Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov:80/newsrels.htm
Technical information:   (202) 606-6396     USDL 97-227
                                     
                                            For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                 606-5902     Tuesday, July 15, 1997
                                     
                                     
            EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1997


   In January through March of 1997, there were 993 mass layoff actions by
employers, resulting in the separation of 189,283 workers from their jobs
for more than 30 days, according to preliminary figures released today by
the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.  (Preliminary
figures may not include all states.)  A year earlier, employers reported
that they had laid off 250,718 workers in 1,354 extended layoff events.
"Seasonal work" was the major reason cited for the first quarter 1997
layoffs and accounted for one-third of the events and separations.
"Contract completion," "slack work," and "reorganization within the
company" were cited next most often and together accounted for about 37
percent of the events and separations.  Closure of worksites occurred in 23
percent of all events and directly affected over 57,800 workers.
   
   The quarterly series on mass layoffs covers layoffs of at least 31 days
duration (extended mass layoffs) that involve 50 or more individuals from a
single establishment filing initial claims for unemployment insurance
during a consecutive 5-week period.  Data for the first quarter are
preliminary and subject to revision.  This release also includes revised
data for previous quarters.  Data are not seasonally adjusted, but earlier
surveys suggest that there is a seasonal pattern to layoffs.  Thus,
comparisons between consecutive quarters should not be used as an indicator
of trend.  Additional information about the program is provided in the
technical note that follows the analysis.
   
   The Bureau of Labor Statistics also issues a monthly series on mass
layoffs.  That series covers mass layoffs of 50 or more workers beginning
in a given month, regardless of the duration.  Information on the length of
the layoff is obtained later for the quarterly series, which includes only
mass layoffs lasting more than 30 days and provides more information on the
establishment classification and location and on the demographics of the
laid-off workers.

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Selected measures of mass layoff activity
---------------------------------------------------------------------
      Period       |Layoff events | Separations  |  Initial claimants
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                   |              |              |
          1995     |              |              |
April-June.........|      1,670   |   385,644    |      r 321,253
July-September.....|        902   |   173,827    |      r 146,515
October-December...|      1,716   |   320,750    |      r 297,664
          1996     |              |              |
January-March......|      1,354   |   250,718    |      r 216,257
April-June.........|      1,307   |   237,073    |      r 192,577
July-September.....|        985   |   222,419    |      r 181,083
October-December(r)|      1,841   |   391,630    |        321,235
          1997     |              |              |
January-March(p)...|        993   |   189,283    |        141,287
---------------------------------------------------------------------
     p=preliminary                              r=revised

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

   Layoffs in agriculture accounted for 9 percent of all layoff events and
7 percent of all separations and occurred primarily among farm labor
contractors and crop production workers.  (See table 1.)  Layoffs in
construction accounted for 18 percent of all layoff events and 13 percent
of all separations and occurred largely in heavy construction.

   Manufacturing accounted for 34 percent of layoff events and 32 percent
of separations.  Layoffs in durable goods industries were concentrated in
transportation equipment and primary metals.  In nondurable goods
industries, layoffs were most prevalent in food processing and apparel.
(See table 2.)

   Layoffs in the services industry amounted to 14 percent of all layoff
events and 20 percent of all separations and took place mostly in motion
pictures, help supply, and hotels and motels.  Retail trade (mostly in
department stores and in catalog and mail-order houses) accounted for 12
percent of all layoff events and 18 percent of all separations.

   Layoffs from business establishments in industries identified as
"defense related" totaled 3,810 workers in the first quarter.


Reasons for Extended Layoff

   One-third of the separations in the first quarter were due to "seasonal
work."  These layoffs were most numerous among workers in food processing,
miscellaneous retail, and agriculture services.  After seasonal layoffs,
"contract completed" was the most cited reason for separation and was most
frequent in motion pictures, special trade contractors, and highway and
street construction.  (See table 3.)  The largest number of separations due

                                  - 3  -

to internal company restructuring ("business ownership change,"
"bankruptcy," "financial difficulty," and "reorganization") occurred in
general merchandise stores and food stores.


