For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Friday, February 10, 2012 USDL-12-0217 

 

Technical information: (202) 691-6392 • mlsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/mls 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov 

EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS – FOURTH QUARTER 2011 

ANNUAL TOTALS – 2011 

Employers in the private nonfarm sector initiated 1,638 mass layoff events in the fourth quarter of 2011 

that resulted in the separation of 266,971 workers from their jobs for at least 31 days, the U.S. Bureau of 

Labor Statistics reported today. Over the year, total extended mass layoff events and associated worker 

separations were down from 1,999 and 338,643, respectively. Total events and separations reached their 

lowest fourth quarter levels since 2005, while manufacturing sector events and separations declined to 

their lowest fourth quarter levels in program history. (See table A.) Fourth quarter 2011 layoff data are 

preliminary and are subject to revision. (See the Technical Note.) 

Permanent worksite closures accounted for only 5 percent of extended mass layoff events in the fourth 

quarter of 2011, the lowest proportion of events due to closure for any quarter in program history (with 

data available back to 1995). Sixty-four percent of private nonfarm employers indicated they anticipated 

some type of worker recall–the highest percentage in six years. 

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs 

Over the year ending in the fourth quarter of 2011, the number of private nonfarm extended mass layoff 

events declined in 13 of the 18 major industry sectors. The construction and the accommodation and 

food services sectors experienced the largest declines in the numbers of worker separations over the 

year. Fourteen of the 21 manufacturing subsectors experienced over-the-year decreases in the number of 

layoff events. (See table 1.) 

Events and separations in the manufacturing sector declined to their lowest fourth quarter levels in 

program history. Fifty-three percent of manufacturing employers with an extended mass layoff event in 

the fourth quarter of 2011 anticipated recalling at least some of the displaced workers. 

The construction sector had 528 extended mass layoff events and 66,110 separations, primarily due to 

the ending of seasonal work. This sector accounted for 32 percent of the layoff events and 25 percent of 

the related separations in the fourth quarter of 2011. In these events, 84 percent of the employers 

anticipated recalling at least some of the displaced workers. 

Reasons for Extended Layoffs 

 

Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 44 percent of the events and 42 percent of 

related separations in the private nonfarm sector during the fourth quarter of 2011. Business demand 
- 2 - 

Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity

Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants

2007

January-March..................... 1,110 225,600 199,250 

April-June............................ 1,421 278,719 259,234 

July-September.................... 1,018 160,024 173,077 

October-December.............. 1,814 301,592 347,151 

2008

January-March..................... 1,340 230,098 259,292 

April-June............................ 1,756 354,713 339,630 

July-September.................... 1,581 290,453 304,340 

October-December.............. 3,582 641,714 766,780 

2009

January-March..................... 3,979 705,141 835,551 

April-June............................ 3,395 651,318 731,049 

July-September.................... 2,034 345,531 406,823 

October-December.............. 2,416 406,212 468,577 

2010

January-March..................... 1,870 314,512 368,664 

April-June............................ 2,008 381,622 396,441 

July-September.................... 1,370 222,357 260,077 

October-Decemberr ............ 1,999 338,643 390,584 

2011

January-Marchr

 ................... 1,490 225,456 258,220 

April-Juner

 .......................... 1,810 317,546 342,529 

July-Septemberr 

................... 1,393 235,247 289,330 

October-Decemberp ............ 1,638 266,971 249,692 

 r

 = revised.

 p

 = preliminary.

factors, primarily as a result of contract completion, accounted for 34 percent of extended mass layoff 

events and 35 percent of related separations during the quarter. Over the year, the largest decrease in 

worker separations occurred in layoffs attributed to seasonal factors. (See table 2 and the chart.) 

Movement of Work 

In the fourth quarter of 2011, 33 extended mass layoffs involved movement of work and were associated 

with 5,910 worker separations, a series low for both figures in any quarter (with data available back to 

2004). 
- 3 - 

Table B. Metropolitan areas with the largest number of initial claimants associated with

extended mass layoff events in the fourth quarter 2011, by residency of claimants

 Total, 372 metropolitan areas ................. 308,431 ... 195,619 ...

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. .... 38,825 1 36,296 1 

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. ......... 17,640 3 11,927 2 

New York-Northern New Jersey-Long

 Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ................................ 18,235 2 9,399 3 

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. ....... 9,945 4 6,204 4 

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. ......... 9,768 5 6,037 5 

San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. ........ 6,525 6 3,935 6 

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington,

 Minn.-Wis. ................................................ 3,183 18 3,167 7 

Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, Calif. 5,710 8 2,928 8 

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif. .......... 3,575 15 2,877 9 

Modesto, Calif. .............................................. 3,653 14 2,538 10 

 r

 = revised.

 p

 = preliminary.

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

 Office of Management and Budget Bulletin 10-02, December 1, 2009.

Metropolitan area

2010 IVr 2011 IVp

Initial 

claimants Rank Initial claimants Rank

Sixty-four percent of the events related to movement of work were from manufacturing industries. 

Employers cited organizational changes as the economic reason for layoff in 48 percent of the events 

involving movement of work. Among workers affected by the movement of work, the largest 

proportions were in the Midwest and West. (See tables 6-9.) 

The 33 events with movement of work for the fourth quarter involved 53 identifiable relocations of work 

actions. (See table 9.) Employers were able to provide information on the specific number of worker 

separations for 23 of these actions. Among these actions, 78 percent were domestic reassignments, and 

87 percent involved work moving within the same company. (See table 10.) 

