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http://www.bls.gov/mls/                    
                                           For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                691-5902     Thursday, February 9, 2006
                                     
                                     
            EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2005
                       AND ANNUAL AVERAGES FOR 2005
 
   In the fourth quarter of 2005, there were 1,299 mass layoff events that
resulted in the separation of 217,803 workers from their jobs for at least
31 days, according to preliminary figures released by the U.S. Department
of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Both the total number of layoff
events and the number of separations were sharply lower than during the
October-December 2004 time period, with separations at their lowest level
for any fourth quarter since data collection began in 1995.  (See table A.)
The declines over the year were most notable in food manufacturing, general
merchandise stores, and electrical equipment and appliance manufacturing.
Seventy percent of all employers reporting an extended layoff in the fourth
quarter of 2005 indicated that they would recall some number of workers,
the highest proportion for any fourth quarter.  Extended mass layoffs that
involve the movement of work within the same company or to a different
company, either domestically or outside the U.S., occurred in 9 percent
of the nonseasonal layoff events, accounting for 10 percent of worker
separations related to nonseasonal events.  (See table B.)
   
   The completion of seasonal work accounted for 56 percent of all events
and resulted in 123,288 separations during the period--the highest share of
private nonfarm seasonal separations for any fourth quarter.  Layoffs due
to internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change,
financial difficulty, and reorganization) represented 12 percent of events
and resulted in 28,731 separations, the lowest level of separations for any
fourth quarter since the program began in 1995.  Permanent closure of work-
sites occurred in 9 percent of all events and affected 20,352 workers, the
fewest number of separations due to permanent closures for any fourth quarter.
   
   In the fourth quarter of 2005, the national unemployment rate was 4.7 per-
cent, not seasonally adjusted; a year earlier it was 5.1 percent.  Private non-
farm payroll employment, not seasonally adjusted, increased by 1.6 percent or
about 1.75 million jobs from October-December 2004 to October-December 2005.
   
   For all of 2005, the total number of extended mass layoff events was 4,780 
and the total number of worker separations was 851,997.  These annual totals
were lower than in 2004, when there were 5,010 events and 993,909 separations.
Since reaching a peak in 2001, the annual number of extended layoff events has
fallen by 2,595, or 35 percent, and the number of separations has declined by
672,835, or 44 percent.  Additional information on the annual data is avail-
able starting on page 8 of this release.

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Period          | Layoff events|  Separations | Initial claimants
-------------------------|--------------|--------------|-------------------
          2001           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,546    |    304,171   |      306,535
April-June...............|     1,828    |    430,499   |      358,611
July-September...........|     1,629    |    330,391   |      336,298
October-December.........|     2,372    |    459,771   |      456,068
          2002           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,611    |    299,266   |      292,998
April-June...............|     1,624    |    344,606   |      299,598
July-September...........|     1,186    |    255,152   |      254,955
October-December.........|     1,916    |    373,307   |      370,592
          2003           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,502    |    286,947   |      297,608
April-June...............|     1,799    |    368,273   |      348,966
July-September...........|     1,190    |    236,333   |      227,909
October-December.........|     1,690    |    325,333   |      326,328
          2004           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,339    |    276,503   |      238,392
April-June...............|     1,358    |    278,831   |      254,063
July-September...........|       886    |    164,608   |      148,575
October-December.........|     1,427    |    273,967   |      262,049
          2005           |              |              |
January-March(r).........|     1,142    |    187,128   |      185,420
April-June(r)............|     1,203    |    245,790   |      212,364 
July-September(r)........|     1,136    |    201,276   |      189,443 
October-December(p)......|     1,299    |    217,803   |      178,896 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  r = revised.
  p = preliminary.

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
 
   Extended mass layoff separations occurred in 311 of the 1,105 detailed
industries for which data are available for the fourth quarter of 2005.
This is the fewest number of industries to have at least one extended mass
layoff event in a fourth quarter.
   
   Manufacturing industries accounted for 28 percent of private nonfarm lay-
off events and separations during October-December 2005.  (See table 1.)  The
61,766 worker separations in manufacturing were the fewest in that sector for
any fourth quarter.  In the fourth quarter of 2005, separations in manufactur-
ing were concentrated in food manufacturing (16,274), followed by transporta-
tion equipment manufacturing (12,850).

