Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:  (202) 606-6396  USDL 98-137
                                     
                                        For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                606-5902  Friday, April 10, 1998
                                     
                                     
            EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1997


     In October through December of 1997, there were 1,637 mass layoff
actions by employers, resulting in the separation of 297,247 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.  Layoff
activity was lower than in the same quarter a year ago when employers
reported that they had laid off 412,486 workers in 1,913 extended layoff
events.  "Seasonal work" was the major reason cited for the fourth-quarter
1997 layoffs and accounted for 53 percent of the events and 56 percent of
the separations.  "Contract completion," and "slack work" together
accounted for 22 percent of the events and 19 percent of the separations.
Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 9 percent of all events and
affected 35,244 workers.

     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 third 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 1997, agriculture
accounted for 17 percent of all layoff events and 14 percent of all
separations.  This activity occurred primarily among farm labor contractors
and was almost entirely due to "seasonal work."  (See table 1.)

     Manufacturing accounted for 31 percent of all layoff events and 32
percent of all separations.  Layoffs in durable goods industries were most
numerous in transportation equipment and industrial machinery and
equipment.  In nondurable goods industries, layoffs were most prevalent in
food processing and apparel products.  (See table 2.)

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Selected measures of mass layoff activity
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Period          |Layoff events| Separations| Iniitial claimants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        1995             |             |            |
April-June ..............|     1,724   |   401,789  |     332,731
July-September ..........|       950   |   191,398  |    r154,226
October-December (r).....|     1,760   |   337,437  |     311,567
        1996             |             |            |
January-March ...........|     1,406   |  r266,170  |    r224,078
April-June...............|     1,345   |  r252,309  |    r202,311
July-September...........|     1,018   |  r227,234  |    r198,584
October-December (r).....|     1,913   |   412,486  |     375,338
        1997             |             |            |
January-March (r)........|     1,317   |   252,295  |     245,610
April-June (r)...........|     1,574   |   340,371  |     306,750
July-September (r).......|     1,078   |   213,263  |     208,037
October-December (p).....|     1,637   |   297,247  |     226,722
------------------------------------------------------------------------
r=revised.                            p=preliminary. 


     Layoffs in construction accounted for 24 percent of all events and 18
percent of all separations and occurred mainly in highway and street
construction.  Services accounted for 14 percent of layoff events and 17
percent of separations, with activity mostly in amusement and recreation
services and in business services.  Retail trade accounted for 6 percent of
events and 10 percent of separations, largely in catalog and mail-order
houses.

     Layoffs from business establishments in industries identified as
"defense-related" totaled 1,943 workers in the fourth quarter.  This was
the lowest level of separations in this series since data collection began
in the second quarter of 1995.

Reasons for Extended Layoff

     "Seasonal work" as a reason for layoff typically peaks in the fourth
quarter.  In 1997, 56 percent of the separations in the fourth quarter were
due to "seasonal work."  These layoffs were most numerous among workers in
agricultural services (such as farm labor contractors) and in food and
kindred products, especially in canned and frozen fruits and vegetables.
"Contract completion" was the next most cited single reason for separations
(12 percent) and was most frequent among establishments in heavy
construction, help supply services, and motion picture and video
production.   (See table 3.)  Layoffs due to internal company restructuring
("business ownership change," "bankruptcy," "financial difficulty," and
"reorganization") amounted to 12 percent of all layoff events and 13
percent of all separations and occurred most often among manufacturing
industries.

                                  - 3 -

Table B.  Distribution of layoff events by size of layoff,
October-December 1997
-----------------------------------------------------------
              |    Layoff events     |     Separations
     Size     |--------------------------------------------
              | Number  |  Percent   |  Number   |  Percent
-----------------------------------------------------------
   Total......| 1,637   |   100.0    |  297,247  |   100.0
              |         |            |           |
50-99.........|   678   |    41.4    |   48,413  |    16.3
100-149.......|   361   |    22.1    |   42,079  |    14.2
150-199.......|   182   |    11.1    |   29,970  |    10.1
200-299.......|   192   |    11.7    |   43,645  |    14.7
300-499.......|   138   |     8.4    |   50,535  |    17.0
500-999.......|    62   |     3.8    |   40,192  |    13.5
1,000 or more.|    24   |     1.5    |   42,413  |    14.3
-----------------------------------------------------------

Size of Extended Layoff

     Layoff events during the fourth quarter continued to be concentrated
at the lower end of the layoff-size spectrum, with over 63 percent
involving fewer than 150 workers.   These, however, accounted for only 30
percent of all separations.  (See table B.)  Separations involving 500 or
more workers accounted for 28 percent of all separations, down slightly
from 36 percent a year ago.  The average size of layoffs (as measured by
separations per layoff event) differed widely by industry, ranging from an
average of 55 separations in membership organizations to 884 in
miscellaneous retail stores.