Size of Extended Layoff

   Layoff events during the first quarter were concentrated at the lower
end of the layoff-size spectrum, with 67 percent of the layoff events and
31 percent of all separations involving fewer than 150 workers.
Separations involving 500 or more workers accounted for 33 percent of all
separations but comprised only about 5 percent of all layoff events.  (See
table B.)  The average size of layoffs (as measured by separations per
layoff event) differed widely by industry, ranging from 66 separations in
petroleum and coal products to 1,239 in motion pictures.


Table B.  Distribution of layoff events by size of layoff,
January-March 1997
-------------------------------------------------------------
              |     Layoff events     |      Separations
              |----------------------------------------------
      Size    |   Number  | Percent   |  Number   |   Percent
-------------------------------------------------------------
              |           |           |           |
      Total...|    993    |  100.0    |  189,283  |    100.0
              |           |           |           |
50-99.........|    422    |   42.5    |   30,605  |     16.2
100-149.......|    246    |   24.8    |   28,967  |     15.3
150-199.......|     80    |    8.1    |   13,562  |      7.2
200-299.......|    122    |   12.3    |   28,042  |     14.8
300-499.......|     69    |    6.9    |   25,298  |     13.4
500-999.......|     33    |    3.3    |   21,649  |     11.4
1,000 or more.|     21    |    2.1    |   41,160  |     21.7
-------------------------------------------------------------

Initial Claimant Characteristics

   A total of 141,287 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with mass layoffs in the first quarter of 1997.  Of these
claimants, 14 percent were black, 39 percent were women, 19 percent were
Hispanic, and 22 percent were 55 years of age or older.  (See table 4.)
About 2 out of 5 claimants were between the ages of 30 to 44.  Among the
civilian labor force for the same period, 11 percent were black, 46 percent
were women, 10 percent were Hispanic, and 12 percent were 55 years of age
or older.  Forty percent of the civilian labor force were between the ages
of 30 to 44.

Geographic Distribution

   The largest number of worker separations occurred in California
(42,124), followed by Ohio (15,591), Illinois (15,484), and Texas (15,426).
These four states accounted for 48 percent of total layoff events and 47
percent of all separations during the first quarter of 1997.  (See table
5.)  After excluding the substantial impact of seasonal layoffs, California
still reported the most laid-off workers (26,238).  (At the time these
figures were compiled, layoffs from New York, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska
were not available.)

   Over the year, Oregon reported the largest increase (6,363 workers) in
laid-off workers, primarily due to more layoffs in food processing.
California reported the biggest decrease (13,858 workers), largely in
general merchandise stores and food stores.


Recall Expectations

   Fifty-four percent of employers reporting a layoff in the first quarter
indicated that they anticipated some type of recall.  (See table C.)  After
excluding layoff events due to "seasonal work" and "vacation period" (in
which 87 percent of the employers expected a recall), employers' recall
expectations dropped to 37 percent. Among those establishments expecting a
recall, a substantial proportion of employers expected to recall over one-
half of the separated employees and to do so in the relatively near term.

                                  - 4 -

Table C.  Summary of employer expectations of a recall from
layoff, January-March 1997
-----------------------------------------------------------
       Nature of recall      |     Percentage of events
-----------------------------------------------------------
                             |
Anticipate a recall..........|            53.8
                             |
          Timeframe          |
                             |
Within 6 months..............|            76.2
  Within 3 months............|            47.8
                             |
             Size            |
                             |
At least half................|            86.9
  All workers................|            49.6
-----------------------------------------------------------

Technical Note


   The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state program
which uses a standardized, automated approach to identifying, describing,
and tracking the effects of major job cutbacks, using data from each
state's unemployment insurance database.  Establishments which have at
least 50 initial claims filed against them during a consecutive 5-week
period are contacted by the state agency to determine whether these
separations are of at least 31 days duration, and, if so, information is
obtained on the total number of persons separated and the reasons for these
separations.  Establishments are identified according to industry
classification and location, and unemployment insurance claimants are
identified by such demographic factors as age, race, sex, ethnic group, and
place of residence.  The program yields information on an individual's
entire spell of unemployment, to the point when regular unemployment
insurance benefits are exhausted.
   
   The MLS program was resumed in April 1995; it had been terminated in
November 1992 due to lack of funding.  However, due to changes in concepts
and definitions, data from the resumed program are not comparable to
earlier data.
   
   Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-606-STAT; TDD phone:
202-606-5897; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-326-2577.
   
Definitions
   
   Defense-related industries.  Industries that have been identified as
vulnerable to Department of Defense budget reductions and the elimination
of defense weapons systems.  "Ordnance and accessories," "aircraft and
parts," "shipbuilding and repairing," "guided missiles and space vehicles,"
"tanks and tank components," and "search and navigation equipment"
industries have been identified as defense-related industries based on
analysis that at least 50 percent of industry output was consumed by the
U.S. Department of Defense.
   
   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.

                                  - 2 -

   Mass layoff.  Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment insurance
benefits from an establishment beginning in a given month, regardless of
duration.

   Worksite closure.  The full closure of either multi-unit or single-unit
establishments or the partial closure of a multi-unit establishment where
entire worksites affected by layoffs are closed or planned to be closed.
 Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
 fourth quarter 1996 and first quarter 1997


                                                                                                         Initial claimants for
                                                Establishments       Layoff events      Separations      unemployment insurance
                                                                                                                                                           
                       Industry
                                                 IV         I        IV         I      IV         I        IV         I
                                               1996r      1997p    1996r      1997p   1996r     1997p     1996r     1997p     

        Total ( 1 ) .........................  1,806       984     1,841       993   391,630   189,283   321,235   141,287     

Total, private ..............................  1,737       963     1,772       972   374,911   185,636   309,364   137,746     

  Agriculture  ..............................    330        91       336        93    91,384    13,677    45,553    10,996     
  Nonagriculture ............................  1,400       871     1,429       878   282,915   171,902   263,169   126,693     
     Manufacturing  .........................    566       339       575       342   110,373    59,936   106,893    44,500     
        Durable goods  ......................    264       173       266       173    50,030    27,370    55,927    23,338     
        Nondurable goods  ...................    302       166       309       169    60,343    32,566    50,966    21,162     
  
     Nonmanufacturing  ......................    834       532       854       536   172,542   111,966   156,276    82,193     
        Mining  .............................     18        11        18        12     2,401     1,841     2,312     1,499     
        Construction ........................    420       174       425       177    58,318    24,366    65,234    20,979     
        Transportation and public utilities .     49        51        49        51     7,587     8,703     7,734     6,932     
        Wholesale and retail trade ..........    122       139       124       139    40,561    35,971    27,894    19,516     
           Wholesale trade  .................     26        16        26        16     3,681     1,973     3,263     1,540     
           Retail trade  ....................     96       123        98       123    36,880    33,998    24,631    17,976     
        Finance, insurance, and real estate .     25        19        26        19     5,054     3,346     4,272     2,515     
        Services ............................    200       138       212       138    58,621    37,739    48,830    30,752     

  Not identified  ...........................      7         1         7         1       612        57       642        57     

Government ..................................     69        21        69        21    16,719     3,647    11,871     3,541     
        Federal .............................     14        10        14        10     2,983     2,119     2,881     1,987     
        State ...............................     25         5        25         5     5,424       790     4,135       868     
        Local ...............................     30         6        30         6     8,312       738     4,855       686     


           
   1   For the first quarter of 1997, data on layoffs were reported by employers in the District of Columbia and all states,
 except New York, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska.  In addition, layoff data for the fourth quarter of 1996 were not reported by
 New York.
   r   =  revised.
   p   =  preliminary.
       
       
 Table 2. Manufacturing: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
 fourth quarter 1996 and first quarter 1997

                                                                                                         Initial claimants for                                             
                                                 Establishments      Layoff events       Separations     unemployment insurance
                                                                                                                                                          
                    Industry
                                                  IV         I        IV        I       IV         I        IV         I
                                                 1996r     1997p     1996r    1997p    1996r     1997p     1996r     1997p      


      Total manufacturing ( 1 ).............      566       339       575      342    110,373    59,936   106,893    44,500     