   The construction sector had 35 percent of the events and 28 percent of
the separations, mostly among heavy and civil engineering construction and
in specialty trade contractors.  Layoffs in the administrative and waste
services sector comprised 11 percent of events and separations, mostly in
temporary help services and in professional employer organizations.  Retail
trade accounted for 5 percent of private nonfarm layoff events and 8 percent
of separations, primarily in mail-order houses.  Layoffs in accommodation
and food services accounted for 4 percent of events and 6 percent of sepa-
rations, and were primarily concentrated in hotels and motels, except casino
hotels.
   
   Information technology-producing industries (communication equipment, com-
munications services, computer hardware, and software and computer services)
accounted for 3 percent of layoff events and 6,417 worker separations in the
fourth quarter of 2005.  (See table 6.)  In the fourth quarter of 2004,
these industries accounted for 4 percent of layoff events and 8,622 separa-
tions.  Layoffs in the information technology-producing industries in the
fourth quarter of 2005 were most numerous in computer hardware with 3,450
separations, followed by software and computer services with 1,331 separa-
tions.

                                  - 3 -

Table B.  Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected
measures, fourth quarter 2005p
----------------------------------------------------------------------             
                                  |                 |
               Action             |  Layoff events  |   Separations
                                  |                 |                       
----------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------                
                                  |                 |                               
 Total private nonfarm............|      1,299      |     217,803          
                                  |                 |  
   Total, excluding seasonal      |                 |             
     and vacation events(1).......|        572      |      94,190
                                  |                 |       
     Total events with move-      |                 |
      ment of work(2).............|         54      |       9,851
                                  |                 |
                                  |                 |
      Movement-of-work actions....|         73      |        (3)
       With separations reported..|         50      |       6,271
       With separations unknown...|         23      |        (3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------                                                                

   1 The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers
when the reason for layoff was either seasonal work or vacation
period.
   2 A layoff event can involve more than one movement-of-work action.
   3 Data not available.
   p = preliminary.

Reasons for Extended Layoff
  
   Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 56 percent
of the extended layoff events and resulted in 123,288 separations in the
fourth quarter of 2005.  (See table 2.)  Seasonal layoffs were most numerous
among workers in heavy and civil engineering construction (highway, street,
and bridge construction) and in food manufacturing (fruit and vegetable can-
ning).
  
   Contract completion accounted for 12 percent of events and resulted in
23,739 separations during the fourth quarter.  These layoffs were primarily
in administrative and support services, followed by specialty trade contrac-
tors.
  
   Internal company restructuring (due to bankruptcy, business ownership
change, financial difficulty, and reorganization) accounted for 12 percent
of layoff events and resulted in 28,731 separations.  These layoffs were
mostly among workers in transportation equipment manufacturing, computer
and electronic product manufacturing, and air transportation.  Over half
of both the internal company restructuring layoff events and separations
were due to reorganization within the company.
  
Movement of Work

   Between October and December of 2005, 54 extended mass layoff events
involved the movement of work; this was about 9 percent of total extended
mass layoff events, excluding those for seasonal and vacation reasons.
(See table B.)  These movements of work were to other U.S. locations or to
locations outside of the U.S., and they occurred either within the same
company or to other companies.  The extended mass layoff events involving
movement of work were associated with the separation of 9,851 workers,
about 10 percent of all separations resulting from nonseasonal/nonvacation
mass layoff events.  A year earlier, there were 83 layoff events and 19,599
separations associated with the movement of work.  (See table 10.)
   
   Among the 54 extended mass layoff events with reported relocation of
work, just over half (54 percent) were permanent closures of worksites,
which affected 5,453 workers.  In comparison, for the 1,299 total layoff
events reported for the fourth quarter of 2005, only 9 percent involved
the permanent closure of worksites.
   
   Of the layoffs involving the movement of work, 70 percent of the events
and 78 percent of the laid-off workers were from manufacturing industries
during the fourth quarter of 2005.  (See table 7.)  Among all private non-
farm extended layoffs, manufacturing accounted for 28 percent of the events
and separations.
   
                                  - 4 -

Table C.  Movement-of-work actions by type of separation where the
number of separations is known by employers, fourth quarter 2005p
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |                    |    
          Action          |  Layoff events (1) |    Separations
                          |                    |                
--------------------------------------------------------------------         
                          |                    |
With separations reported.|         50         |        6,271  
                          |                    |             
        By location       |                    |             
                          |                    |             
  Out of country..........|         19         |        2,047          
    Within company........|         14         |        1,355          
    Different company.....|          5         |          692        
                          |                    |             
  Domestic relocations....|         31         |        4,224          
    Within company........|         26         |        3,823          
    Different company.....|          5         |          401        
                          |                    |             
        By company        |                    |
                          |                    |             
  Within company..........|         40         |        5,178            
    Domestic..............|         26         |        3,823           
    Out of country........|         14         |        1,355    
                          |                    |             
  Different company.......|         10         |        1,093     
    Domestic..............|          5         |          401     
    Out of country........|          5         |          692     
--------------------------------------------------------------------           
   1 Only actions for which separations associated with the movement
of work were reported are shown.
   p = preliminary.
   
   Internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change,
financial difficulty, and reorganization) accounted for 74 percent of lay-
off events associated with work relocation and resulted in 7,601 separations
during the fourth quarter.  (See table 8.)  Most of these were due to reorga-
nization within the company.  Only 12 percent of all layoff events in the
total private nonfarm economy were because of internal company restructuring.

   Among the regions, both the Midwest and the South accounted for the larg-
est proportions of workers in extended mass layoffs associated with the move-
ment of work (29 percent each) in the fourth quarter of 2005, followed by the
Northeast (24 percent) and the West (18 percent).
   
   As noted in table B, the 54 extended layoff events for the fourth
quarter of 2005 discussed above involve 73 identifiable movement-of-work
actions.  An identifiable movement-of-work action occurs when the employer
provides sufficient information on the new location of work and/or the
number of workers affected by the movement.  Some extended mass layoff
events involve more than one relocation of work action.  For example, an
extended mass layoff event at an establishment may involve job loss due to
movement of work to both another domestic location of the company and to a
location out of the country.  This would be counted as two movement-of-work
actions.  Of the 73 identifiable relocations, employers were able to provide
information on the specific separations (6,271 workers) associated with the
movement-of-work component of the layoff in 50 actions, or 68 percent of the
total actions for the fourth quarter of 2005.  Thus, a range of 6,271 (sepa-
rations in movement-of-work actions where the employer was able to provide
specific detail) to 9,851 (total separations in all layoff events that in-
cluded movement of work) is established for job loss due to the movement of
work in the fourth quarter.  (See table 10.)

                                  - 5 -

Table D.  Summary of employer expectations of a recall from
extended layoff, fourth quarter 2004-fourth quarter 2005
---------------------------------------------------------------
                     |          Percentage of events
 Nature of the recall|-----------------------------------------
                     |   IV  |    I  |  II   |   III  |  IV 
                     |  2004 |  2005 | 2005  |  2005r | 2005p
---------------------|-------|-------|-------|--------|--------
                     |       |       |       |        |
Anticipate a recall..|  64.2 |  51.5 |  61.8 |  39.5  |  69.7
                     |       |       |       |        |
      Timeframe      |       |       |       |        |
                     |       |       |       |        |
Within 6 months......|  84.8 |  85.5 |  89.4 |  78.8  |  90.1
  Within 3 months....|  33.1 |  53.4 |  59.5 |  57.9  |  36.5
                     |       |       |       |        |
        Size         |       |       |       |        |
                     |       |       |       |        |
At least half........|  92.9 |  92.5 |  92.9 |  80.2  |  92.8
  All workers........|  49.8 |  43.2 |  51.1 |  43.2  |  50.5
---------------------------------------------------------------
  r = revised.
  p = preliminary.

   
   In the 50 actions where employers were able to provide more complete sepa-
rations information, 80 percent of relocations (40 out of 50) occurred among
establishments within the same company.  (See table C.)  In 65 percent of
these 40 relocations, the work activities were reassigned to places elsewhere
in the U.S.
   
   Thirty-eight percent of the movement-of-work relocations involved out-of-
country moves (19 out of 50).  The separation of 2,047 workers was associated
with out-of-country relocations, about 2 percent of all nonseasonal/nonvaca-
tion extended mass layoff separations.  Domestic relocation of work--both with-
in the company and to other companies--affected 4,224 workers.  (See table 11.)

Recall Expectations

   Seventy percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the fourth
quarter of 2005 indicated they anticipated some type of recall.  This com-
pares with 64 percent of the employers anticipating a recall a year earlier
and is the highest such proportion for any fourth quarter.  (See table D.)
The fourth quarter typically has the highest recall expectations for any
quarter of the year.  Most employers not expecting a recall during the fourth
quarter were from administrative and support services and transportation
equipment manufacturing.
   
   Among establishments expecting a recall, most employers expected to recall
over one-half of the separated employees and to do so within 6 months.  Fifty
percent of the employers expected to extend the offer to all laid-off workers.
  
   Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in which
97 percent of the employers expected a recall), employers expected to recall
laid-off workers in 35 percent of the events.  A year earlier, 34 percent of
employers expected a recall in nonseasonal and nonvacation events.  In layoff
events due to internal company restructuring, employers anticipated a recall
in only 6 percent of the events.
   
                                  - 6 -

Table E.  Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff,
October-December 2005p
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                 |      Layoff events     |       Separations
      Size       |------------------------|------------------------
                 |   Number  |   Percent  |  Number  |   Percent
-----------------|-----------|------------|----------|-------------
    Total........|   1,299   |    100.0   |  217,803 |    100.0
                 |           |            |          |
50-99............|     483   |     37.2   |   35,405 |     16.3
100-149..........|     324   |     24.9   |   37,558 |     17.2
150-199..........|     169   |     13.0   |   28,279 |     13.0
200-299..........|     173   |     13.3   |   39,534 |     18.2
300-499..........|     102   |      7.9   |   35,751 |     16.4
500-999..........|      39   |      3.0   |   25,421 |     11.7
1,000 or more....|       9   |       .7   |   15,855 |      7.3
-------------------------------------------------------------------
  p = preliminary.
  
Size of Extended Layoff
  
   Layoff events during the fourth quarter continued to be concentrated at the
lower end of the extended layoff-size spectrum, with 62 percent involving few-
er than 150 workers.  These events, however, accounted for only 33 percent of
all separations.  (See table E.)  Separations involving 500 or more workers,
while comprising 4 percent of the events, accounted for 19 percent of all
separations, down from 27 percent in October-December 2004.  The average size
of layoffs (as measured by separations per layoff event) differed widely by
industry, ranging from a low of 65 separations in electronics and appliance
stores to a high of 677 in nonstore retailers.
  
Initial Claimant Characteristics

   A total of 178,896 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with extended mass layoffs in the fourth quarter of 2005.  Of
these claimants, 12 percent were black, 15 percent were Hispanic, 31 per-
cent were women, 36 percent were 30 to 44 years of age, and 16 percent
were 55 years of age or older.  (See table 3.)  Among persons in the civ-
ilian labor force for the same period, 11 percent were black, 13 percent
were Hispanic, 47 percent were women, 35 percent were age 30 to 44, and
17 percent were 55 years of age or older.
  
Geographic Distribution
  
   In the fourth quarter, the number of separations due to extended mass
layoff events was highest in the Midwest (106,095), followed by the South
(39,487), the West (38,487), and the Northeast (33,734).  (See table 4.)
Extended mass layoffs in the Midwest were mainly in heavy and civil engi-
neering construction and in specialty trade contractors.
   
   All four regions reported over-the-year decreases in separations, with
the largest decrease occurring in the West (-29,298), followed by the
Northeast (-14,727), the South (-7,541), and the Midwest (-4,598).  Seven
of the nine geographic divisions reported over-the-year declines in laid-
off workers, with the largest declines occurring in the Pacific (-27,068)
and Middle Atlantic (-12,752) divisions.  The West South Central division
reported the largest increase in separations (+1,140).
   
                                  - 7 -

Table F.  Mass layoff events and separations, selected metropolitan areas
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           |     Events    |    Separations
            Metropolitan area              |---------------|------------------
                                           |   IV  |  IV   |   IV    |  IV 
                                           |  2004 | 2005p |  2004   | 2005p
-------------------------------------------|-------|------ |---------|--------
Total, nonmetropolitan areas...............|  205  |  208  |  34,595 | 30,980
                                           |       |       |         |
Total, 367 metropolitan areas..............|  804  |  746  | 141,366 |121,969
                                           |       |       |         |
   Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-   |       |       |         |
     Wis. .................................|   89  |   86  |  17,869 | 16,034
   New York-Northern New Jersey-Long       |       |       |         |        
     Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ................|   69  |   63  |  10,505 |  7,905
   New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, La. .......|    5  |   15  |   1,235 |  6,579
   Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich. ..........|   36  |   45  |   5,060 |  6,000
   Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington,       |       |       |         |       
     Minn.-Wis. ...........................|   33  |   40  |   4,794 |  5,824                                   
   Medford, Ore. ..........................|  (1)  |  (1)  |    (1)  |   (1)                                   
   Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, Ohio ..........|   11  |   15  |   1,051 |  3,175
   St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. ....................|    5  |   11  |   2,428 |  2,524 
   Columbus, Ohio .........................|    6  |    9  |     464 |  1,825
   Louisville, Ky. ........................|    7  |    9  |   1,022 |  1,815                                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1 = Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE:  The geographic boundaries of the metropolitan areas shown in
this table are defined in Office of Management and Budget Bulletin 04-03,
February 18, 2004.

