Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:(202) 606-6396       USDL 99-95
                                     
                                           For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:              606-5902       Wednesday, April 14, 1999
                                     
                                     
            EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1998

   In October through December of 1998, there were 1,660 mass layoff
actions by employers that resulted in the separation of 342,010 workers
from their jobs for more than 30 days, according to preliminary figures
released by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While layoff events were essentially unchanged from the fourth quarter of
1997, the number of separations was higher and the proportion of events
with expectations of worker recall was lower in fourth quarter 1998.  For
the 4 quarters of 1998, the total of extended layoff events, at 5,759, and
worker separations, at 1,163,805, were slightly higher than in 1997 (5,645
and 1,112,513, respectively).

   Seasonal work was the major reason cited and accounted for 45 percent of
all fourth-quarter 1998 layoff events and 50 percent of all separations.
Seasonal layoffs peak each year during the fourth quarter.  Layoffs due to
internal company restructuring resulted in 44,509 separations.  Permanent
closure of worksites occurred in 10 percent of all events and affected
39,189 workers, up from 36,459 workers in the same period a year earlier.
   
   The quarterly series on extended mass layoffs covers layoffs of at 
least 31-days duration that involve 50 or more individuals from a single
establishment filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a
consecutive 5-week period.  Data for the fourth quarter are preliminary and
subject to revision.  This release also includes revised data for previous
quarters.  Data are not seasonally adjusted, but 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.

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

   In the private sector during October-December 1998, agriculture
accounted for 17 percent of all layoff events and 24 percent of all
separations.  The layoff activity occurred primarily among farm labor
contractors and was almost entirely due to the end of seasonal work.
(See table 1.)
   
   Thirty-five percent of all layoff events and 34 percent of all
separations occurred in manufacturing industries.  Layoffs from durable
goods manufacturers were most numerous in electronic and other electrical
equipment (mostly in semiconductors and electron tubes) and industrial

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Selected measures of mass layoff activity
--------------------------------------------------------------------
     Period         | Layoff events|  Separations | Initial claimants
--------------------|--------------|--------------|------------------
        1995        |              |              |
April-June .........|     1,724    |    401,789   |      332,731
July-September .....|       950    |    191,398   |      154,226
October-December    |     1,761    |    337,537   |      311,748
        1996        |              |              |
January-March.......|     1,408    |    266,465   |      224,393
April-June..........|     1,350    |    253,389   |      207,873
July-September......|     1,020    |    227,672   |      200,163
October-December....|     1,915    |    412,729   |     r384,456
        1997        |              |              |
January-March.......|     1,317    |    252,295   |     r253,221
April-June          |     1,574    |    340,371   |     r318,417
July-September.  ...|     1,077    |    213,133   |      216,844
October-December....|     1,677    |    306,714   |     r314,387
        1998        |              |              |
January-March(r)....|     1,310    |    200,012   |      244,639
April-June(r).......|     1,559    |    374,492   |      401,469
July-September(r)...|     1,230    |    247,291   |      252,421
October-December(p).|     1,660    |    342,010   |      237,483
--------------------------------------------------------------------                                 
 p=preliminary.                             r=revised.


machinery and equipment (largely in farm machinery and equipment).  In
nondurable goods industries, layoffs were most prevalent in food processing
(canned fruits and vegetables).
   
   Cutbacks in construction accounted for 20 percent of events and 15 percent
 of separations, primarily in highway and street construction and other heavy
construction.  Services accounted for 14 percent of all layoff events and
15 percent of all separations, mainly in amusement and recreation services
(mostly amusement parks) and business services (primarily help supply).
Retail trade accounted for 5 percent of all layoff events and 4 percent of
all separations, largely in eating and drinking places and furniture and home
furnishings stores.
   
   Layoffs in government establishments accounted for 3 percent of total
events and separations.