Durable goods ..............................      264       173       266      173     50,030    27,370    55,927    23,338     
  Lumber and wood products .................       28        26        28       26      2,977     3,277     4,006     3,870     
  Furniture and fixtures ...................       17         6        17        6      1,858     1,223     2,232       710     
  Stone, clay, and glass products ..........       25        16        25       16      3,280     1,277     3,375     1,391     
  Primary metal industries .................       19        12        19       12      5,465     4,700     5,574     1,813     
  Fabricated metal products ................       21        24        21       24      2,588     3,087     3,451     2,528     
  Industrial machinery and equipment .......       37        17        37       17      6,872     2,888     7,535     3,530     
  Electronic and other electrical equipment        34        31        34       31      5,980     4,491     8,394     4,246     
  Transportation equipment .................       54        27        56       27     16,611     4,771    17,047     3,875     
  Instruments and related products .........       10         5        10        5      1,263       379     1,330       408     
  Miscellaneous manufacturing industries ...       19         9        19        9      3,136     1,277     2,983       967     

Nondurable goods ...........................      302       166       309      169     60,343    32,566    50,966    21,162     
  Food and kindred products ................      132        61       138       61     32,928    15,357    24,541     9,185     
  Tobacco products .........................    ( 2 )         7     ( 2 )        7      ( 2 )     2,151     ( 2 )     1,053     
  Textile mill products ....................       19        10        19       12      3,975     2,107     4,549     1,054     
  Apparel and other textile products .......       74        43        74       44     10,813     6,890    10,153     5,355     
  Paper and allied products ................    ( 2 )        10     ( 2 )       10      ( 2 )     1,391     ( 2 )       891     
  Printing and publishing ..................       14         8        15        8      3,443     1,185     2,922       903     
  Chemicals and allied products ............       11         9        11        9      2,160     1,434     1,461       962     
  Petroleum and coal products ..............       12     ( 2 )        12     ( 2 )     1,983     ( 2 )     1,883     ( 2 ) 
  Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products       25        13        25        13     2,567     1,343     2,962     1,177     
  Leather and leather products .............    ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )


   1   See footnote 1, table 1.
   2   Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   r   =  revised.
   p   =  preliminary.
                                                                                                   
 Table 3. Reason for separation: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for  
 unemployment insurance, fourth quarter 1996 and first quarter 1997

                                                                                                        Initial claimants for
                                              Layoff events                Separations                  unemployment insurance
                                                                                                      
        Reason for separation
                                           IV             I             IV              I               IV               I
                                          1996r          1997p         1996r           1997p           1996r            1997p      


    Total, all reasons ( 1 )........     1,841            993         391,630         189,283         321,235         141,287      

 Automation ........................         3              6           1,290           1,264           1,919           1,209      
 Bankruptcy ........................        17             29           3,669          10,541           2,335           5,016      
 Business ownership change .........        30             27           9,817           7,722           4,136           4,514      
 Contract cancellation .............        18             14           4,560           2,599           2,303           1,108      
 Contract completed ................       196            126          46,212          31,963          50,636          31,259      
 Domestic relocation ...............        18             21           2,474           3,625           1,656           2,137      
 Environment-related ...............        -               3             -               401            -                357      
 Financial difficulty ..............        42             25          12,168           4,405           8,238           2,925      
 Import competition ................        22             16           4,147           2,902           5,005           2,321      
 Labor dispute .....................         6              4           5,748           3,763           5,292             639      
 Material shortage .................         5              6             408             594             406             477      
 Model changeover ..................         7          ( 2 )           2,779           ( 2 )           2,944           ( 2 ) 

 Natural disaster ..................         6          ( 2 )             954           ( 2 )             786           ( 2 )
 Overseas relocation ...............         6              9             770           1,328             738           1,020      
 Plant or machine repair ...........         8          ( 2 )           1,351           ( 2 )           1,619           ( 2 ) 
 Product line discontinued .........        10              6           2,263             910           1,353           1,067      
 Reorganization within company .....       126            108          22,796          15,577          24,966          11,975      
 Seasonal work .....................       918            332         212,462          62,007         143,204          42,881      
 Slack work ........................       256            136          36,367          21,289          42,373          15,886      
 Vacation period ...................         3          ( 2 )             355           ( 2 )             465           ( 2 )
 Weather-related ...................        45             22           4,394           3,774           4,935           3,309      
 Other .............................        71             49          12,750           7,816          11,103           6,830      
 Not reported ......................        28             48           3,896           5,717           4,823           5,535      