Recall Expectations 

Sixty-four percent of the private nonfarm employers reporting an extended mass layoff in the fourth 

quarter of 2011 indicated they anticipated some type of recall–the highest fourth quarter percentage 

since 2005. Of those employers expecting to recall workers, 32 percent indicated the offer would be 

extended to all displaced employees, and 77 percent of employers anticipated extending the offer to at 

least half of the workers. Among employers expecting to recall laid-off workers, 73 percent intend to do 

so within 6 months. Excluding extended mass layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period, in 

which 94 percent of the employers expected a recall, employers anticipated recalling laid-off workers in 

40 percent of the events. (See table 11.) 
- 4 - 

Table C. Selected measures of mass layoff activity, 1996-2011

Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants

 1996 ....................... 4,760 948,122 805,810 

 1997 ....................... 4,671 947,843 879,831 

 1998 ....................... 4,859 991,245 1,056,462 

 1999 ....................... 4,556 901,451 796,917 

 2000 ....................... 4,591 915,962 846,267 

 2001 ....................... 7,375 1,524,832 1,457,512 

 2002 ....................... 6,337 1,272,331 1,218,143 

 2003 ....................... 6,181 1,216,886 1,200,811 

 2004 ....................... 5,010 993,909 903,079 

 2005 ....................... 4,881 884,661 834,533 

 2006 ....................... 4,885 935,969 951,155 

 2007 ....................... 5,363 965,935 978,712 

 2008 ....................... 8,259 1,516,978 1,670,042 

 2009 ....................... 11,824 2,108,202 2,442,000 

 2010r

 ...................... 7,247 1,257,134 1,415,766 

 2011p

 ..................... 6,331 1,045,220 1,139,771 

 r

 = revised.

 p

 = preliminary.

Size of Extended Layoffs 

The average size of a layoff (as measured by the number of separations per layoff event) was 163 

workers during the fourth quarter of 2011. (See table 12.) Events were largely concentrated at the lower 

end of the extended layoff-size spectrum, with over two-thirds involving fewer than 150 workers. 

Conversely, only 4 percent of layoff events involved 500 or more workers. (See table 13.) 

Initial Claimant Characteristics 

A total of 249,692 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended mass 

layoffs in the fourth quarter. Of these claimants, 11 percent were black, 20 percent were Hispanic, 30 

percent were women, and 19 percent were 55 years of age or older. (See table 3.) In the entire civilian 

labor force for the same period, 12 percent of all persons were black, 15 percent were Hispanic, 47 

percent were women, and 20 percent were 55 years of age or older. 

Geographic Distribution 

Among the four census regions, the West recorded the highest number of separations due to extended 

mass layoff events in the fourth quarter of 2011. Among the nine census divisions, the highest number 

of displaced workers was in the Pacific. All regions and 8 of the 9 divisions registered fewer laid-off 

workers compared with the fourth quarter of 2010. (See table 4.) 
- 5 - 

California recorded the largest number of worker separations in the fourth quarter of 2011, followed by 

Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Minnesota. Over the year, 36 states reported decreased numbers of 

separated workers associated with extended mass layoff events during the fourth quarter, led by 

Wisconsin, New Jersey, and New York. (See table 5.) 

Seventy-eight percent of the initial claimants for unemployment insurance associated with extended 

mass layoff events in the fourth quarter of 2011 resided within metropolitan areas. Among the 372 

metropolitan areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., reported the highest number of resident 

initial claimants. (See table B.) 

Review of 2011 

For all of 2011, employers reported 6,331 extended mass layoff actions, affecting 1,045,220 workers. 

Compared to 2010, the number of events decreased by 13 percent and the number of separations 

decreased by 17 percent. (See table C.) Permanent worksite closures accounted for 8 percent of extended 

mass layoff events in 2011, the lowest proportion of events due to closure in program history (with 

annual data available back to 1996). The annual average national unemployment rate decreased from 9.6 

percent in 2010 to 8.9 percent in 2011, and private nonfarm payroll employment increased by 1.7 

percent, or 1,869,000. 

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs 

In the private nonfarm economy, manufacturing had the largest number of separations, despite reaching 

a program low in 2011. Construction had the next highest number of separations, followed by 

administrative and waste services. 

Reasons for Extended Layoffs 

 

Among the seven categories of economic reasons for layoff, layoffs due to business demand factors 

accounted for the largest number of events during 2011, largely due to contract completion. Layoffs 

attributed to this reason occurred primarily in construction and in administrative and waste services, 

which includes temporary help services. 

Movement of Work 

In 2011, 163 extended mass layoffs involved movement of work and were associated with 30,532 

separated workers. Both measures reached program lows (with annual data available back to 2004). 

Fifty-five percent of events related to movement of work were from manufacturing industries. 

Employers cited organizational issues in 41 percent of the layoffs involving the movement of work, the 

highest among the reason categories. 

The 163 extended layoff events with movement of work for 2011 involved 230 identifiable relocations 

of work actions. Employers were able to provide more complete separations information for 113 of the 

actions. Of these, 82 percent involved work moving within the same company, and 77 percent were 

domestic reassignments. 
- 6 - 

Recall Expectations 

Fifty-five percent of employers reporting an extended mass layoff in 2011 indicated they anticipated 

some type of recall, up from 50 percent in 2010. Of those employers expecting to recall workers, 34 

percent indicated that the offer would be extended to all displaced employees, and 69 percent intended 

to do so within 6 months. Excluding events due to seasonal work and vacation period, employers 

anticipated recalling laid-off workers in just 34 percent of the events. 

Size of Extended Layoffs 

In 2011, the average size of a layoff (as measured by separations per layoff event) was 165, registering 

the smallest average size for a calendar year in program history. Extended mass layoffs involving 500 or 

more workers accounted for only 5 percent of events in 2011 but resulted in 26 percent of all 

separations. 

Initial Claimant Characteristics 

A total of 1,139,771 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended mass 

layoffs in 2011. Of these claimants, 15 percent were black, 20 percent were Hispanic, 41 percent were 

women, and 20 percent were 55 years of age or older. Among persons in the civilian labor force for the 

same period, 12 percent were black, 15 percent were Hispanic, 47 percent were women, and 20 percent 

were 55 years of age or older.

Geographic Distribution 

Compared to 2010, all census regions, divisions, and 36 states reported decreased numbers of laid-off 

workers in 2011. Among the states, the largest decreases were reported by California, New York, and 

Florida. 

Among the 372 metropolitan areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., reported the highest 

number of resident initial claimants associated with extended mass layoff events in 2011, followed by 

New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., and Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill.-Ind.-

Wis. 

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 employer filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a 

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

contacted for additional information. Data for the current quarter are preliminary and subject to 

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

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

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

program, see the Technical Note. 