Reasons for Extended Layoff

   Fifty percent of the separations and 45 percent of events in the fourth
quarter were due to seasonal work.  These layoffs were largely the result
of the end of the growing season and were most numerous among workers in
agricultural services (such as farm labor contractors), agricultural
production crops (mostly in grape crops and vegetables and melons), and
heavy construction (primarily highway and street construction).  Layoffs

                                  - 3 -
      
  Table B.  Distribution of layoff events by size of layoff, October-
  December 1998
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                  |     Layoff events           Separations
        Size      |-----------------------------------------------------
                  |   Number   |  Percent  |   Number   |   Percent
  ----------------|------------|-----------|------------|---------------
                  |            |           |            |
  Total...........|   1,660    |    100.0  |   342,010  |    100.0
                  |            |           |            |
  50-99...........|     623    |     37.5  |    43,888  |     12.8
  100-149.........|     330    |     19.9  |    39,126  |     11.4
  150-199.........|     207    |     12.5  |    34,458  |     10.1
  200-299.........|     219    |     13.2  |    49,289  |     14.4
  300-499.........|     157    |      9.5  |    57,055  |     16.7
  500-999.........|      87    |      5.2  |    55,989  |     16.4
  1,000 or more...|      37    |      2.2  |    62,205  |     18.2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


due to internal company restructuring (business ownership change, bankruptcy,
financial difficulty, and reorganization) comprised 11 percent of all layoff
events and 13 percent of all separations; these 44,509 separations were
higher than fourth-quarter separations for 1997 (38,117). (See table 2.)

Size of Extended Layoff

   Layoff events during the fourth quarter continued to be concentrated at
the lower end of the layoff-size spectrum, with 57 percent involving fewer
than 150 workers.  These events, however, accounted for only 24 percent of
all separations.  (See table B.)  Separations involving 500 or more workers
accounted for 35 percent of all separations, up from 28 percent a year ago.
Seasonal layoffs in agricultural services and agricultural crop production
contributed to the high percentage of laid-off workers in the larger size
categories.  The average size of layoffs (as measured by separations per
layoff event) differed widely by industry, ranging from an average of 83
separations in security and commodity brokers to 554 in motion pictures.
   
Initial Claimant Characteristics
   
   A total of 237,483 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with mass layoffs in the fourth quarter of 1998.  Of these
claimants, 10 percent were black, 36 percent were women, 26 percent were
Hispanic, and 13 percent were 55 years of age or older.  (See table 3.)
Over 2 out of 5 claimants were between the ages of 30 to 44.  Among the
civilian labor force for the same period, 12 percent were black, 46 percent
were women, 10 percent were Hispanic, and 13 percent were 55 years of age
or older.  Thirty-nine percent of the civilian labor force were between the
ages of 30 to 44.

                                  - 4 -

       Table C.  Summary of employer expectations of a recall from
       layoff, October-December 1998
       -----------------------------------------------------------
           Nature of recall      |   Percentage of events
       --------------------------|--------------------------------
       Anticipate a recall.......|            57.0
                                 |
             Timeframe           |
                                 |
       Within 6 months...........|            83.6
         Within 3 months.........|            38.1
                                 |
               Size              |
                                 |
       At least half.............|            95.8
         All workers.............|            55.8
     -----------------------------------------------------------


Geographic Distribution

   The largest number of worker separations occurred in California
(109,741), followed by Illinois (38,128), Ohio (22,111), and Texas
(20,777).  These four states accounted for 46 percent of total layoff
events and 56 percent of all separations during the fourth quarter of 1998.
(See table 4.)  After excluding the substantial impact of seasonal work,
California still reported the most laid-off workers (26,550), primarily in
motion pictures.
   
   Over the year, the largest increases in laid-off workers occurred in
California (26,162 workers), Illinois (16,486), and Texas (10,469).  The
largest decrease occurred in Wisconsin (-8,440 workers), primarily in
miscellaneous retail establishments.

Recall Expectations

   Fifty-seven percent of employers reporting a layoff in the fourth
quarter of 1998 indicated they anticipated some type of recall, down from
71 percent a year earlier and the lowest fourth quarter percentage since
1995.  (See table C.)  There were sharp increases among the proportion of
employers who either expressed uncertainty about recalling workers or
indicated they would not do so.
   
   Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in
which 89 percent of the employers expected a recall), employers expected to
recall laid-off workers in 30 percent of the events, the lowest percentage
for any fourth quarter period.  (This series began in the second quarter of
1995.)  Among establishments expecting a recall, most employers expected to
recall over one-half of the separated employees and to do so within 6 months.
     
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.