      1    See footnote 1, table 1.
      2    Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
      r    =  revised.
      p    =  preliminary.
      NOTE: Dash represents zero.
 Table 4. State and selected claimant characteristics: Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment
 insurance, fourth quarter 1996 and first quarter 1997
                                                                            Percent of total                                                                                       
                                                      Total
                                Layoff events        initial            Black       Hispanic       Women     Persons age 55                                                                                     
                                                    claimants                        origin                     and over                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                          
            State                                                     

                                IV        I       IV         I       IV      I     IV      I     IV      I     IV      I
                               1996r    1997p    1996r     1997p    1996r  1997p  1996r  1997p  1996r  1997p  1996r  1997p 

     Total ( 1 )..........     1,841      993   321,235   141,287    10.1   14.1   25.0   19.4   33.8   38.8   17.6   21.6       

 Alabama .................         5        6       754       645    48.7   24.5     .4     .3   55.0   18.6   11.0   16.1       
 Alaska ..................        11        5     1,449       461     1.2    1.7    9.2    1.3   23.9   21.0   13.0   12.4       
 Arizona .................        16        5     1,983       687     2.8    2.9   35.7   72.2   34.5   24.9    9.9   16.9       
 Arkansas ................        13        3     2,155     1,327    23.6   30.2     .6      -   59.6   48.5   11.7   12.1       
 California ..............       593      213   104,681    39,800     4.6    6.7   53.3   38.5   35.6   38.4   11.0   10.6       
 Colorado ................        12        8     1,246       685     4.9    8.9   31.1   16.5   28.6   38.5   10.8   10.7       
 Connecticut .............        13        6     2,906       622     7.0   16.1    7.8    4.7   36.3   62.7   20.4   12.7       
 Delaware ................     ( 2 )        -     ( 2 )         -     4.7      -    3.1      -    3.1      -   11.0      -
 District of Columbia ....         -        4         -       475       -   48.4      -    2.3      -   70.3      -    8.0       
 Florida .................        62       56     6,832     5,248    19.4   21.1   18.3   31.4   55.2   37.6   17.8   24.2       
 Georgia .................        20       17     2,802     2,389    44.6   41.6    1.1    1.1   57.6   51.7   13.6   13.0       
 Hawaii ..................         7        8       796       922      .6    1.7     .9     .9   22.9   24.9   16.0   22.0       
 Idaho ...................         9        9     2,087     1,092      .2     .5   44.7    9.7   48.1   36.5   18.4   12.8       

 Illinois ................       150      102    27,720    12,417    17.4   18.9   15.7    9.1   24.4   30.2   14.7   14.3       
 Indiana .................        34       22     8,537     2,264    12.5    5.9    3.0    2.7   30.5   20.4   10.1   12.8       
 Iowa ....................     ( 2 )        -     ( 2 )         -      .7      -      -      -   66.9      -   21.9      -
 Kansas ..................     ( 2 )    ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )    12.7    9.1    7.0    8.2   31.6    5.0    3.2   19.6       
 Kentucky ................         7        -       890         -     4.5      -     .1      -   65.6      -   11.3      -
 Louisiana ...............        18       10     2,603     1,348    33.9   46.2    1.5    4.2   15.9   29.1    9.9   11.4       
 Maine ...................         9       13     2,078     1,384      .2     .5     .2     .2   34.6   38.2   11.5   11.2       
 Maryland ................        22       22     4,513     2,801    35.5   31.5    1.2    2.8   18.9   37.0   18.8   17.2       
 Massachusetts ...........        42       23     6,738     2,359     5.4    7.7    8.8    9.1   47.7   50.4   20.5   15.4       
 Michigan ................        63       22     8,582     2,114     9.0   16.1   12.1    2.3   28.4   49.4   13.6   13.5       
 Minnesota ...............        74       17    10,888     2,159      .6    2.5    1.7    5.0   23.9   37.1   14.7    8.2       
 Mississippi .............        11        6     1,550     1,127    59.2   50.7     .2     .3   36.2   32.7    8.9    6.7       
 Missouri ................        28       31     3,894     4,100    14.0    7.0     .8    1.0   51.6   60.2   13.6   18.9       