________________ 

The Mass Layoffs news release for January 2012 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, 

February 23, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EST). The Extended Mass Layoffs news release for the First 

Quarter of 2012 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). 
- 7 - 

Upcoming Changes to Mass Layoff Data 

With the release of January 2012 data on February 23, 2012, the Mass Layoff Statistics program will 

update the basis for industry classification from the 2007 North American Industry Classification 

System (NAICS) to the 2012 NAICS. The new conversion reflects definitional changes within the 

utilities, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and retail trade sectors. Several industry titles and 

descriptions will also be updated. For more information on the 2012 NAICS update, visit 

www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html. 
Technical Note 

The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federalstate program which identifies, describes, and tracks the 

effects of major job cutbacks, using data from each state's 

unemployment insurance database. Employers 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. 

Employers 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 

Domestic relocation. A movement of work from an 

establishment within the U.S. to a location also inside the 

U.S., either within the same company or to a different 

company altogether (domestic outsourcing). 

Employer. A firm covered by state unemployment 

insurance laws. Information on employers is obtained from 

the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) 

program, which is administered by the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics (BLS). 

Extended mass layoff event. A layoff defined by the 

filing of 50 or more initial claims for unemployment 

insurance benefits from an employer during a 5-week period, 

with at least 50 workers separated for more than 30 days. 

Such layoffs involve both persons subject to recall and those 

who are terminated. 

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. 

Movement of work. The reassignment of work activities 

previously performed at the worksite by the company 

experiencing the layoff (1) to another worksite within the 

company; (2) to another company under formal contractual 

arrangements at the same worksite; or (3) to another company 

under formal contractual arrangements at another worksite 

either within or outside of the U.S. 

Outsourcing. A movement of work that was formerly 

conducted in-house by employees paid directly by a company 

to a different company under a contractual arrangement. 

Overseas relocation. A movement of work from an 

establishment within the U.S. to a location outside of the U.S. 

(offshoring), either within the same company or to a different 

company altogether (offshore outsourcing). 

Relocation of work action. A movement-of-work action 

where the employer provides information on the new location 

of work and/or the number of workers affected by the 

movement. Events may involve more than one action per 

employer if work is moved to more than one location. 

Separations. The number of individuals who have 

become displaced during an extended mass layoff event as 

provided by the employer, regardless of whether they file for 

unemployment insurance or not. 

Worksite closure. The complete closure of an employer 

or the partial closure of an employer with multiple locations 

where entire worksites affected by layoffs are closed. 

Revisions to preliminary data 

The latest quarterly data in this news release are 

considered preliminary. After the initial publication of 

quarterly information, more data are collected as remaining 

employer interviews for the quarter are completed and 

additional initial claimant information associated with 

extended layoff events is received. 

Movement of work concepts and questions 

Beginning in 2004, the economic reasons "domestic 

relocation" and "overseas relocation" were replaced by the 

movement of work concept. The movement of work data are 

not collected in the same way as the relocation reasons in 

releases prior to 2004; therefore, the movement of work data 

are not comparable to the data for those discontinued reasons. 

Questions on movement of work and location are asked 

for all layoff events when the reason for separation is other 

than “seasonal work” or “vacation period,” as these are 

unlikely. Movement of work questions are asked after the 

analyst verifies that a layoff in fact occurred and lasted more 

than 30 days. 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 “domestic relocation” if 

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

indicates the location(s) was inside the U.S.; “overseas 

relocation” indicates that the location(s) was outside the U.S. 

Reliability of the data 

 The identification of employers and layoff events in the 

MLS program and associated characteristics of claimants is 

based on administrative data on covered employers 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 employers and layoff events 

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

asked the 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 fourth 

quarter of 2011, outright refusal to participate in the employer 

interview accounted for 3.3 percent of all private nonfarm 

events. Although included in the total number of instances 

involving the movement of work, employers in 30 relocations 

were unable to provide the number of separations specifically 

associated with the movement of work, 10 of which involved 

out-of-country moves. 

Additional information 

Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 

(202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339. 
Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2010 and 2011

Industry

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

2010 2011r 2011p 2010r 2011r 2011p 2010r 2011r 2011p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 .................................. 1,999 1,393 1,638 338,643 235,247 266,971 390,584 289,330 249,692 

 Mining ............................................................. 31 ( 2

 ) 21 3,723 ( 2 ) 2,710 4,491 ( 2 ) 2,664 

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

 Construction .................................................... 685 216 528 89,037 27,496 66,110 108,428 33,806 63,335 

 Manufacturing ................................................. 382 262 320 66,428 45,380 53,843 77,401 49,956 48,727 

 Food ........................................................... 86 70 83 22,752 14,718 16,842 19,628 14,830 14,947 

 Beverage and tobacco products ................ 12 9 9 1,830 1,353 812 2,239 1,964 918 

 Textile mills ................................................ 3 4 8 759 541 1,691 1,031 2,458 1,954 

 Textile product mills ................................... ( 2 ) 3 3 ( 2 ) 368 577 ( 2 ) 441 608 

 Apparel ....................................................... 12 5 6 2,245 1,246 943 2,617 1,611 1,100 

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

 Wood products ........................................... 18 9 12 2,181 1,392 2,163 4,708 1,268 2,118 

 Paper ......................................................... 10 4 14 1,434 682 3,004 1,312 518 1,826 

 Printing and related support activities ........ 11 11 9 2,090 1,089 870 1,991 1,401 1,125 

 Petroleum and coal products ..................... 17 – 13 2,463 – 1,603 2,805 – 1,844 

 Chemicals ................................................. 5 9 5 464 889 549 531 1,008 540 

 Plastics and rubber products ..................... 14 9 9 1,697 2,678 1,940 1,922 1,299 1,830 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ..................... 50 6 39 6,367 811 5,427 7,452 717 4,505 

 Primary metals ........................................... 13 4 10 2,125 804 1,216 2,125 498 1,147 

 Fabricated metal products ......................... 19 8 16 2,858 1,341 1,737 3,601 1,471 1,795 

 Machinery .................................................. 18 16 15 3,023 2,594 3,324 4,800 3,677 2,734 

 Computer and electronic products ............. 15 15 22 2,029 2,617 4,095 2,524 2,380 2,251 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ......... 6 11 ( 2 ) 1,138 2,445 ( 2 ) 2,441 2,483 ( 2 )