  In  addition  to  this quarterly release, the Bureau of Labor  Statistics
also issues a monthly release on mass layoffs.  This 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.
  
  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.

                                  - 2 -

  Layoff. The separation of persons  from  an  employer  as part of a  mass
layoff  event.  (See below.) Such layoffs involve both persons  subject  to
recall and those who are terminated by the establishment.

  Mass layoff.  Fifty or more  initial  claims for  unemployment  insurance
benefits  from  an establishment beginning in a given month, regardless  of
duration.

  Worksite  closure.  The  full  closure  of  either multi-unit or  single-
unit  establishments  or the partial closure of a 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, selected quarters, 1997 and 1998
                                                                                                                               
                                                            Layoff events            Separations             Initial claimants for
                                                                                                             unemployment insurance
                         Industry
                                                           IV    III    IV       IV       III      IV       IV        III      IV
                                                          1997  1998r  1998p    1997     1998r    1998p    1997r     1998r    1998p
                                                         
          Total( 1 )...................................  1,677  1,230  1,660   306,714  247,291  342,010  314,387  252,421  237,483

Total, private ........................................  1,613  1,155  1,605   293,200  229,151  331,623  300,697  236,826  228,581

  Agriculture  ........................................    275    129    266    41,137   28,574   79,596   40,002   20,350   33,797
  Nonagriculture ......................................  1,337  1,022  1,333   251,836  200,270  251,307  260,206  216,162  194,399
     Manufacturing  ...................................    496    528    556    93,704  105,345  112,516   91,111   98,752   90,021
        Durable goods  ................................    203    307    286    33,829   65,448   56,187   38,590   61,253   47,463
            Lumber and wood products ..................     17      9     21     2,368    1,187    3,141    3,245      910    2,756
            Furniture and fixtures ....................      8      7      6       969    1,139      538    1,577    1,398      505
            Stone, clay, and glass products ...........     27      6     17     4,070    1,055    2,306    5,228      666    1,626
            Primary metal industries ..................      9     27     38     1,433    5,391    6,112    1,620    5,664    6,527
            Fabricated metal products .................     24     46     21     3,000    5,947    2,618    3,353    5,747    2,999
            Industrial machinery and equipment ........     29     53     60     5,847    9,229   11,144    5,349    8,673   10,446
            Electronic and other electrical equipment .     30     70     48     5,016   13,376   12,660    4,238   15,453    8,119
            Transportation equipment ..................     37     61     35     7,081   24,644   10,512   10,523   19,515    9,045
            Instruments and related products ..........      6     15     16       780    1,980    3,166      550    1,477    1,934
            Miscellaneous manufacturing industries ....     16     13     24     3,265    1,500    3,990    2,907    1,750    3,506

        Nondurable goods  .............................    293    221    270    59,875   39,897   56,329   52,521   37,499   42,558
           Food and kindred products ..................    130     71     98    34,267   14,453   25,456   25,582   15,300   16,133
           Tobacco products ...........................  ( 2 )  ( 2 )  ( 2 )     ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
           Textile mill products ......................     16     23     26     4,325    4,697    4,315    3,607    4,231    3,963
           Apparel and other textile products .........     66     51     73     9,890    7,770   15,020   10,345    6,408   13,303
           Paper and allied products ..................     15     17     18     1,353    3,437    3,907    2,444    3,105    3,146
           Printing and publishing ....................     10      8     12     1,908    1,451    1,861    3,204    1,349    1,283
           Chemicals and allied products ..............      9      7      7     1,537    1,480      859    1,131    1,485      920
           Petroleum and coal products ................     21  ( 2 )     14     2,688    ( 2 )    1,978    2,805    ( 2 )    1,505
           Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products .     18     34     14     2,501    5,297    1,622    2,074    4,364    1,134
           Leather and leather products ...............  ( 2 )      8  ( 2 )     ( 2 )    1,012    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    1,091    ( 2 )
 
