Internet address:  http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:  (202) 606-6396  USDL 99-227


                                        For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                606-5902  Thursday, August 19, 1999

                                     
                         MASS LAYOFFS IN MAY 1999

     
   In May 1999, there were 1,033 mass layoff actions by employers as
measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the
month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics.  Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single
establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 102,815.  Both
the number of layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment
insurance were lower in May 1999 than in May 1998.  (See table 1.)
   
   The monthly series in this release covers mass layoffs of 50 or more
workers beginning in a given month, regardless of the duration of the
layoffs.  Information on the length of the layoff is obtained later and
issued in a quarterly release that reports on mass layoffs lasting more
than 30 days (referred to as "extended mass layoffs") and provides more
information on the industry classification and location of the
establishment and on the demographics of the laid-off workers.  Because
monthly figures include short-term layoffs of 30 days or less, the sum of
the figures for the 3 months in a quarter will be higher than the quarterly
figure for mass layoffs of more than 30 days.  (See table 1.)  See the
Technical Note for more detailed definitions.
   
Industry Distribution
   
   In May 1999, manufacturing industries accounted for 29 percent of all
mass layoff events and 32 percent of initial claims filed.  Manufacturing
industries with the highest numbers of initial claimants were food products
(6,513), primarily in canned fruits and vegetables and in frozen
specialties; industrial machinery and equipment (5,439), mostly in farm
machinery and equipment; and transportation equipment (3,786), particularly
in motor vehicles and car bodies.  (See table 2.)
   
   In nonmanufacturing industries, services accounted for 27 percent of
all mass layoff events and 32 percent of all initial claims filed.  The
layoffs were predominantly in business services (particularly in help
supply services) and motion pictures (mostly in motion pictures and video
production).  Layoffs in the motion picture and help supply services
industries are more likely than most other industries to last less than 30
days.  Retail trade accounted for 14 percent of layoff events and 13
percent of initial claims during the month, largely in eating and drinking
places.  Agriculture accounted for 8 percent of layoff events and 5 percent
of initial claims during the month, concentrated primarily in agricultural
services.

                                  - 2 -

   Compared with May 1998, the largest decreases in initial claims
occurred in apparel and other textile products (-3,379) and textile mill
products (-2,498).  The largest over-the-year increases in initial claims
occurred in motion pictures (+6,107), industrial machinery and equipment
(+3,869), and business services (+3,396).
   
Geographic Distribution
   
   In May, the number of initial claims due to mass layoffs was higher in
the West (40,942) than in any other region; a year earlier, the West also
had the largest number of initial claimants involved in mass layoffs.  (See
table 3.)  The motion picture, business services, food products, and
agricultural services industries contributed to the layoffs in the West.
The lowest number of mass layoff initial claims was reported in the
Northeast region (10,163).
   
   The largest over-the-year decrease in mass layoff-related initial
claims occurred in the Northeast (-9,129), followed by the South (-4,451).
The lower levels of initial claims were reported mainly in the Middle
Atlantic and West South Central divisions, with fewer layoffs in apparel
and other textile products and in eating and drinking places.
   
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia reporting data for
May, California had the largest number of initial claims filed in mass
layoff events (33,097), primarily in motion pictures, followed by Illinois
(7,903), Texas (6,932), and Pennsylvania (6,290).  These four states
accounted for 53 percent of all layoff events and initial claims for
unemployment insurance.  (See table 4.)
   
   From May 1998 to May 1999, Texas had the largest over-the-year decline
in initial claims (-3,778), mostly in eating and drinking places, followed
by Pennsylvania (-3,063) and New York (-2,841).  California reported the
largest over-the-year rise in initial claims (+6,675), primarily in motion
pictures and business services, followed by Illinois (+2,938).
Technical Note
 
 
 
 The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state program that
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.  Each month, states report on
establishments which have at least 50 initial claims filed against them
during a consecutive 5-week period.  These establishments then are
contacted by the state agency to determine whether these separations lasted
31 days or longer, and, if so, other information concerning the layoff is
collected.  States report on layoffs lasting more than 1 month on a
quarterly basis.
 
 A given month contains an aggregation of the weekly unemployment
insurance claims filings for the Sunday through Saturday weeks in that
month.  All weeks are included for the particular month, except if the
first day of the month falls on Saturday.  In this case, the week is
included in the prior month's tabulations.  This means that some months
will contain 4 weeks and others 5 weeks, and the number of weeks in a given
month may be different from year to year.  Therefore, analysis of over-the-
month and over-the-year change should take this calendar effect into
consideration.
 
 The MLS program resumed operations in April 1995 after it had been
terminated in November 1992 due to lack of funding.  Prior to April 1995,
monthly layoff statistics were not available.
 
 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
 
 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.
 