 Transportation equipment .......................... 51 49 26 8,062 7,531 4,772 11,590 9,726 5,005 

 Furniture and related products ................... 8 12 7 1,246 1,461 588 1,689 1,441 654 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing .................... 10 8 10 1,272 820 1,067 1,227 765 1,058 

 Wholesale trade .............................................. 33 25 22 3,769 2,951 3,177 4,092 2,832 2,384 

 Retail trade ...................................................... 88 70 67 22,420 18,136 12,188 26,413 15,050 10,528 

 Transportation and warehousing .................... 52 101 31 9,352 13,476 4,473 12,921 14,573 3,138 

 Information ...................................................... 55 98 64 15,753 23,669 19,942 26,220 42,811 24,433 

 Finance and insurance .................................... 50 43 31 9,827 8,085 6,238 9,831 9,467 5,649 

 Real estate and rental and leasing ................. 15 7 10 1,740 904 1,784 1,812 1,686 1,785 

 Professional and technical services ................ 69 72 83 11,295 11,799 15,680 14,611 16,190 15,996 

 Management of companies and enterprises ... ( 2 ) 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 510 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,260 ( 2 )

 Administrative and waste services .................. 230 221 241 40,868 44,278 42,810 50,010 63,517 39,907 

 Educational services ....................................... 9 22 10 2,655 2,666 771 1,457 2,810 1,050 

 Health care and social assistance .................. 48 95 35 6,478 9,305 5,748 6,888 9,306 4,494 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ................. 59 45 61 12,372 8,309 10,027 8,913 7,698 7,644 

 Accommodation and food services ................. 161 85 95 38,800 15,860 18,387 31,830 15,486 14,893 

 Other services, except public administration .. 22 21 15 2,794 2,034 2,097 3,471 2,378 2,252 

 Unclassified ..................................................... – 1 – – 114 – – 114 –

 1

 For the fourth quarter of 2011, data on layoffs were reported by employers r = revised.

in all states and the District of Columbia. p

 = preliminary.

 2

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

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

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

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2010 and 2011

Reason for layoff

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

2010 2011r 2011p 2010r 2011r 2011p 2010r 2011r 2011p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ................................................... 1,999 1,393 1,638 338,643 235,247 266,971 390,584 289,330 249,692 

Business demand ............................................................. 661 629 558 100,547 103,741 94,170 144,801 157,352 100,383 

 Contract cancellation ..................................................... 24 36 ( 2

 ) 4,174 5,138 ( 2 ) 5,800 5,916 ( 2 )

 Contract completion ....................................................... 377 419 380 62,433 75,760 72,446 91,477 121,177 76,196 

 Domestic competition ..................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

 Excess inventory/saturated market ................................ – 4 ( 2 ) – 2,105 ( 2 ) – 642 ( 2 ) Import competition ......................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

 Slack work/insufficient demand/non-seasonal

 business slowdown ................................................. 255 166 164 33,262 20,349 20,243 46,872 28,840 22,347 

Organizational changes .................................................... 79 76 59 17,864 12,258 11,770 16,707 12,288 8,799 

 Business-ownership change .......................................... 18 18 16 9,311 2,309 3,458 2,973 1,395 2,452 

 Reorganization or restructuring of company .................. 61 58 43 8,553 9,949 8,312 13,734 10,893 6,347 

Financial issues ................................................................ 110 102 62 15,995 19,232 11,398 17,304 17,855 7,784 

 Bankruptcy ..................................................................... 14 21 16 3,505 7,544 4,550 1,870 5,050 2,022 

 Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ................ 65 44 28 7,445 6,572 4,484 11,177 7,707 3,561 

 Financial difficulty ........................................................... 31 37 18 5,045 5,116 2,364 4,257 5,098 2,201 

Production specific ............................................................ 10 17 ( 2

 ) 1,422 2,074 ( 2 ) 2,517 2,363 ( 2 )

 Automation/technological advances .............................. ( 2

 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 253 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 294 ( 2 )

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

 Governmental regulations/intervention .......................... 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 629 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 660 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike ..................... ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 731 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 704 ( 2 ) Material or supply shortage ............................................ – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Model changeover ......................................................... – 4 4 – 467 820 – 618 437 

 Plant or machine repair/maintenance ............................ ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 390 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 504 ( 2 ) Product line discontinued ............................................... ( 2 ) – 6 ( 2 ) – 1,654 ( 2 ) – 1,119 

Disaster/safety .................................................................. 5 9 ( 2

 ) 521 1,251 ( 2 ) 512 1,127 ( 2 )

 Hazardous work environment ........................................ ( 2

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

 Natural disaster (not weather related) ............................ – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Non-natural disaster ....................................................... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) Extreme weather-related event ...................................... – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Seasonal ........................................................................... 826 303 721 137,478 50,093 112,248 143,179 51,989 96,526 

 Seasonal ........................................................................ 819 185 716 136,837 37,153 111,605 142,263 37,963 95,203 

 Vacation period–school related or otherwise ................. 7 118 5 641 12,940 643 916 14,026 1,323 

Other/miscellaneous ......................................................... 308 257 219 64,816 46,598 31,186 65,564 46,356 32,239 

 Other .............................................................................. 19 23 19 2,565 3,812 2,377 3,116 3,549 3,489 

 Data not provided: refusal .............................................. 82 54 55 19,083 13,819 8,802 19,081 13,827 8,706 

 Data not provided: does not know ................................. 207 180 145 43,168 28,967 20,007 43,367 28,980 20,044 

 1

 See footnote 1, table 1. p = preliminary.