     Nonmanufacturing  ................................    841    494    777   158,132   94,925  138,791  169,095  117,410  104,378
        Mining  .......................................     22     24     37     2,899    3,830    5,082    3,070    4,521    4,312
        Construction ..................................    392     62    326    52,539    9,558   50,069   61,074   10,884   38,363
        Transportation and public utilities ...........     39     88     35    10,858   20,506    7,556    7,640   21,214    5,472
        Wholesale and retail trade ....................    137     91    109    34,096   19,094   19,482   28,921   18,242   13,348
           Wholesale trade  ...........................     36     26     36     4,109    3,954    5,951    4,420    3,200    4,218
           Retail trade  ..............................    101     65     73    29,987   15,140   13,531   24,501   15,042    9,130
        Finance, insurance, and real estate ...........     26     28     40     4,904    7,424    7,680    4,488    5,669    5,610
        Services ......................................    225    201    230    52,836   34,513   48,922   63,902   56,880   37,273
 
  Not identified  .....................................      1      4      6       227      307      720      489      314      385

Government ............................................     64     75     55    13,514   18,140   10,387   13,690   15,595    8,902
        Federal .......................................     19     13     14     2,796    3,308    2,007    4,988    3,552    2,275
        State .........................................     21      8     20     4,904    1,637    3,946    3,797    1,466    3,283
        Local .........................................     24     54     21     5,814   13,195    4,434    4,905   10,577    3,344
                                                                     
   1   For the fourth quarter 1998, data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia.   
   2   Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   r   = revised.
   p   = preliminary.
                                                                                                 
 
      
Table 2. Reason for separation: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment 
insurance, selected quarters, 1997 and 1998


                                       Layoff events              Separations                  Initial claimants for                                                                           
                                                                                               unemployment insurance
           Reason for separation                                                               
                                     IV     III     IV        IV        III        IV         IV        III       IV                                    
                                    1997   1998r   1998p     1997      1998r      1998p      1997r     1998r     1998p
                                                                                                  
    Total, all reasons( 1 )....... 1,677   1,230   1,660   306,714    247,291   342,010    314,387   252,421   237,483
    
Automation ....................... ( 2 )       -   ( 2 )     ( 2 )          -     ( 2 )      ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )
Bankruptcy ........................   26      20      21     6,293      8,373     8,516      3,116     3,511     3,616    
Business ownership change .........   30      33      31     5,796      8,662     5,814      4,932     3,898     4,229    
Contract cancellation .............   15      15      15     2,463      2,664     3,792      1,721     4,293     1,557    
Contract completion ...............  193     145     195    37,433     27,104    40,756     58,611    51,752    37,762    
Domestic relocation ...............   11      23      27     1,435      3,466     5,380        908     2,994     2,667    
Energy-related.....................    -      11      18         -      2,131     2,734          -     2,893     2,837 
Environment-related................( 2 )   ( 2 )       4      ( 2 )     ( 2 )       664      ( 2 )     ( 2 )       966    
Financial difficulty ..............   38      29      29     8,613      7,818     4,827      6,226     4,312     2,452    
Import competition ................   12      26      40     2,072      4,746     9,794      2,066     4,102     8,571    
Labor dispute .....................    3      15      11       506     10,927     2,665        511     6,594     1,637    
Material shortage .................    4      32   ( 2 )       575      4,486     ( 2 )        544     4,790     ( 2 ) 
                                                                    
Model changeover ..................    3    ( 2 )      5       715      ( 2 )     3,174      2,312     ( 2 )     2,622 
Natural disaster ..................( 2 )    ( 2 )   ( 2 )    ( 2 )      ( 2 )     ( 2 )      ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Overseas relocation ...............    8      11       8     3,042      3,520     1,108      1,649     2,665       723    
Plant or machine repair ...........    6       5       9       668      1,193     1,018      1,071       816     1,626    
Product line discontinued .........   16      10      10     2,653      1,413     1,183      2,220     1,232       993    
Reorganization within company .....  108     139     109    17,415     25,911    25,352     16,901    25,745    18,977    
Seasonal work .....................  889     347     744   173,047     69,084   172,575    150,826    61,995    94,400    
Slack work ........................  172     220     198    21,851     41,881    27,737     31,874    45,889    30,666    
Vacation period ...................    3      22       3       659      2,619       436        733     2,746       398    
Weather-related ...................   34   ( 2 )      35     3,841      ( 2 )     3,457      4,402     ( 2 )     2,993    
Other .............................   66      73      63    12,228     12,203    10,743     15,911    13,050     7,458    
Not reported ......................   36      47      81     4,489      7,987     9,259      6,324     8,154     9,519    
                                                                                                                              