   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the largest number
of worker separations occurred in Illinois (32,967), followed by Ohio
(19,640), New York (14,268), and Michigan (14,107).  These four states
accounted for 37 percent of total layoff events and separations during
the fourth quarter of 2005.  They were followed by California (13,959),
Florida (12,824), Minnesota (12,646), and Wisconsin (7,967).  (See table 5.)
After excluding the substantial impact of seasonal work, Illinois reported
the most laid-off workers (12,510), largely due to layoffs in administrative
and support services.
   
   Over the year, California reported the greatest decrease in workers laid
off for all reasons during the fourth quarter (-26,923), followed by Wiscon-
sin (-6,948) and Florida (-6,434).  The largest increases occurred in Ohio
(+8,900), Louisiana (+3,317), and Oregon (+1,492).
   
   Fifty-seven percent of events and 56 percent of separations (121,969)
occurred in metropolitan areas in the fourth quarter of 2005, compared
with 56 percent of events and 52 percent of separations (141,366) during
the fourth quarter of 2004.  Among the 367 metropolitan areas, Chicago-
Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis., reported the highest number of separa-
tions, 16,034, in the fourth quarter of 2005.  Next were New York-Northern
New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., with 7,905 separations, and New
Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, La., with 6,579 separations.  (See table F.)  Em-
ployers located in nonmetropolitan areas separated 30,980 workers in mass
layoffs, down from 34,595 workers in the fourth quarter of 2004.

                                  - 8 -

Table G.  Selected measures of mass layoff activity, 1996-2005
---------------------------------------------------------------------
     Period      | Layoff events |  Separations  | Initial claimants
-----------------|---------------|---------------|-------------------
1996.............|     4,760     |     948,122   |     805,810        
1997.............|     4,671     |     947,843   |     879,831        
1998.............|     4,859     |     991,245   |   1,056,462       
1999.............|     4,556     |     901,451   |     796,917        
2000.............|     4,591     |     915,962   |     846,267        
2001.............|     7,375     |   1,524,832   |   1,457,512        
2002.............|     6,337     |   1,272,331   |   1,218,143  
2003.............|     6,181     |   1,216,886   |   1,200,811  
2004.............|     5,010     |     993,909   |     903,079  
2005(p)..........|     4,780     |     851,997   |     766,123  
---------------------------------------------------------------------
  p = preliminary.

Review of 2005
  
   For all of 2005, employers reported 4,780 extended mass layoff actions,
affecting 851,997 workers, down from 5,010 events and 993,909 separations
in 2004.  The total number of separations for 2005 was the lowest for any
year since annual totals became available in 1996.  Compared to their peak
levels in 2001, the number of events was down by 35 percent and the number
of separations was down by 44 percent.  (See table G.)  The annual average
national unemployment rate decreased from 5.5 percent in 2004 to 5.1 percent
in 2005, while private nonfarm payroll employment increased by 1.7 percent,
or 1,847,000 jobs.

   Eleven percent of extended events in 2005 were permanent closures,
accounting for 102,788 worker separations.  When compared with 2004, the
share of total extended mass layoff events that resulted in a permanent
worksite closure fell by 4 percentage points, as did the respective share
of the associated separations.  Both the total number of permanent closures
and the associated separations reached series lows in 2005.  Since 2001,
when permanent closures were at their highest, the number of closures has
fallen by 56 percent and the number of associated separations has declined
by 73 percent.  During 2005, permanent closures were most numerous in the
manufacturing sector, primarily in transportation equipment manufacturing
and food production.  Reorganization within the company was most often
cited as the reason for closures in manufacturing during 2005, accounting
for 38 percent of the total closures.
  
   In 2005, employers expected a recall in 56 percent of the mass layoff
events, higher than in 2004 when employers expected a recall in 51 percent
of events.  Employers in mining, construction, and arts, entertainment, and
recreation were more likely to have some type of recall than were those in
other industries.  Employers in the finance and insurance sector had the
lowest percentage of recall expectation (8 percent), followed by those in
the information sector (17 percent).
  
   Of the layoff events where employers did not expect to recall laid-off
workers, 34 percent were in the manufacturing sector.  These occurred pri-
marily in transportation equipment and computer and electronic products.
  