 2

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

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

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

private nonfarm sector, third and fourth quarters, 2011

Total Percent of total

State

Layoff events initial

claimants Black Hispanic

origin Women Persons age 55and over

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

 2011r 2011p 2011r 2011p 2011r 2011p 2011r 2011p 2011r 2011p 2011r 2011p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ............ 1,393 1,638 289,330 249,692 14.6 10.9 23.0 20.3 39.7 30.2 18.6 18.6 

Alabama ...................................... 6 4 1,817 680 41.0 33.7 1.2 2.2 41.4 36.2 13.6 20.9 

Alaska .......................................... 6 13 2,150 2,228 8.5 5.4 17.6 12.3 33.1 23.6 22.6 20.5 

Arizona ........................................ 9 11 1,346 1,631 7.7 10.3 32.7 25.5 58.5 49.6 18.7 14.7 

Arkansas ..................................... 10 9 1,729 1,755 18.1 36.0 5.8 8.5 45.5 47.1 21.9 17.6 

California ..................................... 548 412 142,733 79,665 8.2 6.6 34.5 35.2 38.5 37.3 15.6 17.1 

Colorado ...................................... 9 16 1,163 1,840 4.0 3.5 24.8 46.6 47.1 12.3 15.7 22.5 

Connecticut ................................. 6 3 623 349 22.3 12.9 16.5 29.8 58.4 44.1 20.9 29.2 

Delaware ..................................... 3 3 843 340 43.4 20.9 11.3 9.4 35.3 35.9 12.7 26.2 

District of Columbia ..................... ( 2 ) 3 ( 2 ) 380 80.6 73.2 1.3 7.9 64.8 49.7 7.5 15.0 

Florida ......................................... 44 32 7,539 3,748 19.8 22.1 26.7 26.0 38.0 39.5 23.8 23.4 

Georgia ........................................ 26 33 5,779 5,245 45.6 44.0 5.3 4.3 45.9 35.9 19.8 17.6 

Hawaii .......................................... – 4 – 560 – 1.8 – 9.8 – 40.7 – 15.2 

Idaho ........................................... 4 13 424 1,730 .2 .2 13.7 12.2 43.4 24.5 16.7 21.1 

Illinois .......................................... 66 157 14,384 20,296 20.9 11.8 13.1 22.7 32.9 23.8 17.5 15.9 

Indiana ......................................... 19 27 5,662 4,499 11.1 6.9 3.4 4.8 25.5 17.3 18.5 15.8 

Iowa ............................................. 5 10 745 2,092 10.7 3.4 2.7 8.8 37.0 19.3 15.2 23.8 

Kansas ........................................ 7 9 813 1,101 17.6 9.8 4.2 8.3 52.8 25.8 26.4 19.2 

Kentucky ...................................... 19 30 2,235 2,883 18.9 7.2 .1 .1 42.7 16.8 16.1 19.3 

Louisiana ..................................... 17 22 2,614 2,890 41.1 41.5 4.9 4.7 33.6 22.8 23.5 25.6 

Maine ........................................... ( 2 ) 8 ( 2 ) 1,035 1.4 .8 – .2 58.3 23.6 36.0 25.7 

Maryland ...................................... 16 ( 2 ) 3,020 ( 2 ) 50.4 54.4 2.1 2.6 54.4 43.9 18.8 30.3 

Massachusetts ............................ 17 17 1,986 2,115 12.7 10.4 .4 1.2 60.9 46.1 24.0 22.1 

Michigan ...................................... 26 55 5,625 7,220 11.3 9.4 1.9 10.2 38.2 23.1 16.8 15.8 

Minnesota .................................... 14 68 1,993 8,545 10.1 4.2 2.6 8.0 24.6 15.2 21.0 19.5 

Mississippi ................................... 12 9 1,364 772 72.9 54.9 3.0 4.3 44.7 29.7 15.6 14.5 

Missouri ....................................... 22 29 3,449 3,518 29.3 12.5 1.3 1.5 59.1 32.2 27.8 21.9 

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

 ) 12 ( 2 ) 1,192 1.7 .3 4.2 3.9 25.3 13.8 10.1 22.4 

Nebraska ..................................... 4 8 358 829 13.4 3.9 7.3 16.6 51.4 17.4 29.6 24.8 

Nevada ........................................ 8 4 1,804 601 7.3 12.1 20.5 24.3 23.8 51.2 22.8 38.3 

New Hampshire ........................... 3 ( 2 ) 243 ( 2 ) 1.2 .7 4.5 .7 63.4 7.6 34.2 31.4 

New Jersey .................................. 67 26 9,637 2,993 23.0 13.4 11.1 11.8 55.3 27.6 29.0 19.9 

New Mexico ................................. 12 7 1,356 727 1.6 1.8 45.1 67.5 39.4 33.6 16.9 18.8 

New York ..................................... 120 114 19,424 15,449 15.4 10.7 18.2 14.1 44.6 31.2 20.3 21.3 

North Carolina ............................. 24 25 5,510 2,795 39.9 33.0 9.9 8.1 37.0 35.8 21.4 18.6 

North Dakota ............................... – 10 – 963 – .6 – 4.0 – 7.2 – 22.7 

Ohio ............................................. 36 92 5,450 11,888 8.7 10.6 2.4 4.2 21.4 18.8 19.6 17.6 

Oklahoma .................................... ( 2 ) 7 ( 2 ) 733 14.2 5.6 2.7 5.9 21.7 28.5 34.5 17.3 

Oregon ........................................ 14 24 2,368 6,566 1.7 1.4 22.6 27.2 58.4 37.5 24.2 19.5 

Pennsylvania ............................... 61 74 9,641 10,487 9.3 8.4 4.0 3.7 39.9 21.8 27.9 21.1 

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

 ) 3 ( 2 ) 208 5.8 4.8 69.6 10.6 84.1 37.5 7.2 25.0 

South Carolina ............................. 12 5 1,645 1,066 49.9 71.7 6.3 7.8 53.4 43.6 26.3 11.1 

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

Tennessee ................................... 19 26 4,777 2,556 45.3 12.7 .1 .2 53.6 31.8 29.5 30.0 

Texas ........................................... 25 34 4,912 7,343 24.2 15.8 39.3 38.3 30.7 34.7 13.6 20.5 

Utah ............................................. 3 12 279 1,579 .7 1.3 6.8 15.5 50.2 10.8 12.9 14.6 

Vermont ....................................... 5 ( 2 ) 669 ( 2 ) .7 1.8 .3 .8 46.6 62.0 25.7 25.0 

Virginia ........................................ 11 26 1,480 4,183 28.6 47.0 5.3 4.3 35.3 45.6 17.8 18.4 

Washington ................................. 16 47 3,472 7,082 4.3 4.5 14.0 27.9 35.5 31.1 22.9 18.3 

West Virginia ............................... ( 2 ) 4 ( 2 ) 656 – .3 – – 4.0 6.6 21.6 10.1 

Wisconsin .................................... 32 73 5,121 10,971 8.3 5.5 16.5 6.9 34.7 16.3 21.8 17.3 

Wyoming ..................................... – ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) – 1.7 – 3.4 – 42.8 – 27.1 

Puerto Rico .................................. 29 4 6,497 1,261 .1 – 99.4 99.4 55.5 57.3 11.3 4.6 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. p

 = preliminary.