Initial Claimant Characteristics

     A total of 226,722 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with mass layoffs in the fourth quarter of 1997.  Of these
claimants, 10 percent were black, 37 percent were women, 26 percent were
Hispanic, and 14 percent were 55 years of age or older.  (See table 4.)
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 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
(79,781), followed by Wisconsin (22,871), Illinois (20,823), Ohio (19,838),
and Pennsylvania (14,325).  These five states accounted for 52 percent of
total layoff events and 53 percent of all separations during the fourth
quarter of 1997.  (See table 5.)  After excluding the substantial impact of
"seasonal work," California still reported the most laid-off workers
(29,699).

                                  - 4 -

     Table C.  Summary of employer expectations of a recall from
     layoff, October-December 1997
     -----------------------------------------------------------
            Nature of recall       |   Percentage of events
                                   |
       Anticipate a recall.........|            71.3
                                   |
               Timeframe           |
                                   |
       Within 6 months.............|            80.4
         Within 3 months...........|            38.8
                                   |
                  Size             |
                                   |
       At least half...............|            92.0
         All workers...............|            56.0
     -----------------------------------------------------------


     Over the year, Florida reported the largest increase (4,607 workers)
in laid-off workers, primarily in air transportation.  California reported
the biggest decrease (79,492 workers), with the over-the-year decline
occurring mainly in agricultural services and agricultural crop production.

Recall Expectations

     Seventy-one percent of employers reporting a layoff in the fourth
quarter of 1997 indicated that they anticipated some type of recall, about
the same as a year earlier.  (See table C.)  However, excluding layoff
events due to "seasonal work" and "vacation period" (in which 95 percent of
the employers expected a recall), employers expected to recall laid-off
workers in 44 percent of the events, not very different from 47 percent a
year earlier.  Among all 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,
 third and fourth quarters, 1997
                                                                                                                                        Initial claimants for
                                                     Establishments         Layoff events                  Separations                 unemployment insurance
                    Industry
                                                      III        IV         III        IV               III            IV                III              IV
                                                     1997r      1997p      1997r      1997p            1997r          1997p             1997r            1997p
          
    Total ( 1 ).................................     1,057      1,619      1,077      1,637          213,263        297,247           208,037          226,722      
 
 Total private .................................       997      1,560      1,016      1,575          202,289        284,274           197,657          216,793        

   Agriculture  ................................       159        271        167        272           33,571         40,123            26,926           32,508     
   Nonagriculture ..............................       836      1,288        847      1,302          167,394        243,924           169,844          183,797     
      Manufacturing  ...........................       373        480        379        483           70,194         92,003            69,778           68,630     
         Durable goods  ........................       190        196        191        196           37,466         32,859            41,008           28,025     
         Nondurable goods  .....................       183        284        188        287           32,728         59,144            28,770           40,605           
      
      Nonmanufacturing  ........................       463        808        468        819           97,200        151,921           100,066          115,167     
         Mining  ...............................     ( 2 )         21      ( 2 )         21            ( 2 )          2,699             ( 2 )            2,157     
         Construction ..........................        89        378         90        378           14,643         50,233            17,961           44,296     
         Transportation and public utilities....        73         38         74         39           15,736         10,726            11,707            5,684     
         Wholesale and retail trade ............        82        133         82        136           13,182         33,828            13,036           18,759     
            Wholesale trade  ...................        23         34         23         35            3,367          4,034             2,627            3,402     
            Retail trade  ......................        59         99         59        101            9,815         29,794            10,409           15,357     
         Finance, insurance, and real estate....     ( 2 )         26      ( 2 )         26            ( 2 )          4,904             ( 2 )            3,369     
         Services ..............................       188        212        191        219           49,067         49,531            52,833           40,902         
   
   Not identified  .............................         2          1          2          1            1,324            227               887              488      
 