 Montana .................         9        2       866       185       -     .5    1.0    8.6   12.6   57.8   15.1   11.9       
 Nebraska ................         -    ( 1 )         -     ( 1 )       -  ( 1 )      -  ( 1 )      -  ( 1 )      -  ( 1 )
 Nevada ..................        13       11     3,218     1,601     6.6   11.0   12.7   18.7   17.0   41.3   16.8   13.0       
 New Hampshire ...........         5    ( 2 )       587     ( 2 )      .2      -    1.2      -   42.8   64.6   15.3   18.8       
 New Jersey ..............        57       55     8,956     6,799    17.4   22.9   26.1   22.9   49.7   52.6   19.9   21.8       
 New Mexico ..............         4        9       649     1,207     1.5    5.3   55.9   52.4   32.8   27.9   10.6    8.4       
 New York ................     ( 1 )    ( 1 )     ( 1 )     ( 1 )   ( 1 )  ( 1 )  ( 1 )  ( 1 )  ( 1 )  ( 1 )  ( 1 )  ( 1 )
 North Carolina ..........        12       27     1,979     2,978    46.9   51.7    1.5    1.3   45.5   53.7   10.4   17.8       
 North Dakota ............         -        -         -         -       -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -
 Ohio ....................       108       87    21,381    10,679    12.1   10.6    3.6    1.9   27.2   31.9   13.6   12.6       
 Oklahoma ................         8    ( 2 )       919     ( 2 )     4.1    5.6    1.0    9.3   25.7   46.3    9.2      -
 Oregon ..................         6        7       715       610      .4    1.3   21.5   21.0   19.2   49.5   13.0   19.2       
 Pennsylvania ............       164    ( 1 )    27,797     ( 1 )     6.1  ( 1 )    1.2  ( 1 )   35.4  ( 1 )   18.5  ( 1 )

 Rhode Island ............     ( 2 )        3     ( 2 )       384     5.0   15.4   19.3   12.8   32.7   49.7   15.9   24.2       
 South Carolina ..........        12       13     2,684     1,584    46.0   56.6     .2     .4   57.0   72.9      -      -
 South Dakota ............         -        -         -         -       -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -
 Tennessee ...............        21        8     3,462       802    15.7   10.5     .3     .2   53.6   59.1   14.8   17.3       
 Texas ...................        65       76    18,006    13,358    10.3   14.5   42.8   35.7   23.5   22.9   83.8  100.0       
 Utah ....................         9    ( 2 )     1,175     ( 2 )      .4     .8   12.4    3.4   20.7   36.1    8.9   21.8       
 Vermont .................         -        -         -         -       -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -
 Virginia ................        17       20     2,881     2,531    42.8   36.1     .3     .2   48.5   45.2   11.3   11.2       
 Washington ..............        14       10     1,882     1,416     3.5    3.4   21.9    2.8   42.3   52.1    7.7   11.3       
 West Virginia ...........        12        2     1,347       228     3.0     .4      -      -   25.7    1.3   14.2   19.7       
 Wisconsin ...............        78       47    15,954     9,831     3.6    3.6    9.4    1.7   28.5   46.9   16.1   12.7       
 Wyoming .................     ( 2 )    ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )       -      -    9.8   41.1    2.2   22.1   12.0   11.6       

 Puerto Rico .............        14       15     2,416     2,215   ( 3 )  ( 3 )  ( 3 )  ( 3 )   59.0   28.0   10.8   13.2       


                       
   1  See footnote 1, table 1.         
   2  Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   3  Data are not available.
   r  =  revised.
   p  =  preliminary.
   NOTE: Dash represents zero.    

Table 5. State distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
fourth quarter 1996 and first quarter 1997

                                                                                                                                                   
                              Establishments           Layoff events             Separations           Initial claimants for
                                                                                                       unemployment insurance
          State
                             IV            I          IV             I         IV            I           IV            I
                            1996r        1997p       1996r         1997p      1996r        1997p        1996r        1997p 


   Total ( 1 ) ..........  1,806          984        1,841          993      391,630      189,283      321,235      141,287     