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

 r

 = revised.
Table 4. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2010 and 2011

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

2010 2011r 2011p 2010r 2011r 2011p 2010r 2011r 2011p 

 United States1 .................................. 1,999 1,393 1,638 338,643 235,247 266,971 390,584 289,330 249,692 

Northeast ................................................. 377 282 249 53,599 37,493 28,184 70,116 42,431 33,532 

 New England ........................................ 57 34 35 9,864 4,633 5,683 8,374 3,729 4,603 

 Middle Atlantic ...................................... 320 248 214 43,735 32,860 22,501 61,742 38,702 28,929 

South ........................................................ 327 249 274 55,801 41,086 40,800 66,580 45,967 38,253 

 South Atlantic ....................................... 196 140 133 33,231 21,314 19,137 41,053 26,293 18,641 

 East South Central ............................... 68 56 69 11,887 11,196 8,007 11,923 10,193 6,891 

 West South Central .............................. 63 53 72 10,683 8,576 13,656 13,604 9,481 12,721 

Midwest .................................................... 609 231 538 101,849 42,714 83,949 104,825 43,600 71,922 

 East North Central ............................... 457 179 404 74,564 33,298 61,045 79,622 36,242 54,874 

 West North Central .............................. 152 52 134 27,285 9,416 22,904 25,203 7,358 17,048 

West ......................................................... 686 631 577 127,394 113,954 114,038 149,063 157,332 105,985 

 Mountain .............................................. 128 47 77 25,009 7,322 14,965 22,825 6,609 9,884 

 Pacific .................................................. 558 584 500 102,385 106,632 99,073 126,238 150,723 96,101 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2010 and 2011

State

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

2010 2011r 2011p 2010r 2011r 2011p 2010r 2011r 2011p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ......................... 1,999 1,393 1,638 338,643 235,247 266,971 390,584 289,330 249,692 

Alabama ................................................... 6 6 4 1,929 1,800 621 2,225 1,817 680 

Alaska ...................................................... 14 6 13 3,970 3,348 4,515 2,478 2,150 2,228 

Arizona ..................................................... 17 9 11 3,250 790 1,655 3,285 1,346 1,631 

Arkansas .................................................. 5 10 9 980 1,743 1,516 2,102 1,729 1,755 

California .................................................. 472 548 412 86,005 98,495 79,886 106,686 142,733 79,665 

Colorado .................................................. 24 9 16 4,835 1,273 2,325 3,075 1,163 1,840 

Connecticut .............................................. 13 6 3 3,110 807 349 2,394 623 349 

Delaware .................................................. 5 3 3 490 251 237 525 843 340 

District of Columbia .................................. 3 ( 2 ) 3 434 ( 2 ) 471 434 ( 2 ) 380 

Florida ...................................................... 46 44 32 11,030 7,962 4,275 10,579 7,539 3,748 

Georgia .................................................... 20 26 33 1,725 2,726 4,700 2,746 5,779 5,245 

Hawaii ...................................................... ( 2 ) – 4 ( 2 ) – 975 ( 2 ) – 560 

Idaho ........................................................ 12 4 13 2,312 453 3,135 2,013 424 1,730 

Illinois ....................................................... 155 66 157 25,348 14,338 24,294 26,345 14,384 20,296 

Indiana ..................................................... 40 19 27 4,121 2,667 3,225 7,987 5,662 4,499 

Iowa ......................................................... 11 5 10 1,375 725 953 2,559 745 2,092 

Kansas ..................................................... 15 7 9 1,836 802 1,067 3,558 813 1,101 

Kentucky .................................................. 26 19 30 3,836 2,660 3,886 3,323 2,235 2,883 

Louisiana .................................................. 23 17 22 4,560 2,905 4,791 4,024 2,614 2,890 

Maine ....................................................... 9 ( 2 ) 8 1,336 ( 2 ) 972 1,460 ( 2 ) 1,035 

Maryland .................................................. 18 16 ( 2 ) 3,784 3,562 ( 2 ) 2,512 3,020 ( 2 )

Massachusetts ......................................... 26 17 17 4,207 2,633 3,356 3,339 1,986 2,115 

Michigan ................................................... 67 26 55 8,347 4,310 7,313 9,416 5,625 7,220 

Minnesota ................................................ 66 14 68 11,550 1,980 13,023 10,062 1,993 8,545 

Mississippi ................................................ 11 12 9 1,996 1,409 1,015 1,504 1,364 772 

Missouri .................................................... 41 22 29 9,233 5,367 5,097 6,365 3,449 3,518 

Montana ................................................... 15 ( 2

 ) 12 2,528 ( 2 ) 1,574 1,592 ( 2 ) 1,192 

Nebraska .................................................. 9 4 8 2,179 542 1,805 1,108 358 829 

Nevada ..................................................... 31 8 4 4,400 1,924 450 7,667 1,804 601 

New Hampshire ....................................... 4 3 ( 2 ) 631 335 ( 2 ) 616 243 ( 2 )

New Jersey .............................................. 48 67 26 11,850 11,590 3,645 9,784 9,637 2,993 

New Mexico ............................................. 10 12 7 1,800 1,904 1,530 1,413 1,356 727 

New York ................................................. 138 120 114 18,928 13,919 11,084 27,772 19,424 15,449 

North Carolina 3

 ........................................ 48 24 25 5,145 3,241 2,065 11,930 5,510 2,795 

North Dakota ............................................ 10 – 10 1,112 – 959 1,551 – 963 

Ohio ......................................................... 105 36 92 15,066 6,452 13,095 18,105 5,450 11,888 