 Government ....................................        60         59         61         62           10,974         12,973            10,380            9,929     
         Federal ...............................        19         16         20         17            4,402          2,255             5,470            2,920     
         State .................................        11         21         11         21            1,425          4,904             1,351            2,962     
         Local .................................        30         22         30         24            5,147          5,814             3,559            4,047        
    
   1 For the fourth quarter 1997, 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. Manufacturing: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
 third and fourth quarters, 1997
                                                                                                                                             Initial claimants for
                                                          Establishments       Layoff events                    Separations                  unemployment insurance
                        Industry
                                                         III        IV         III        IV               III              IV               III              IV
                                                        1997r      1997p      1997r      1997p            1997r            1997p            1997r            1997p
    
    Total manufacturing ( 1 ).........................    373        480        379        483           70,194           92,003           69,778           68,630     

 Durable goods .......................................    190        196        191        196           37,466           32,859           41,008           28,025     
     Lumber and wood products ........................      9         17          9         17            3,115            2,368            2,357            2,479     
     Furniture and fixtures ..........................     14          7         14          7            1,975              909            1,812            1,431     
     Stone, clay, and glass products .................      8         26          8         26              893            3,870            1,012            3,494     
     Primary metal industries ........................     13          9         13          9            1,549            1,433            1,395            1,388     
     Fabricated metal products .......................     23         23         23         23            2,524            2,947            2,573            2,686     
     Industrial machinery and equipment ..............     35         27         36         27            9,062            5,573           11,418            4,327     
     Electronic and other electrical equipment .......     35         29         35         29            6,916            4,933            6,416            3,039     
     Transportation equipment ........................     32         37         32         37            8,921            7,081           11,672            6,411     
     Instruments and related products ................      8          6          8          6            1,137              780              983              545     
     Miscellaneous manufacturing industries ..........     13         15         13         15            1,374            2,965            1,370            2,225     
 
 Nondurable goods ....................................    183        284        188        287           32,728           59,144           28,770           40,605     
     Food and kindred products .......................     67        128         68        128           13,774           33,971           12,451           19,382     
     Tobacco products ................................      -      ( 2 )          -      ( 2 )                -            ( 2 )                -            ( 2 ) 
     Textile mill products ...........................     18         14         20         15            5,063            4,145            4,353            2,881     
     Apparel and other textile products ..............     48         65         49         66            5,590            9,890            5,128            9,410     
     Paper and allied products .......................      8         15          8         15            1,326            1,353            1,065            1,770     
     Printing and publishing .........................     13          8         14          8            1,938            1,728            1,886            1,181     
     Chemicals and allied products ...................      7          9          7          9            1,477            1,537            1,333            1,016     
     Petroleum and coal products .....................  ( 2 )         19      ( 2 )         20            ( 2 )            2,613            ( 2 )            2,371     
     Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products ......     15         18         15         18            2,175            2,501            1,635            1,546     
     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.
   NOTE:  Dash represents zero.

 Table 3. Reason for separation: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for  
 unemployment insurance, third and fourth quarters, 1997
                                                                                                                        Initial claimants for
                                                         Layoff events                   Separations                   unemployment insurance
             Reason for separation
                                                    III              IV              III             IV                 III              IV
                                                   1997r            1997p           1997r           1997p              1997r            1997p
    
    Total, all reasons ( 1 )...................    1,077            1,637         213,263         297,247            208,037          226,722      
 
 Automation ...................................        -            ( 2 )               -           ( 2 )                  -            ( 2 )
 Bankruptcy ...................................       11               26           2,375           6,293              1,832            2,686      
 Business ownership change ....................       28               29           4,735           5,496              3,738            3,295      
 Contract cancellation ........................       15               15           4,130           2,463              2,119            1,436      
 Contract completed ...........................      176              189          42,026          35,755             56,608           39,828      
 Domestic relocation ..........................       19               11           3,014           1,435              2,359              771      
 Environment-related ..........................        -            ( 2 )               -           ( 2 )                  -            ( 2 )
 Financial difficulty .........................       34               38           6,108           8,515              5,514            4,905      
 Import competition ...........................       23               12           2,905           2,072              2,891            1,714      
 Labor dispute ................................       12                3           3,184             506              3,639              506      
 Material shortage ............................    ( 2 )                5           ( 2 )             775              ( 2 )              618
 Model changeover .............................        9                3           3,800             714              2,672              332      
 