Alabama .................      5            5            5            6        1,335        1,038          754          645     
Alaska ..................     11            5           11            5        1,417          804        1,449          461     
Arizona .................     16            5           16            5        2,556          782        1,983          687     
Arkansas ................     13            3           13            3        2,260        3,075        2,155        1,327     
California ..............    564          211          593          213      158,215       42,124      104,681       39,800     
Colorado ................     12            8           12            8        1,471        1,194        1,246          685     
Connecticut .............     13            6           13            6        6,640          739        2,906          622     
Delaware ................  ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )            -
District of Columbia ....      -            4            -            4            -        1,748            -          475     
Florida .................     62           56           62           56        6,962        9,910        6,832        5,248     
Georgia .................     20           15           20           17        3,725        7,132        2,802        2,389     
Hawaii ..................      7            7            7            8          549          840          796          922     
Idaho ...................      9            9            9            9        2,445        1,782        2,087        1,092     
Illinois ................    147          101          150          102       27,769       15,484       27,720       12,417     

Indiana .................     34           22           34           22        5,798        2,163        8,537        2,264     
Iowa ....................  ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )            -
Kansas ..................  ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )
Kentucky ................      7            -            7            -        1,133            -          890            -
Louisiana ...............     18           10           18           10        2,928        1,731        2,603        1,348     
Maine ...................      9           13            9           13        3,247        4,000        2,078        1,384     
Maryland ................     22           22           22           22        4,660        2,845        4,513        2,801     
Massachusetts ...........     42           23           42           23        8,384        2,930        6,738        2,359     
Michigan ................     63           22           63           22        8,439        2,089        8,582        2,114     
Minnesota ...............     74           17           74           17       11,807        2,535       10,888        2,159     
Mississippi .............     11            6           11            6        2,101        1,496        1,550        1,127     
Missouri ................     28           30           28           31        3,309        4,847        3,894        4,100     
Montana .................      9        ( 2 )            9        ( 2 )        1,215        ( 2 )          866        ( 2 )

Nebraska ................      -        ( 1 )            -        ( 1 )            -        ( 1 )            -        ( 1 )
Nevada ..................     13           11           13           11        2,938        1,683        3,218        1,601     
New Hampshire ...........      5        ( 2 )            5        ( 2 )          640        ( 2 )          587        ( 2 ) 
New Jersey ..............     57           55           57           55       10,945        9,374        8,956        6,799     
New Mexico ..............      4            9            4            9        2,135        1,304          649        1,207     
New York ................  ( 1 )        ( 1 )        ( 1 )        ( 1 )        ( 1 )        ( 1 )        ( 1 )        ( 1 )
North Carolina ..........     12           27           12           27        3,458        6,407        1,979        2,978     
North Dakota ............      -            -            -            -            -            -            -            -
Ohio ....................    108           87          108           87       20,781       15,591       21,381       10,679     
Oklahoma ................      8        ( 2 )            8        ( 2 )        1,339        ( 2 )          919        ( 2 )
Oregon ..................      6            7            6            7        1,165        7,497          715          610     
Pennsylvania ............    162        ( 1 )          164        ( 1 )       24,427        ( 1 )       27,797        ( 1 )
Rhode Island ............  ( 2 )            3        ( 2 )            3        ( 2 )          340        ( 2 )          384     

South Carolina ..........     12           13           12           13        2,138        1,963        2,684        1,584     
South Dakota ............      -            -            -            -            -            -            -            -
Tennessee ...............     21            8           21            8        2,839          570        3,462          802     
Texas ...................     64           75           65           76       18,260       15,426       18,006       13,358     
Utah ....................      9        ( 2 )            9        ( 2 )        1,454        ( 2 )        1,175        ( 2 )   
Vermont .................      -            -            -            -            -            -            -            -
Virginia ................     17           20           17           20        6,417        4,762        2,881        2,531     
Washington ..............     14           10           14           10        1,970        3,085        1,882        1,416     
West Virginia ...........     12        ( 2 )           12        ( 2 )        2,171        ( 2 )        1,347        ( 2 )
Wisconsin ...............     78           47           78           47       19,008        8,080       15,954        9,831     
Wyoming .................  ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )   

Puerto Rico .............     14           15           14           15        1,880        2,908        2,416        2,215     


   1   See footnote 1, table1.
   2   Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   r   =  revised.
   p   =  preliminary.
   NOTE: Dash represents zero.