                                                                    
                                                                                                                       
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 3. State and selected claimant characteristics: Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment
insurance, third and fourth quarters, 1998
                                                                                       Percent of total
                                           Total
                      Layoff events       initial                                Hispanic                            
                                         claimants              Black             origin            Women           Persons age 55
                                                                                                                       and over 
        State
                      III      IV       III       IV         III     IV       III      IV       III      IV        III       IV
                     1998r   1998p     1998r     1998p      1998r   1998p    1998r    1998p    1998r    1998p     1998r     1998p
 
   Total( 1 )........1,230   1,660   252,421   237,483      14.0    10.1     19.4     26.0     44.7     35.8      13.4      12.9 
    
Alabama .............   11      21     2,203     3,178      26.0    30.4        -       .3     34.4     49.8      10.8      13.9
Alaska ..............( 2 )       9     ( 2 )     1,002       1.0     1.5     14.8     14.6     42.4     25.0      11.0      14.0     
Arizona .............   16       7     2,044     2,241       1.3     2.2     75.0     58.3     32.6     31.0      10.1      11.3     
Arkansas ............   11       5     1,525     1,029      20.5    27.5      6.0      2.4     57.0     54.5      10.0       8.6     
California ..........  291     378    82,007    59,394       6.4     2.9     37.3     60.5     40.9     34.5      11.0       9.9     
Colorado ............    6   ( 2 )       708     ( 2 )       7.3     9.6     15.8     19.9     59.2     79.4      10.5      11.0     
Connecticut .........    7       7       848     1,024      16.2     6.6      5.8      9.2     31.4     35.4      19.0      18.5     
Delaware ............    -       -         -         -         -       -        -        -        -        -         -         -
District of Columbia     -       -         -         -         -       -        -        -        -        -         -         -
Florida .............   67      50     8,980     5,137      29.1    18.9     21.0     26.8     43.6     53.4      22.6      19.6     
Georgia .............   17      15     2,019     2,060      48.8    54.8      1.0       .9     56.0     48.3      11.5      13.4     
Hawaii ..............    8      12       873     1,299         -      .4      3.9       .1     48.5     36.6      15.9      15.1     
Idaho ...............   10      15     1,126     1,547        .4      .4     28.7     31.3     56.7     33.9      15.6      13.4     

Illinois ............   56     172    11,737    20,914      26.5    15.3     10.7     17.1     52.3     24.7      14.6      13.3     
Indiana .............   28      32     4,498     3,696       6.1    14.0      2.8      3.2     42.6     34.2      10.5      12.6     
Iowa ................    6      11     1,211       993       2.1      .8       .3      2.3     43.8     21.7       8.1      12.4
Kansas ..............( 2 )   ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )       7.5     6.3      1.7       .9     67.4     43.2       8.8       8.1     
Kentucky ............    9      11       961     1,430       9.6     7.1        -       .2     57.5     39.0      12.7      12.0     
Louisiana ...........   12      15     2,288     1,659      51.8    36.8      1.0      3.3     53.1     19.5       7.8       8.4     
Maine ...............    9      11     1,917     1,096        .3      .2       .2       .2     37.2     26.8      11.2       9.8     
Maryland ............    5       7       471       556      30.6    36.9      1.1       .4     41.0     26.8      30.6      26.8     
Massachusetts .......   21      39     3,951     5,260       9.3     5.5      7.6      7.8     58.6     48.4      18.8      18.5     
Michigan ............   76      29    16,091     2,862      15.4    15.5      1.5     15.8     47.3     42.5       8.6      11.6     
Minnesota ...........    7      65     1,088     6,224       6.8      .7     15.9      5.9     57.1     21.0      15.3      14.5     
Mississippi .........   16       9     1,604     1,001      61.0    76.9       .2       .3     58.7     71.8      11.7       9.5     
Missouri ............   25      31     5,083     4,323      20.3    15.7      1.4      1.1     70.7     48.6      15.6      17.8     