 Natural disaster .............................    ( 2 )            ( 2 )           ( 2 )           ( 2 )              ( 2 )            ( 2 )
 Overseas relocation ..........................        8                8           3,133           3,042              1,485            1,273      
 Plant or machine repair ......................        5                6             510             668                831              895      
 Product line discontinued ....................       10               15           2,604           2,533              5,762            1,691      
 Reorganization within company ................      120              104          20,206          16,996             20,615           13,125      
 Seasonal work ................................      387              870          80,880         167,768             64,841          110,290      
 Slack work ...................................      120              167          16,358          21,515             18,104           23,807      
 Vacation period ..............................       19            ( 2 )           2,576           ( 2 )              2,064            ( 2 )       
 Weather-related ..............................        -               33               -           3,788                  -            3,202      
 Other ........................................       37               62           8,935          11,153              6,999           10,922      
 Not reported .................................       40               35           5,374           4,381              5,565            3,988      
   
   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, third and fourth quarters, 1997
                                                                                                                                  Percent of total
                                                                             Total
                                         Layoff events                      initial                   Black                 Hispanic              Women              Persons age 55
                                                                           claimants                                         origin                                     and over
            State
                                      III              IV              III              IV        III        IV         III        IV         III        IV         III        IV
                                     1997r            1997p           1997r            1997p     1997r      1997p      1997r      1997p      1997r      1997p      1997r      1997p  
  
  Total ( 1 )................        1,077            1,637         208,037          226,722      14.5        9.6       24.1       25.8       42.0       36.9       12.9       13.8      
 
 Alabama ....................            3                -             319                -      59.2          -         .3          -       58.3          -       10.0          -
 Alaska .....................        ( 2 )                8           ( 2 )              864        .4        1.9       19.4        9.8       25.4       26.5       15.5       13.7     
 Arizona ....................           20               12           3,164            1,388       2.9         .1       59.6       62.2       47.8       21.6       10.7       12.6     
 Arkansas ...................           10               11           1,109            1,725      28.0       22.7         .7        1.3       59.2       59.7       10.2       12.2     
 California .................          316              469          81,274           72,931       6.1        5.1       42.4       52.3       39.0       36.4       12.3       10.4     
 Colorado ...................        ( 2 )               12           ( 2 )            1,140      10.7        3.5       22.9       28.9       67.8       29.2       15.4       13.6     
 Connecticut ................            3               16             635            1,459      34.5        8.4        8.3       16.0       34.2       31.8        7.2       23.1     
 Delaware ...................            -                -               -                -         -          -          -          -          -          -          -          -
 District of Columbia .......            -                -               -                -         -          -          -          -          -          -          -          -
 Florida ....................           95               66           9,409            5,171      31.3       17.2       26.4       22.5       45.7       58.7       19.1       20.8     
 Georgia ....................           23               26           3,020            2,803      53.9       48.8        1.7        1.5       56.5       58.2       12.3       16.1     
 Hawaii .....................            5                5             451              556       6.9          -        1.6         .2       52.1       65.1       16.6       20.3     
 Idaho ......................            6               12             917            2,061        .5         .4       37.4       35.2       67.9       39.2       18.2       17.0      
 
 Illinois ...................           61              129          10,939           15,716      25.4       13.8       11.5       17.1       46.6       25.3       11.6       14.0     
 Indiana ....................           14               34           2,264            4,271       6.1        6.0        1.4        2.5       55.5       25.5       15.1       13.9     
 Iowa .......................            4                4             421              534       8.6        1.7        5.5         .7       30.6       27.3       15.9       12.0     
 Kansas .....................            3                7             266              808      12.0        6.2        5.6        8.4       68.8       15.7        6.4       17.6     
 Kentucky ...................            5                7             381              769       2.1        4.8          -          -       36.7       60.3       23.1       11.4     
 Louisiana ..................            7               13           2,248            2,243      43.6       39.2         .6        1.9       47.1       33.1        7.5       13.4     
 Maine ......................            5               10             485              975         -         .3         .2         .1       26.6       26.2       15.5       12.5     
 Maryland ...................           12               13           1,634            1,101      31.7       29.1         .7         .2       36.1       13.1       18.8       27.5     
 Massachusetts ..............           22               43           4,489            4,728       8.1        7.0        5.9       11.1       44.7       52.1       16.1       22.5     
 Michigan ...................           34               69           6,459            7,473      16.8       15.3        1.8       12.1       35.3       38.4        9.7       12.5     
 Minnesota ..................           10               72           1,598            8,756       4.9         .8        2.9        6.5       55.6       23.2       12.9       15.5     
 Mississippi ................            7                5             819              450      52.6       73.6         .4         .2       43.5       55.3        5.5       10.0     
 Missouri ...................           33               36           4,264            4,306      26.6       13.6         .8        1.0       66.5       48.9       13.3       20.1     
 
