Internet address:  http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:  (202) 606-6396  USDL 99-57


                                        For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                606-5902  Wednesday, March 10, 1999

                                     
                       MASS LAYOFFS IN NOVEMBER 1998

     
   In November 1998, there were 1,278 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 138,161.  The
number of layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance
were higher in November 1998 than in November 1997.  Also, the total of
layoff events from January through November 1998 and the total number of
initial claimants were somewhat higher than in the same period of 1997.
(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.  See the
Technical Note for more detailed definitions.
   
   Because the 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.  For
example, 3,475 layoff events involving 419,391 initial claimants for
unemployment insurance occurred in July, August, and September of 1998
combined.  The third-quarter 1998 figures for mass layoffs lasting more
than 30 days, however, were 1,215 events and 201,522 claimants.  Thirty-
five percent of all mass layoffs in the July-September period lasted for
more than a month. (See table 1.)  In all quarters for which data are
available, the proportion of mass layoffs that became "extended" mass
layoffs varied from about 31 to 47 percent.
   
Industry Distribution
   
   In November 1998, manufacturing industries accounted for 37 percent of
all mass layoff events and 45 percent of the initial claims filed.
Manufacturing industries that had the highest numbers of initial claimants
were transportation equipment (10,942), primarily in motor vehicles and car
bodies; food products (7,447), mostly in frozen fruits and vegetables;  and
apparel and other textile products (6,864), particularly in men's and boys'
trousers and slacks.  (See table 3.)
     
   In nonmanufacturing industries, services accounted for 15 percent of all
mass layoff events and 13 percent of all initial claims filed.  The layoffs
were predominantly in business services (particularly in help supply

                                  - 2 -

services).   Layoffs in the help supply services industry are more likely
than those in other industries to last less than 30 days.  Agriculture
accounted for 15 percent of layoff events and 10 percent of initial
claimants during the month, primarily in farm labor contracting.
Construction contributed 14 percent to layoff events and 12 percent to
initial claimants during the month, largely in highway and street
construction.
   
   Compared with November 1997, the largest increases in initial claims
occurred in transportation equipment  (8,464), apparel and other textile
products  (3,316), and primary metal industries (2,633).  The largest over-
the-year decrease in initial claims occurred in motion pictures (-2,637).
   
State Distribution
   
   Among the 49 states and the District of Columbia reporting data for
November, California had the largest number of initial claims filed in mass
layoff events (29,393), primarily in agricultural services, followed by
Illinois (9,780) and Wisconsin (9,655).  These three states accounted for
about 43 percent of all layoff events and 35 percent of all initial
claims.  (See table 2.)
   
   From November 1997 to November 1998, California reported the largest
over-the-year rise in initial claims (6,070), primarily in agricultural
services, followed by Illinois (5,310).   Pennsylvania had the largest over-
the-year decline in initial claims (-1,652), mostly in food products.
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, October 1996 to
November 1998
 
                                                           Extended mass layoffs         
            Date                                         lasting more than 30 days      
                                  Total mass layoffs                                    Event                          
                                                                                      realization 
                                 Events        Initial        Events      Initial       rate(1)
                                              claimants                  claimants
                                       
                                     
             1996

 October .....................   1,289         131,850     
 November ....................   1,433         130,774     
 December ....................   1,824         204,123     

 Fourth quarter ..............   4,546         466,747        1,915         384,429       42.1       

             1997              

 January .....................   2,139         212,860     
 February ....................     755          63,352     
 March .......................     783          84,069     

 First quarter ...............   3,677         360,281        1,317         253,209       35.8     

 April .......................   1,269         152,168     
 May .........................   1,152         101,476     
 June ........................   1,238         121,256     

 Second quarter ..............   3,659         374,900        1,574         320,265       43.0     

 July ........................   1,899         237,410     
 August ......................     973          99,513     
 September ...................     548          59,062     