Montana .............( 2 )       5     ( 2 )     1,053       1.7      .3      3.4       .6     93.2     15.2      16.9      14.3
Nebraska ............( 2 )   ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )       2.8    16.1     50.2      1.6     26.3     62.9      11.3       1.6     
Nevada ..............    4      14       719     2,025      14.6     5.0     20.0      9.2     46.0     19.2      20.6      14.1
New Hampshire .......( 2 )   ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )       2.2       -      5.1        -     75.4     65.3      11.6      10.2     
New Jersey ..........   37      55     5,397     6,510      29.3    14.5     21.1     30.0     64.3     56.8      18.8      18.6
New Mexico ..........    6   ( 2 )     1,041     ( 2 )       2.3     1.5     53.3     88.1     60.4     28.3       5.5      13.0     
New York ............  115     109    21,397    13,907      18.5    13.4      8.8     13.6     58.7     44.4      19.3      16.9     
North Carolina ......   14      23     1,449     2,229      42.1    41.5      2.1      1.1     65.8     52.9       9.6      13.7     
North Dakota ........    -       -        -         -          -       -        -        -        -        -         -         -
Ohio ................   67     100    16,550    12,850      13.5    10.3      2.1      3.5     34.4     25.3      14.1      11.8     
Oklahoma ............   12       6     1,467       777       6.5     4.2      3.9      5.0     25.6     46.7      10.0      15.8     
Oregon ..............   10       3     1,112       225       1.1      .4     11.8     48.9     33.3     48.4      17.6       8.0     
Pennsylvania ........   94     125    21,705    26,206      10.2     7.9      1.5      1.4     40.2     41.9      18.4      16.4     

Rhode Island ........( 2 )   ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )       6.6     3.8     11.1     18.4     47.2     47.5      21.2      27.8     
South Carolina ......   13      10     2,213     1,012      54.8    53.7       .3       .8     61.7     55.1       7.7       8.1     
South Dakota ........    -       -         -         -         -       -        -        -        -        -         -         - 
Tennessee ...........( 2 )       3     ( 2 )       245      16.0    12.7       .2        -     65.4     40.8      21.5      18.8     
Texas ...............   71     106    15,376    21,237      15.0    13.1     44.4     46.7     30.0     31.5       8.9       8.7     
Utah ................    5      10       806       963        .4      .5      5.0     13.0     28.3     20.5       8.2       7.6     
Vermont .............    -       -         -         -         -       -        -        -        -        -         -         -
Virginia ............   12      16     1,433     2,481      43.1    26.9       .8       .6     66.7     52.4      13.5      15.1     
Washington ..........   17      23     3,094     3,370       2.6     2.8      8.1     21.5     52.7     31.5      14.4      12.1     
West Virginia .......    5      11       473     1,201       1.7     3.7        -        -     63.2     23.8      12.3       9.7     
Wisconsin ...........   22      80     3,117    12,433       9.5     4.0      4.8     10.4     25.8     29.5      12.7      13.4     
Wyoming .............    -       -         -         -         -       -        -        -        -        -         -         -

Puerto Rico .........   14      33     2,397     4,779     ( 3 )   ( 3 )    ( 3 )    ( 3 )     62.3     52.6       9.6       9.0     
                          
  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 4. State distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
 selected quarters, 1997 and 1998

                                                                                                 
                             Layoff events                   Separations                      Initial claimants for 
                                                                                              unemployment insurance
        State
                         IV      III       IV         IV          III          IV           IV           III          IV
                        1997     1998r    1998p      1997        1998r        1998p        1997r        1998r        1998p    

     Total( 1 )......  1,677     1,230    1,660   306,714      247,291      342,010      314,387      252,421      237,483     

 Alabama ............      5        11       21       631        2,682        3,678          625        2,203        3,178
 Alaska .............      8     ( 2 )        9     1,375        ( 2 )        2,159        1,000        ( 2 )        1,002     
 Arizona ............     13        16        7     1,574        1,946        1,816        1,920        2,044        2,241     
 Arkansas ...........     11        11        5     1,970        2,044          880        1,900        1,525        1,029     
 California .........    474       291      378    83,579       51,703      109,741      105,787       82,007       59,394
 Colorado ...........     23         6    ( 2 )     3,497          688        ( 2 )        5,065          708        ( 2 )
 Connecticut ........     16         7        7     3,499        1,517        2,110        2,129          848        1,024     
 Delaware ...........      -         -        -         -            -            -            -            -            -
 District of Columbia      -         -        -         -            -            -            -            -            -
 Florida ............     74        67       50    12,299       17,085       10,339        6,949        8,980        5,137     
 Georgia ............     26        17       15     4,062        5,883        3,182        3,610        2,019        2,060     
 Hawaii .............      5         8       12     1,760          793        1,299          666          873        1,299     
 Idaho ..............     13        10       15     2,505        1,340        2,310        2,609        1,126        1,547     