 Mass layoff event.  Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment
insurance benefits filed against an establishment during a 5-week period,
regardless of duration.
Table 1. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, April 1997 to May 1999

  
                                                                             Extended mass layoffs 
                                                                           lasting more than 30 days
               Date                                                                                    
                                     Total mass layoffs                                               Event
                                                                                                    realization
                                                                                                      rate(1)
                                                  Initial                           Initial          
                                   Events        claimants           Events        claimants
               1997

 April ......................      1,269          152,168     
 May ........................      1,152          101,476     
 June .......................      1,238          121,256     

 Second Quarter .............      3,659          374,900            1,587          292,673             43.4     

 July .......................      1,899          237,410     
 August .....................        973           99,513     
 September ..................        548           59,062     

 Third Quarter ..............      3,420          395,985            1,082          209,019             31.6     

 October ....................      1,414          139,297     
 November ...................      1,156          100,051     
 December ...................      1,634          172,029     

 Fourth Quarter .............      4,204          411,377            1,697          316,035             40.4     

             1998

 January ....................      2,360          255,203     
 February ...................        970           81,455     
 March ......................        762           78,210     

 First Quarter ..............      4,092          414,868            1,320          247,315             32.3     

 April ......................      1,253          132,476     
 May ........................      1,180          107,952     
 June .......................      1,208          183,590     

 Second Quarter .............      3,641          424,018            1,563          402,259             42.9     

 July .......................      2,220          286,055     
 August .....................        617           53,665     
 September ..................        637           79,629     

 Third Quarter ..............      3,474          419,349            1,234          256,790             35.5     

 October ....................      1,557          256,658     
 November ...................      1,372          162,537     
 December ...................      1,644          193,072     

 Fourth Quarter .............      4,573          612,267            1,736          327,039             38.0     

             1999

 January ....................      2,415          296,404     
 February ...................      1,077          117,274     
 March ......................        850           90,958     

 First Quarter ..............      4,342          504,636            1,484          200,677             34.2     

 April ......................      1,250          161,269     
 May ........................      1,033          102,815     


  1  The event realization rate is the percentage of total mass layoff events lasting more than 30 days.
 
Table 2. Industry distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
May 1998 and May 1999
                                                                                            Initial claimants for
                                                               Mass layoff events          unemployment insurance
                           Industry
                                                              May             May           May             May
                                                              1998            1999          1998            1999


      Total(1) ..........................................    1,180           1,033         107,952         102,815     

 Total, private .........................................    1,130             978         103,437          98,107     

   Agriculture ..........................................       85              83           5,407           5,031     
   Nonagriculture .......................................    1,018             885          95,429          92,236     
     Manufacturing ......................................      365             298          38,247          32,406     
       Durable goods ....................................      149             145          15,545          18,374     
         Lumber and wood products .......................       13           ( 2 )             877           ( 2 )
         Furniture and fixtures .........................       12              12           1,171           1,324     
         Stone, clay, and glass products ................       10           ( 2 )             950           ( 2 )
         Primary metal industries .......................       13              14           1,314           1,052     
         Fabricated metal products ......................       14              16           1,439           1,580     
         Industrial machinery and equipment .............       18              25           1,570           5,439     
         Electronic and other electrical equipment ......       37              27           4,900           2,874     
         Transportation equipment .......................       19              26           2,200           3,786     
         Instruments and related products ...............        8              10             705             716     
         Miscellaneous manufacturing industries .........        5               7             419             776     

       Nondurable goods .................................      216             153          22,702          14,032     
         Food and kindred products ......................       89              62           8,409           6,513     
         Tobacco products ...............................    ( 2 )               -           ( 2 )               -
         Textile mill products ..........................       24              13           3,707           1,209     
         Apparel and other textile products .............       55              36           6,346           2,967     
         Paper and allied products ......................       10              14             719           1,109     
         Printing and publishing ........................       21               8           1,663             619     
         Chemicals and allied products ..................    ( 2 )               5           ( 2 )             493     
         Petroleum and coal products ....................    ( 2 )               -           ( 2 )               -
         Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products .....       11              10           1,279             789     
         Leather and leather products ...................    ( 2 )               5           ( 2 )             333     

     Nonmanufacturing ...................................      653             587          57,182          59,830     
       Mining ...........................................        6               9             586             774     
       Construction .....................................      112              85           8,512           6,288     
       Transportation and public utilities ..............       33              33           2,804           3,841     
       Wholesale and retail trade .......................      182             166          17,014          14,904     
          Wholesale trade ...............................       36              22           2,694           1,404     
          Retail trade ..................................      146             144          14,320          13,500     
       Finance, insurance, and real estate ..............       19              17           1,329           1,179     
       Services .........................................      301             277          26,937          32,844     