 Montana ....................        ( 2 )                4           ( 2 )              515       1.9         .4        1.9        2.3       84.9        5.6        8.5       17.3     
 Nebraska ...................            -                -               -                -         -          -          -          -          -          -          -          -
 Nevada .....................            4                8             625            1,968       5.1        7.4       18.1       18.3       29.8       43.0       16.0       21.5     
 New Hampshire ..............        ( 2 )                4              68              310         -          -          -        1.3        2.9       25.5       26.5       21.0     
 New Jersey .................           38               50           5,121            7,053      26.9       15.1       17.5       25.7       54.8       53.9       18.9       19.9     
 New Mexico .................        ( 2 )                5           ( 2 )              670       1.8        1.3       64.8       62.1       68.5       38.5       13.9       12.1     
 New York ...................           61               47           7,250            5,144      14.6       10.0        8.6        8.0       42.7       30.0       20.0       16.4     
 North Carolina .............           15               21           1,664            2,422      37.3       45.3        1.0        4.0       61.1       48.8        9.0       11.7     
 North Dakota ...............            -                -               -                -         -          -          -          -          -          -          -          -
 Ohio .......................           42               96          12,083           12,440      13.0       10.0        3.4        3.7       33.3       28.1       10.5       13.3     
 Oklahoma ...................            5                4             717              580      20.6        6.6        2.1        2.9       48.0       35.9        8.6       13.1     
 Oregon .....................        ( 2 )                4           ( 2 )              414       1.5         .5       57.4       68.6       69.1       61.8       20.6       11.6     
 Pennsylvania ...............           51               86           8,898           17,401       7.8        6.6        2.0        1.2       46.2       42.2       20.2       17.9     
 
 Rhode Island ...............        ( 2 )            ( 2 )           ( 2 )            ( 2 )       1.7        6.8        3.4        1.1       69.0       55.7       15.5       34.1     
 South Carolina .............           12               10           2,716            1,037      47.6       63.4         .8         .2       52.1       80.3          -          -
 South Dakota ...............        ( 2 )                -           ( 2 )                -       1.0          -       15.4          -       23.0          -        6.1          -
 Tennessee ..................           15               20           2,981            2,302      27.2       21.9         .8         .5       52.8       50.8       10.9       22.0     
 Texas ......................           76               69          19,762           12,350      19.1       12.9       30.2       47.0       33.0       40.3       10.9        9.1     
 Utah .......................        ( 2 )                8           ( 2 )              969       2.3         .6        9.7        9.7       53.6       17.1        9.7        8.3     
 Vermont ....................            -                -               -                -         -          -          -          -          -          -          -          -
 Virginia ...................            9               17           3,348            2,706      18.5       20.0         .1         .1       42.9       46.1       13.1       15.6     
 Washington .................           15               25           1,233            2,537       1.1        2.2       26.6       23.6       57.0       29.3       17.9       15.2     
 West Virginia ..............            5                5             552              514       1.4        1.9          -          -       22.3        3.7       10.9       13.2     
 Wisconsin ..................           18               74           2,804           13,074       4.6        3.3        1.7       11.0       38.8       30.9       10.1       14.7     
 Wyoming ....................            -                -               -                -         -          -          -          -          -          -          -          -
 
 Puerto Rico ................           20               19           4,333            2,222     ( 3 )      ( 3 )      ( 3 )      ( 3 )       55.4       55.8       11.1       11.3         
    
    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,
 third and fourth quarters, 1997
                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                         Initial claimants for    
                                       Establishments                    Layoff events                     Separations                  unemployment insurance
            State 
                                    III              IV               III              IV             III              IV               III              IV
                                   1997r            1997p            1997r            1997p          1997r            1997p            1997r            1997p
  
  Total ( 1 ) ...............      1,057            1,619            1,077            1,637        213,263          297,247          208,037          226,722     
 
