

 East North Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 258 339 216 47,567 65,794 39,947 50,229 65,866 28,277 

 West North Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 46 77 31 7,836 13,172 6,424 7,849 11,399 4,170 

West ..................................................................................................................................................................... 354 281 114 94,246 73,371 26,910 81,724 46,566 15,569 

 Mountain ..................................................................................................................................................................... 40 56 10 6,181 20,951 1,797 5,330 8,065 1,334 

 Pacific ..................................................................................................................................................................... 314 225 104 88,065 52,420 25,113 76,394 38,501 14,235 

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

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

 r = revised. Texas: East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin;

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

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

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

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

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

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2003 and 2004

State

III II III III II III III II III

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

 Total, private nonfarm1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,190 1,359 780 236,333 278,031 131,452 227,909 251,970 101,456 

Alabama ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 7 3 1,258 1,351 350 1,658 1,391 298 

Alaska ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 10 3 377 1,301 248 377 1,301 248 

Arizona ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 20 4 889 4,015 548 957 3,294 590 

Arkansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 9 – 1,179 1,724 – 524 718 –

California ..................................................................................................................................................................... 266 170 79 78,145 42,023 21,835 66,310 30,698 10,625 

Colorado ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 15 ( 2

 ) 1,634 11,016 ( 2 ) 1,095 2,525 ( 2 ) 

Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 21 7 1,455 5,855 1,108 1,021 3,918 735 

Delaware ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 4 – – 908 – – 885 –

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

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

Florida ..................................................................................................................................................................... 105 129 104 17,365 27,068 16,098 15,839 22,460 13,265 

Georgia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 30 13 1,950 7,164 2,259 1,967 6,536 1,673 

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

 ) 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 657 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 533 ( 2 ) 

Idaho ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 6 ( 2

 ) 1,675 1,010 ( 2 ) 1,914 706 ( 2 ) 

Illinois ..................................................................................................................................................................... 103 111 77 24,373 30,405 16,086 19,355 26,230 10,288 

Indiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 24 22 4,934 4,244 6,921 5,484 4,080 3,937 

Iowa ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 7 6 960 1,198 573 764 922 1,046 

Kansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 15 4 2,080 3,176 1,081 2,098 2,340 539 

Kentucky ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 21 15 2,025 3,663 1,703 1,170 2,323 1,237 

Louisiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 28 11 983 4,557 1,486 721 3,249 943 

Maine ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 6 ( 2

 ) 348 1,768 ( 2 ) 262 828 ( 2 ) 

Maryland ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 4 ( 2

 ) 1,440 651 ( 2 ) 637 523 ( 2 ) 

Massachusetts ..................................................................................................................................................................... 35 28 22 8,265 2,205 2,364 6,079 5,232 2,678 

Michigan ..................................................................................................................................................................... 48 64 56 6,782 10,460 8,000 11,408 13,746 6,172 

Minnesota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 23 7 1,381 3,312 856 1,468 2,673 647 

Mississippi ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 6 ( 2

 ) 1,770 1,362 ( 2 ) 771 642 ( 2 ) 

Missouri ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 24 9 2,497 4,688 1,775 2,924 4,530 1,473 

Montana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 4 – 257 951 – 173 332 –

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

 ) 6 5 ( 2 ) 657 2,139 ( 2 ) 757 465 

Nevada ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 4 – 1,067 824 – 486 611 –

New Hampshire ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 5 3 319 573 313 319 573 313 

New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................................................... 39 55 29 6,000 12,195 3,556 6,271 13,860 3,646 

New Mexico ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 416 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 543 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

New York ..................................................................................................................................................................... 96 79 69 14,700 19,371 9,953 13,365 18,736 8,670 

North Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 28 19 15 7,868 2,828 2,196 7,897 2,237 1,739 

North Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

Ohio ..................................................................................................................................................................... 50 82 48 5,279 11,281 7,527 7,747 12,264 5,790 

Oklahoma ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 5 ( 2

 ) 458 449 ( 2 ) 619 558 ( 2 ) 

Oregon ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 22 8 2,362 4,558 1,718 4,000 3,525 1,393 

Pennsylvania ..................................................................................................................................................................... 62 89 61 6,400 13,468 7,515 12,542 21,105 9,132 

Rhode Island ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 9 4 284 2,057 395 328 2,017 389 

South Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 11 5 1,129 1,615 618 1,061 1,878 338 

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

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

Tennessee ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 9 12 3,542 1,766 1,844 3,109 1,377 1,032 

Texas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 35 47 26 4,823 6,464 3,118 8,924 11,178 4,155 

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

 ) 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,465 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 407 ( 2 ) 

Vermont ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 7 – – 1,248 – – 1,248 –

Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 28 10 2,874 4,771 1,742 2,784 4,086 1,579 

Washington ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25 18 12 7,076 3,881 1,100 5,577 2,444 1,770 

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

 ) 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 541 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 509 ( 2 ) 

Wisconsin ..................................................................................................................................................................... 36 58 13 6,199 9,404 1,413 6,235 9,546 2,090 

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

Puerto Rico ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 14 13 1,684 2,005 1,251 2,362 2,811 2,835 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. r

 = revised.

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

 p = preliminary.