   Not identified .......................................       27              10           2,601             840     

 Government .............................................       50              55           4,515           4,708     
   Federal ..............................................        7              10           1,192           1,452     
   State ................................................       17              12           1,716             967     
   Local ................................................       26              33           1,607           2,289     


    1  Data were reported by all states and the District of Columbia.  
    2  Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    NOTE:  Dash represents zero.
Table 3. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance by census region and
division, May 1998 and May 1999

                                      Mass layoff events          Initial claimants for
                                                                  unemployment insurance
    Census region and division
                                     May             May           May             May
                                     1998            1999          1998            1999


         United States ...........  1,180           1,033         107,952         102,815       

 Northeast .......................    208             124          19,292          10,163       

     New England .................     32              25           2,815           2,038       
     Middle Atlantic .............    176              99          16,477           8,125       

 South ...........................    283             271          28,968          24,517       

     South Atlantic ..............    149             132          13,059          11,119       
     East South Central ..........     22              41           2,241           4,046       
     West South Central ..........    112              98          13,668           9,352       

 Midwest .........................    231             206          24,989          27,193       

     East North Central ..........    176             154          18,565          19,581       
     West North Central ..........     55              52           6,424           7,612       

 West ............................    458             432          34,703          40,942       

     Mountain ....................     49              42           4,373           4,336       
     Pacific .....................    409             390          30,330          36,606       


     NOTE:  The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the 
 various census divisions are: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 
 New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, 
 and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia,
 Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; East South 
 Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas, 
 Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, 
 and Wisconsin; West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North
 Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New 
 Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.
Table 4. State distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
May 1998 and May 1999

                                                                  Initial claimants for
                                         Mass layoff events       unemployment insurance
                                                                      
                   State
                                         May           May           May           May
                                         1998          1999          1998          1999

    Total(1) .........................   1,180         1,033       107,952       102,815     

 Alabama .............................       4            16           490         1,904     
 Alaska ..............................       3             4           207           296     
 Arizona .............................       8            15           941         1,549     
 Arkansas ............................      13             7         1,223           630     
 California ..........................     364           349        26,422        33,097     
 Colorado ............................       7             8           561         1,328     
 Connecticut .........................       3         ( 2 )           312         ( 2 )
 Delaware ............................       3             -           164             -
 District of Columbia ................   ( 2 )             3         ( 2 )           267     
 Florida .............................      76            67         4,972         4,792     
 Georgia .............................      11            14           767         1,404     
 Hawaii ..............................       5             6           538           443     
 Idaho ...............................      12             5         1,097           393     

 Illinois ............................      40            44         4,965         7,903     
 Indiana .............................      16             8         1,370           899     
 Iowa ................................       -            11             -         1,189     
 Kansas ..............................       5             6           346           486     
 Kentucky ............................       5             4           512           334     
 Louisiana ...........................      13            14         1,147         1,174     
 Maine ...............................       7             5           790           332     
 Maryland ............................   ( 2 )             6         ( 2 )           426     
 Massachusetts .......................      13            17           996         1,498     
 Michigan ............................      17            40         2,037         4,067     
 Minnesota ...........................      10             6           967           691     
 Mississippi .........................       3             5           225           334     
 Missouri ............................      38            24         4,664         4,490     

 Montana .............................       4         ( 2 )           296         ( 2 )
 Nebraska ............................   ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )
 Nevada ..............................       6             6           429           480     
 New Hampshire .......................       3         ( 2 )           258         ( 2 )
 New Jersey ..........................      39            14         3,816         1,368     
 New Mexico ..........................       9             4           506           267     
 New York ............................      36             5         3,308           467     
 North Carolina ......................      12             8         1,250           965     
 North Dakota ........................   ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )
 Ohio ................................      51            32         5,125         3,857     
 Oklahoma ............................       3             7           588           616     
 Oregon ..............................      24            18         2,216         1,814     
 Pennsylvania ........................     101            80         9,353         6,290     

 Rhode Island ........................       5             -           352             -
 South Carolina ......................      22            22         3,621         2,146     
 South Dakota ........................       -             3             -           320     
 Tennessee ...........................      10            16         1,014         1,474     
 Texas ...............................      83            70        10,710         6,932     
 Utah ................................       3         ( 2 )           543         ( 2 )
 Vermont .............................   ( 2 )             -         ( 2 )             -
 Virginia ............................      20            12         1,832         1,119     
 Washington ..........................      13            13           947           956     
 West Virginia .......................   ( 2 )             -         ( 2 )             -
 Wisconsin ...........................      52            30         5,068         2,855     
 Wyoming .............................       -             -             -             -

 Puerto Rico .........................       6             7           724           797     


   1  Data were reported by all states and the District of Columbia.
   2  Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   NOTE:  Dash represents zero.