Oklahoma ................................................. 4 ( 2 ) 7 503 ( 2 ) 1,026 1,245 ( 2 ) 733 

Oregon ..................................................... 23 14 24 6,148 2,368 6,566 7,773 2,368 6,566 

Pennsylvania ............................................ 134 61 74 12,957 7,351 7,772 24,186 9,641 10,487 

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

 ) 3 320 ( 2 ) 209 364 ( 2 ) 208 

South Carolina ......................................... 20 12 5 3,993 1,470 2,085 4,161 1,645 1,066 

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

Tennessee ............................................... 25 19 26 4,126 5,327 2,485 4,871 4,777 2,556 

Texas ....................................................... 31 25 34 4,640 3,668 6,323 6,233 4,912 7,343 

Utah ......................................................... 17 3 12 3,284 278 1,876 3,203 279 1,579 

Vermont ................................................... ( 2 ) 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 650 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 669 ( 2 )

Virginia ..................................................... 32 11 26 5,272 1,432 4,277 7,081 1,480 4,183 

Washington .............................................. 48 16 47 6,159 2,421 7,131 9,198 3,472 7,082 

West Virginia ............................................ 4 ( 2 ) 4 1,358 ( 2 ) 764 1,085 ( 2 ) 656 

Wisconsin ................................................. 90 32 73 21,682 5,531 13,118 17,769 5,121 10,971 

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

Puerto Rico .............................................. 5 29 4 482 3,808 757 1,400 6,497 1,261 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. r

 = revised.

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

 = preliminary.

 3 Data starting in November 2010 may not be comparable to prior data NOTE: Dash represents zero.

due to a change in MLS unemployment insurance input procedures

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance
Table 6. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,

selected quarters, 2010 and 2011

IV III IV IV III IV

2010 2011r 2011p 2010 2011r 2011p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ............................................... 50 38 33 9,073 6,911 5,910 

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

 Utilities ......................................................................... – – – – – –

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

 Manufacturing .............................................................. 30 21 21 5,219 4,351 3,803 

 Food ........................................................................ 3 5 ( 2 ) 195 549 ( 2 )

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

 Textile mills ............................................................. – – – – – –

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

 Apparel ................................................................... – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

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

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

 Paper ...................................................................... 3 ( 2 ) – 390 ( 2 ) –

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

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

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

 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

 Plastics and rubber products .................................. 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 462 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

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

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

 Fabricated metal products ...................................... ( 2 ) – 3 ( 2 ) – 487 

 Machinery ............................................................... 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 281 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Computer and electronic products .......................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Electrical equipment and appliances ...................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Transportation equipment ....................................... 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,101 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Furniture and related products ................................ ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Miscellaneous manufacturing ................................. ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 )

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

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

 Retail trade .................................................................. 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 203 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Transportation and warehousing ................................. – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Information ................................................................... ( 2 ) 3 3 ( 2 ) 435 613 

 Finance and insurance ................................................ 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,635 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

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

 Professional and technical services ............................. ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

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

 Administrative and waste services ............................... 3 4 3 617 858 198 

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

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

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

 Accommodation and food services .............................. ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) – –

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

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

 

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

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

 r = revised.

Industry

Layoff events Separations
Table 7. Reason for layoff: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work, 

selected quarters, 2010 and 2011

Reason for layoff

IV III IV IV III IV

2010 2011r 2011p 2010 2011r 2011p 

 Total, private nonfarm1 ................................................... 50 38 33 9,073 6,911 5,910 

Business demand ............................................................. 8 11 ( 2

 ) 1,663 3,140 ( 2 )

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

 ) 4 – ( 2 ) 712 –

 Contract completion ....................................................... ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) Domestic competition ..................................................... – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Excess inventory/saturated market ................................ – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Import competition ......................................................... ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

 Slack work/insufficient demand/non-seasonal

 business slowdown ................................................. 4 ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 1,101 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Organizational changes .................................................... 24 13 16 4,873 1,824 3,537 

 Business-ownership change .......................................... 3 ( 2

 ) 3 1,413 ( 2 ) 998 

 Reorganization or restructuring of company .................. 21 ( 2 ) 13 3,460 ( 2 ) 2,539 

Financial issues ................................................................ 18 ( 2

 ) 7 2,537 ( 2 ) 886 

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

 Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ................ 14 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,733 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Financial difficulty ........................................................... 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 804 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

Production specific ............................................................ – ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Automation/technological advances .............................. – ( 2

 ) – – ( 2 ) –

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

 Governmental regulations/intervention .......................... – – – – – –

 Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike ..................... – – – – – –

 Material or supply shortage ............................................ – – – – – –

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

 Plant or machine repair/maintenance ............................ – – – – – –

 Product line discontinued ............................................... – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 )

Disaster/safety .................................................................. – ( 2

 ) – – ( 2 ) –

 Hazardous work environment ........................................ ––––––

 Natural disaster (not weather related) ............................ – – – – – –

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

 Extreme weather-related event ...................................... – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

Other/miscellaneous ......................................................... – ( 2

 ) 6 – ( 2 ) 867 

 Other .............................................................................. – ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 )

 Data not provided: refusal .............................................. – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) Data not provided: does not know ................................. – – 3 – – 436 

 1

 See footnote 1, table 1. p = preliminary.

 2

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

 r

 = revised.