 Third quarter ...............   3,420         395,985        1,077         216,844       31.5     

 October .....................   1,414         139,297     
 November ....................   1,156         100,051     
 December ....................   1,634         172,029     

 Fourth quarter ..............   4,204         411,377        1,677         313,556       39.9     

             1998              

 January .....................   2,360         255,203     
 February ....................     970          81,455     
 March .......................     762          78,210     

 First quarter ...............   4,092         414,868        1,299         243,155       31.7     

 April .......................   1,253         132,476     
 May .........................   1,180         107,952     
 June ........................   1,208         183,590     

 Second quarter ..............   3,641         424,018        1,554         400,579       42.7     

 July ........................   2,221         286,097     
 August ......................     617          53,665     
 September ...................     637          79,629    

 Third quarter ...............   3,475         419,391        1,215         201,522       35.0     

 October .....................(r)1,553      (r)160,830
 November(2) .................   1,278         138,161


   1 The event realization rate is the percentage of total mass layoff events lasting more than 30 days.        
   2 Data exclude Wyoming.            
   r = revised.                      
Table 2. State distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
November 1997 and November 1998
                                                                  Initial claimants for
                                       Mass layoff events         unemployment insurance
                                                                  
               State

                                   November     November       November        November
                                     1997         1998           1997            1998

    Total(1) ...................... 1,156        1,278         100,051         138,161     

 Alabama ..........................     5            8             342           1,314     
 Alaska ........................... ( 2 )        ( 2 )           ( 2 )           ( 2 )
 Arizona ..........................     5            6             449           1,129     
 Arkansas .........................     9           11           1,921           1,501     
 California .......................   344          399          23,323          29,393     
 Colorado .........................     3           11             235           1,365     
 Connecticut ......................     5            5             372             424     
 Delaware ......................... ( 2 )        ( 2 )           ( 2 )           ( 2 )
 District of Columbia .............     -            4               -             453     
 Florida ..........................    31           24           1,805           2,355     
 Georgia ..........................    11           17             934           1,369     
 Hawaii ...........................     5            4             504             375     
 Idaho ............................     3           10             232           1,353     

 Illinois .........................    44           51           4,470           9,780     
 Indiana ..........................    26           18           2,734           3,097     
 Iowa .............................    17           18           1,417           2,953
 Kansas ...........................     3        ( 2 )             177           ( 2 )
 Kentucky .........................     5           17             343           1,488     
 Louisiana ........................    11           11           1,230           1,393     
 Maine ............................     5            7             338             581     
 Maryland .........................     9            -             756               -
 Massachusetts ....................    10           21             720           3,361     
 Michigan .........................    20           14           2,038           1,534     
 Minnesota ........................    42           37           4,029           5,640     
 Mississippi ......................     5            4             430             417     
 Missouri .........................    14           22           1,267           4,855     

 Montana ..........................     5            3             752             328     
 Nebraska .........................     -        ( 2 )               -           ( 2 )
 Nevada ...........................    11            8           1,334             688     
 New Hampshire .................... ( 2 )        ( 2 )           ( 2 )           ( 2 )
 New Jersey .......................    42           38           4,537           7,035     
 New Mexico ....................... ( 2 )            -           ( 2 )               -
 New York .........................    52           68           4,066           5,816     
 North Carolina ...................    10            9             738             908     
 North Dakota ..................... ( 2 )            -           ( 2 )               -
 Ohio .............................    46           42           4,177           6,647     
 Oklahoma .........................     5            8             759             825     
 Oregon ...........................    23           26           2,448           2,240     
 Pennsylvania .....................   117           95          10,078           8,426     