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance
Table 6. Information technology-producing industries: Extended mass layoff events and separations, private nonfarm sector, 1996-2004

Layoff 

events Separations Layoff 

events Separations Layoff 

events Separations Layoff 

events Separations Layoff 

events Separations

1996

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

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

 ) ( 6 ) 10 1,359 4 615 

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

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

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

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

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

1997

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

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

 ) ( 6 ) 

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

 ) ( 6 ) 

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

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

1998

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

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

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

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

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

1999

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

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

 ) ( 6 ) 

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

 ) ( 6 ) 

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

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

2000

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

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

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

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

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

2001

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

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

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

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

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

2002

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

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

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

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

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

2003

First quarter ......................................................................................... 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 

r 236,333 46 6,488 26 4,433 9 1,289 15 r 2,604

Fourth quarter ........................................................................................... 1,690 

r 325,333 25 5,080 14 1,984 9 1,619 28 6,635 

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

 r 21,721

2004

First quarter ............................................................................................................. 1,339 

r 276,446 27 3,222 16 2,992 8 894 23 4,197 

Second quarterr ............................................................................................................. 1,359 278,031 18 2,959 21 3,576 – – 22 5,295 

Third quarterp

 .................................................................................... 780 131,452 10 1,833 14 1,435 4 430 11 2,979 

 

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 

p

 = preliminary.

merchant wholesalers; computer and software stores; custom computer programming 

r

 = revised.

Communications 

services5

Information technology-producing industries1

Total extended 

mass layoffs

Year

Computer 

hardware2

Software and 

computer services3

Communications 

equipment4
Table 7. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work, 2004

I 

2004r

II 

2004r

III 

2004p

I 

2004r

II 

2004r

III 

2004p

 Total, private nonfarm1

 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 113 86 77 19,978 16,240 16,091 

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

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Manufacturing.................................................................................. 75 57 53 12,827 10,999 10,804 

 Food.............................................................................................. 8 ( 2

 ) 4 1,478 ( 2 ) 924 

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

 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 )

 Textile mills................................................................................... 3 4 – 810 537 –

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

 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 874 ( 2 )

 Apparel........................................................................................... 5 4 3 1,237 847 386 

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Wood products............................................................................. ( 2

 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 )

 Paper.............................................................................................. 4 3 3 295 453 661 

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

 ) ( 2 ) 264 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

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

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

 ) ( 2 ) 634 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Plastics and rubber products................................................ 5 5 6 1,134 632 1,025 

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

 ) – – ( 2 )

 Primary metal.............................................................................. ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

 Fabricated metal products...................................................... ( 2

 ) 5 4 ( 2 ) 1,010 755 

 Machinery.................................................................................... 6 ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 870 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Computer and electronic products...................................... 7 7 5 785 1,975 1,197 

 Electrical equipment and appliance...................................6 ( 2

 ) 4 1,079 ( 2 ) 1,660 

 Transportation equipment.................................................... 8 4 7 1,977 1,013 1,793 

 Furniture and related products.............................................. 4 8 ( 2

 ) 497 1,026 ( 2 )

 Miscellaneous manufacturing............................................. 4 ( 2

 ) 3 739 ( 2 ) 540 

 Wholesale trade............................................................................... 3 4 4 675 410 616 

 Retail trade........................................................................................ 4 6 11 540 1,039 2,290 

 Transportation and warehousing..............................................5 ( 2

 ) – 1,152 ( 2 ) –

 Information......................................................................................... 8 4 ( 2

 ) 1,780 771 ( 2 )

 Finance and insurance.................................................................. 5 ( 2

 ) 5 684 ( 2 ) 735 

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

 Professional and technical services...................................... ( 2

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

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Administrative and waste services..........................................4 5 – 647 1,372 –

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

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

 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 )

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

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

 Other services, except public administration....................... 3 – – 311 – –

 Unknown ................................................................................................................................... – – – – – –

 

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.

Industry

Layoff events Separations
Table 8. Reason for layoff: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement 

of work, 2004

I 

2004r

II 

2004r

III 

2004p

I 

2004r

II 

2004r

III 

2004p

 Total, private nonfarm1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 113 86 77 19,978 16,240 16,091 

Automation ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

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

Business ownership change ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 7 8 669 1,380 1,303 

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

 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 493 ( 2 )

Contract completed ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 4 – ( 2 ) 571 –

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

Financial difficulty ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 ( 2

 ) 5 3,492 ( 2 ) 882 

Import competition ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 4 4 ( 2 ) 913 1,296 

Labor dispute ..................................................................................................................................................................... – – – – – –

Material shortage ..................................................................................................................................................................... – – – – – –

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) –

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

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

Product line discontinued ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 373 ( 2 )

Reorganization within company ..................................................................................................................................................................... 58 49 40 9,759 8,717 9,458 

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

 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 )

Slack work ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 4 4 735 1,260 887 

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

 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 )

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

Other ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23 9 12 4,191 1,798 1,994 

Not reported ..................................................................................................................................................................... – – – – – –

 

1

 See footnote 1, table 1. 

p = preliminary.

 

2

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. 

r = revised.

 

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.

Reason for layoff

Layoff events Separations
Table 9. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the 

movement of work, 2004

I 

2004r

II 

2004r

III 

2004p

I 

2004r

II 

2004r

III 

2004p

 United States1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 113 86 77 19,978 16,240 16,091 

Northeast ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 10 8 2,691 1,342 2,080 

 New England ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 4 3 508 613 932 

 Middle Atlantic ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 6 5 2,183 729 1,148 

South ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30 35 19 5,889 6,421 3,106 

 South Atlantic ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 18 11 3,172 3,251 1,853 

 East South Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 12 8 956 2,253 1,253 

 West South Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 5 – 1,761 917 –

Midwest ..................................................................................................................................................................... 37 22 40 6,442 4,503 9,058 

 East North Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 31 19 36 5,165 3,427 7,989 

 West North Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 3 4 1,277 1,076 1,069 

West ..................................................................................................................................................................... 32 19 10 4,956 3,974 1,847 

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

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

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

 

1

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

 

2

 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South 

 

p

= preliminary. Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; East 

 

r = revised. North Central: Iliinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; 

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

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

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

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

District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Oregon, and Washington.

Region and division

Layoff events Separations