Layoff events Separations
Table 8. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,

selected quarters, 2010 and 2011

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations

IV III IV IV III IV

2010 2011r 2011p 2010 2011r 2011p 

 United States1 ...................................... 50 38 33 9,073 6,911 5,910 

Northeast ..................................................... 12 12 5 1,622 1,693 646 

 New England ........................................... 8 ( 2

 )( 2 ) 1,272 ( 2 )( 2 )

 Middle Atlantic ......................................... 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 350 ( 2 ) ( 2 )

South ........................................................... 14 13 7 2,511 3,505 988 

 South Atlantic .......................................... 7 ( 2

 ) 3 1,039 ( 2 ) 343 

 East South Central .................................. ( 2 ) 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,282 ( 2 )

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

Midwest ....................................................... 11 7 11 2,328 873 2,201 

 East North Central ................................... 8 3 8 1,890 525 1,876 

 West North Central .................................. 3 4 3 438 348 325 

West ............................................................ 13 6 10 2,612 840 2,075 

 Mountain .................................................. 5 ( 2

 ) – 865 ( 2 ) –

 Pacific ...................................................... 8 ( 2 ) 10 1,747 ( 2 ) 2,075 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South 

 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; East South Central: Alabama, 

 r = revised. Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas,

 p = preliminary. Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, 

 NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, 

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

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

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

Table 9. Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, selected quarters, 2010 and 2011

IV III IV IV III IV

2010 2011r 2011p 2010 2011r 2011p

Total, private nonfarm1 ................................. 1,999 1,393 1,638 338,643 235,247 266,971 

 Total, excluding seasonal

 and vacation events2

 ............................ 1,173 1,090 917 201,165 185,154 154,723 

 Total, movement of work3

 .................... 50 38 33 9,073 6,911 5,910 

 Movement of work actions .............. 68 53 53 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 )

 With separations reported ......... 46 31 23 4,422 3,443 1,630 

 With separations unknown ........ 22 22 30 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 )

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

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

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

 3 Movement of work can involve more than one action.

Action

Layoff events Separations
Table 10. Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by employers,

selected quarters, 2010 and 2011

IV III IV IV III IV

2010 2011r 2011p 2010 2011r 2011p

With separations reported2 ................................. 46 31 23 4,422 3,443 1,630 

By location

 Out-of-country relocations ................................ 13 3 5 1,915 185 316 

 Within company ............................................ 11 – 5 1,115 – 316 

 Different company ........................................ 2 3 – 800 185 –

 Domestic relocations ........................................ 33 28 18 2,507 3,258 1,314 

 Within company ............................................ 28 24 15 2,294 2,520 712 

 Different company ........................................ 5 4 3 213 738 602 

 Unable to assign place of 

 relocation ....................................................... ––––––

By company

 Within company ................................................ 39 24 20 3,409 2,520 1,028 

 Domestic ....................................................... 28 24 15 2,294 2,520 712 

 Out of country ............................................... 11 – 5 1,115 – 316 

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

 Different company ............................................ 7 7 3 1,013 923 602 

 Domestic ....................................................... 5 4 3 213 738 602 

 Out of country ............................................... 2 3 – 800 185 –

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

 1

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

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

 2

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

Table 11. Summary of employer expectations of a recall from extended mass layoffs, private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2010 and 2011

IV III IV IV III IV IV III IV

2010 2011r 2011p 2010 2011r 2011p 2010 2011r 2011p

Anticipate a recall ............................................... 58.5 48.3 63.6 94.6 97.4 93.9 33.2 34.7 39.8

 Timeframe

Within 6 months .................................................. 72.9 54.8 73.4 87.2 83.7 88.9 44.2 32.3 44.7

 Within 3 months ............................................ 28.7 45.0 29.7 26.9 67.1 27.3 32.4 27.8 34.0

 Size of recall

At least half ......................................................... 75.0 58.1 77.0 91.7 88.1 93.8 41.6 34.7 45.8

 All workers .................................................... 32.3 28.1 32.3 41.7 45.4 43.9 13.4 14.6 11.0

 1

 See footnote 1, table 1.

 r

 = revised.

 p

 = preliminary.

Percent of layoff events, excluding those due to 

seasonal and vacation period

Activities

Actions1 Separations

Nature of recall

Percent of total layoff events1 Percent of layoff events due to seasonal work 

and vacation period
measures, private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2010 and 2011

IV III IV

2010r 2011r 2011p

 Total, private nonfarm1 .................................................... 169 169 163 

Industry

Mining ................................................................................... 120 78 129 

Utilities .................................................................................. 80 120 400 

Construction .......................................................................... 130 127 125 

Manufacturing ....................................................................... 174 173 168 

Wholesale trade .................................................................... 114 118 144 

Retail trade ............................................................................ 255 259 182 

Transportation and warehousing .......................................... 180 133 144 

Information ............................................................................ 286 242 312 

Finance and insurance .......................................................... 197 188 201 

Real estate and rental and leasing ....................................... 116 129 178 

Professional and technical services ...................................... 164 164 189 

Management of companies and enterprises ......................... 147 85 195 

Administrative and waste services ........................................ 178 200 178 

Educational services ............................................................. 295 121 77 

Health care and social assistance ........................................ 135 98 164 

Arts, entertainment, and recreation ....................................... 210 185 164 

Accommodation and food services ....................................... 241 187 194 

Other services, except public administration ........................ 127 97 140 

Unclassified establishments .................................................. – 114 –

Reason for layoff groupings

Business demand ................................................................. 152 165 169 

Organizational changes ........................................................ 226 161 199 

Financial issues .................................................................... 145 189 184 

Production specific ................................................................ 142 122 349 

Disaster/Safety ...................................................................... 104 139 203 

Seasonal ............................................................................... 166 165 156 

Other/miscellaneous ............................................................. 210 181 142 

 1

 See footnote 1, table 1. p = preliminary.

 r

 = revised. NOTE: Dash represents zero.

Table 13. Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff, private nonfarm sector, 

fourth quarter 2011p

Number Percent Number Percent

 Total ........................................................................ 1,638 100.0 266,971 100.0 

 50-99 ..................................................................... 732 44.7 52,165 19.5 

 100-149 ................................................................. 385 23.5 44,666 16.7 

 150-199 .................................................................. 175 10.7 29,076 10.9 

 200-299 .................................................................. 165 10.1 37,690 14.1 

 300-499 .................................................................. 108 6.6 39,858 14.9 

 500-999 .................................................................. 50 3.1 33,788 12.7 

 1,000 or more ......................................................... 23 1.4 29,728 11.1 

 p

 = preliminary.

Table 12. Average number of separations in extended mass layoff events by selected

Measure

Average number of separations

Size Layoff events Separations
Extended Mass Layoff Events by Reason Categories

Fourth quarters, 2005-11

1600180012001400

800

1000

400600

0

200

2005:4 2006:4 2007:4 2008:4 2009:4 2010:4 

Seasonal Business demand Organizational changes Financial issues Production specific Disa

1 The chart excludes information on layoffs due to other/miscellaneous reasons.p = preliminary.