 Rhode Island .....................     4        ( 2 )             455           ( 2 )
 South Carolina ...................    11           36             883           5,156     
 South Dakota .....................     -        ( 2 )               -           ( 2 )
 Tennessee ........................    13            7             882             873     
 Texas ............................    55           57           6,429           7,149     
 Utah .............................     -            3               -             310     
 Vermont ..........................     -            -               -               -
 Virginia .........................    19           13           1,621           1,317     
 Washington .......................    22           29           2,050           2,802     
 West Virginia .................... ( 2 )            8           ( 2 )             885     
 Wisconsin ........................    81           99           7,889           9,655     
 Wyoming ..........................     -        ( 1 )               -           ( 1 )
 
 Puerto Rico ......................     -            5               -             976    


    1  For November 1998, data were reported by the District of Columbia and all states, except Wyoming.                                                   
    2  Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.                                      
    NOTE:  Data for total mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance       
have been revised for November 1997 due to the inclusion of new data for Louisiana and Oklahoma.        
Dash represents zero. 
   

Table 3. Industry distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
November 1997 and November 1998

                                                                                           Initial claimants for
                                                                Mass layoff events         unemployment insurance
                                                                                           
                           Industry
                                                             November     November       November        November
                                                               1997         1998           1997            1998

      Total(1) ............................................... 1,156        1,278         100,051         138,161     

 Total, private .............................................. 1,121        1,235          97,218         133,991     

   Agriculture ...............................................   176          198          10,807          14,425     
   Nonagriculture ............................................   929        1,010          84,638         116,263     
     Manufacturing ...........................................   382          470          38,644          62,463     
       Durable goods .........................................   187          253          20,534          36,522     
         Lumber and wood products ............................    42           43           4,353           4,464     
         Furniture and fixtures ..............................     9           10           1,019           1,017     
         Stone, clay, and glass products .....................    17           11           1,402           1,386     
         Primary metal industries ............................    12           35           2,046           4,679     
         Fabricated metal products ...........................    19           16           1,380           1,754     
         Industrial machinery and equipment ..................    25           46           3,847           5,478     
         Electronic and other electrical equipment ...........    23           38           2,767           4,231     
         Transportation equipment ............................    24           30           2,478          10,942     
         Instruments and related products ....................     4           13             213           1,261     
         Miscellaneous manufacturing industries ..............    12           11           1,029           1,310    

       Nondurable goods ......................................   195          217          18,110          25,941     
         Food and kindred products ...........................    71           71           7,145           7,447     
         Tobacco products ....................................     -        ( 2 )               -           ( 2 )
         Textile mill products ...............................    20           38           2,240           4,859     
         Apparel and other textile products ..................    48           53           3,548           6,864     
         Paper and allied products ...........................    15           16           1,710           1,686     
         Printing and publishing .............................     7            5             476             471     
         Chemicals and allied products .......................     7        ( 2 )             589           ( 2 )
         Petroleum and coal products .........................     6            4             607             470     
         Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products ..........    15           13           1,343           1,652     
         Leather and leather products ........................     6           13             452           2,207     

     Nonmanufacturing ........................................   547          540          45,994          53,800     
       Mining ................................................    10           13             885           1,382     
       Construction ..........................................   229          174          17,205          17,248     
       Transportation and public utilities ...................    25           36           2,530           4,617     
       Wholesale and retail trade ............................    91          105           7,556          11,056     
          Wholesale trade ....................................    22           33           1,610           3,655     
          Retail trade .......................................    69           72           5,946           7,401     
       Finance, insurance, and real estate ...................    15           20           1,189           1,655     
       Services ..............................................   177          192          16,629          17,842     

   Not identified ............................................    16           27           1,773           3,303     

 Government ..................................................    35           43           2,833           4,170     
   Federal ...................................................     3            4             297             538     
   State .....................................................    20           26           1,496           2,351     
   Local .....................................................    12           13           1,040           1,281     


    1  For November 1998, data were reported by the District of Columbia and all states, except Wyoming.                                                 
    2  Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.        
    NOTE:  Data for total mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance
have been revised for November 1997 due to the inclusion of new data for Louisiana and Oklahoma.  
Dash represents zero.