 Alabama ....................          3                -                3                -          1,050                -              319                -
 Alaska .....................      ( 2 )                8            ( 2 )                8          ( 2 )            1,375            ( 2 )              864     
 Arizona ....................         20               12               20               12          2,527            1,374            3,164            1,388     
 Arkansas ...................         10               11               10               11          1,301            1,970            1,109            1,725     
 California .................        302              456              316              469         78,642           79,781           81,274           72,931     
 Colorado ...................      ( 2 )               12            ( 2 )               12          ( 2 )            1,971            ( 2 )            1,140     
 Connecticut ................          3               16                3               16          1,000            3,499              635            1,459     
 Delaware ...................          -                -                -                -              -                -                -                -
 District of Columbia .......          -                -                -                -              -                -                -                -
 Florida ....................         95               66               95               66         16,623           11,569            9,409            5,171     
 Georgia ....................         23               26               23               26          3,430            4,062            3,020            2,803     
 Hawaii .....................          5                5                5                5          1,253            1,760              451              556     
 Idaho ......................          6               12                6               12            845            2,430              917            2,061     
 
 Illinois ...................         60              129               61              129         11,759           20,823           10,939           15,716     
 Indiana ....................         14               33               14               34          1,602            4,792            2,264            4,271     
 Iowa .......................          4                4                4                4            400              500              421              534     
 Kansas .....................          3                7                3                7            372            1,029              266              808     
 Kentucky ...................          5                6                5                7            855            1,847              381              769     
 Louisiana ..................          7               13                7               13          3,859            3,413            2,248            2,243     
 Maine ......................          5               10                5               10            559            4,275              485              975     
 Maryland ...................         12               13               12               13          1,530            1,101            1,634            1,101     
 Massachusetts ..............         22               43               22               43          5,295            6,251            4,489            4,728     
 Michigan ...................         34               69               34               69          6,884            8,231            6,459            7,473     
 Minnesota ..................         10               72               10               72          1,510           12,873            1,598            8,756     
 Mississippi ................          7                5                7                5            924              730              819              450     
 Missouri ...................         30               34               33               36          9,112            5,747            4,264            4,306     
 
 Montana ....................      ( 2 )                4            ( 2 )                4          ( 2 )              464            ( 2 )              515     
 Nebraska ...................          -                -                -                -              -                -                -                -
 Nevada .....................          4                8                4                8            365            2,705              625            1,968     
 New Hampshire ..............      ( 2 )                4            ( 2 )                4          ( 2 )              400            ( 2 )              310     
 New Jersey .................         38               50               38               50          4,364           12,580            5,121            7,053     
 New Mexico .................      ( 2 )                4            ( 2 )                5          ( 2 )            2,766            ( 2 )              670     
 New York ...................         61               47               61               47         10,929           10,315            7,250            5,144     
 North Carolina .............         13               21               15               21          3,054            5,184            1,664            2,422     
 North Dakota ...............          -                -                -                -              -                -                -                -
 Ohio .......................         42               96               42               96          9,430           19,838           12,083           12,440     
 Oklahoma ...................          5                4                5                4            782              675              717              580     
 Oregon .....................      ( 2 )                4            ( 2 )                4          ( 2 )            1,306            ( 2 )              414     
 Pennsylvania ...............         51               86               51               86          5,855           14,325            8,898           17,401     
 
 Rhode Island ...............      ( 2 )            ( 2 )            ( 2 )            ( 2 )          ( 2 )            ( 2 )            ( 2 )            ( 2 )
 South Carolina .............         12               10               12               10          1,323              907            2,716            1,037     
 South Dakota ...............      ( 2 )                -            ( 2 )                -          ( 2 )                -            ( 2 )                -
 Tennessee ..................         15               20               15               20          3,757            1,837            2,981            2,302     
 Texas ......................         76               69               76               69         11,917           10,284           19,762           12,350     
 Utah .......................      ( 2 )                8            ( 2 )                8          ( 2 )              955            ( 2 )              969     
 Vermont ....................          -                -                -                -              -                -                -                -
 Virginia ...................          9               17                9               17          2,083            4,174            3,348            2,706     
 Washington .................         15               25               15               25          1,497            3,394            1,233            2,537     
 West Virginia ..............          5                5                5                5            754              514              552              514     
 Wisconsin ..................         18               74               18               74          2,751           22,871            2,804           13,074     
 Wyoming ....................          -                -                -                -              -                -                -                -
 
 Puerto Rico ................         20               19               20               19          3,600            2,845            4,333            2,222     

    
    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.