 Illinois ...........    129        56      172    21,642       17,624       38,128       20,452       11,737       20,914     
 Indiana ............     34        28       32     4,793        5,699        4,780        4,910        4,498        3,696     
 Iowa ...............      4         6       11       500          605        1,212          665        1,211          993
 Kansas .............      8     ( 2 )    ( 2 )     1,082        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        1,110        ( 2 )        ( 2 )
 Kentucky ...........      7         9       11     1,847        1,216        1,684          810          961        1,430     
 Louisiana ..........     13        12       15     3,413        2,279        2,163        2,475        2,288        1,659     
 Maine ..............     10         9       11     4,275        1,483        1,796        2,012        1,917        1,096     
 Maryland ...........     13         5        7     1,101          499          849        1,469          471          556     
 Massachusetts ......     43        21       39     6,251        4,519        7,243        6,366        3,951        5,260     
 Michigan ...........     69        76       29     8,231       14,848        4,096       12,740       16,091        2,862     
 Minnesota ..........     72         7       65    12,873        1,977       10,294       10,569        1,088        6,224     
 Mississippi ........      5        16        9       730        3,347        1,318          516        1,604        1,001     
 Missouri ...........     36        25       31     5,747        7,074        6,598        5,449        5,083        4,323     

 Montana ............      4     ( 2 )        5       464        ( 2 )        1,286          517        ( 2 )        1,053
 Nebraska ...........      -     ( 2 )    ( 2 )         -        ( 2 )        ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )        ( 2 )
 Nevada .............      8         4       14     2,705          872        2,502        2,494          719        2,025
 New Hampshire ......      4     ( 2 )    ( 2 )       400        ( 2 )        ( 2 )          407        ( 2 )        ( 2 )
 New Jersey .........     50        37       55    12,674        7,034        9,816        9,550        5,397        6,510
 New Mexico .........      5         6    ( 2 )     2,766        1,627        ( 2 )          789        1,041        ( 2 )
 New York ...........     47       115      109    10,315       21,733       14,356        6,438       21,397       13,907     
 North Carolina .....     21        14       23     5,234        3,056        4,776        3,272        1,449        2,229     
 North Dakota .......      -         -        -         -            -            -            -            -            -
 Ohio ...............     96        67      100    19,838       18,511       22,111       17,365       16,550       12,850     
 Oklahoma ...........      4        12        6       675        1,458          429          693        1,467          777     
 Oregon .............      4        10        3     1,306        1,434          276          489        1,112          225     
 Pennsylvania .......     86        94      125    14,325       16,565       16,916       21,345       21,705       26,206     

 Rhode Island .......  ( 2 )     ( 2 )    ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )
 South Carolina .....     10        13       10       907        1,467        1,287        1,116        2,213        1,012     
 South Dakota .......      -         -        -         -            -            -            -            -            -
 Tennessee ..........     21     ( 2 )        3     2,228        ( 2 )          289        4,769        ( 2 )          245     
 Texas ..............     69        71      106    10,308       14,401       20,777       15,902       15,376       21,237     
 Utah ...............      8         5       10       955          820        1,181        1,290          806          963     
 Vermont ............      -         -        -         -            -            -            -            -            -
 Virginia ...........     17        12       16     4,174        1,683        3,675        3,225        1,433        2,481     
 Washington .........     25        17       23     3,325        4,463        5,895        2,791        3,094        3,370     
 West Virginia ......      5         5       11       514          385        1,383          555          473        1,201     
 Wisconsin ..........     81        22       80    24,015        2,304       15,575       19,488        3,117       12,433     
 Wyoming ............      -         -        -         -            -            -            -            -            -

 Puerto Rico ........     19        14       33     2,845        3,466        9,024        3,019        2,397        4,779     


   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.