   Industry.  Manufacturing had the largest share of both extended events
and separations in 2005--26 and 25 percent, respectively.  However, these
were the smallest shares on record for this industry group.  Since reaching
a peak in 2001, the number of manufacturing events has declined by 62 percent
and the number of separations has declined by 66 percent.  In 2005, within
manufacturing, separations were most numerous in food manufacturing (48,944,
largely in fruit and vegetable processing) and transportation equipment
(41,474, mostly in automobile manufacturing).  Compared with 2004, 17 of the
21 manufacturing subgroups had declines in the number of separations, with
the largest occurring in food production (-15,106) and apparel manufacturing
(-4,845).  Wood products manufacturing had the largest increase (+2,708),
followed by machinery (+2,568).

                                  - 9 -

   Reason.  In 2005, seasonal work continued to be the most-cited reason for
layoff, accounting for 37 percent of all layoff events and 40 percent of
all separations.  A year earlier, seasonal layoffs accounted for 33 percent
of events and 34 percent of separations.  The seasonal layoffs in 2005 oc-
curred primarily in establishments engaged in heavy and civil engineering
construction, amusements, gambling and recreation, and food manufacturing.
  
   Layoff activity due to internal company restructuring occurred largely
among transportation equipment manufacturing, credit intermediation and
related activities, air transportation, and food and beverage stores.
Internal company restructuring occurred in 759 events (16 percent of the
total), resulting in the separation of 145,352 workers (17 percent of the
total).
  
   Movement of work.  In 2005, there were 266 extended mass layoff events
that involved work moving within the same company or to a different company,
domestically or out of the U.S.  The events involving movement of work were
associated with the separation of 51,920 workers, about 10 percent of all
separations resulting from nonseasonal/nonvacation mass layoff events.  Fifty-
four percent of events with movement of work involved the permanent closure
of a worksite, affecting 26,991 workers.  More than two-thirds of the events
and separations were in manufacturing industries, mostly in transportation
equipment manufacturing.  Employers citing internal company restructuring
(bankruptcy, business ownership change, financial difficulty, and reorgani-
zation) accounted for over two-thirds of the movement-of-work events and sepa-
rations.  Among the regions, the Midwest accounted for the largest proportion
of laid-off workers associated with the movement of work (31 percent), fol-
lowed by the South (30 percent), the West (21 percent), and the Northeast
(18 percent).
  
   As part of the 266 layoff events, 344 identifiable movement-of-work actions
were taken by employers.  Employers were able to provide information on specif-
ic separations associated with the movement-of-work component of the layoff
in 252 actions, which totaled 33,255 laid-off workers.  Thus, the number of
separations due to the movement of work ranged between 33,255 (separations in
movement-of-work actions where the employer was able to provide specific de-
tail) to 51,920 (total separations in all layoff events that included move-
ment of work) for 2005.
  
   Of the 252 movement-of-work actions for which complete information is
available, 6 in 10 relocations were to other locations within the U.S., and
nearly 8 in 10 involved moving work within the company.  The separation of
11,375 workers was associated with out-of-country relocations, which accounted
for 34 percent of the separations related to the movement of work and 2 per-
cent of all separations in nonseasonal/nonvacation extended mass layoff events.
In out-of-country relocations, Mexico and China were cited 69 percent of the
time as the destination to which work moved.  Domestic relocation of work--
both within the company and to other companies--affected 21,186 workers.

   Geographic distribution.  The Midwest reported more laid-off workers in
2005 than any other region, 294,762.  Layoffs in the Midwest were mainly
in heavy and civil engineering construction and administrative and support
services and were primarily attributed to seasonal factors.  The Northeast
region continued to report the lowest annual number of separations (160,445).
Compared with 2004, three of the four geographic regions reported a decrease
in laid-off workers, with the largest decline in the West (-116,424).  The
South had the only over-the-year increase (+18,575).
  
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Illinois reported the
largest number of separated workers in 2005 (101,106).  After Illinois were
California (80,361), New York (67,276), and Florida (65,860).  These four
states accounted for 34 percent of events and 37 percent of separations in
2005.  California had the largest over-the-year decline in the number of
separations (-126,426); Louisiana recorded the largest over-the-year increase
(+47,288).  Over 90 percent of the increase in Louisiana occurred in the third
quarter and was related to the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

                                  - 10 -

Table H.  Hurricanes Katrina-and Rita-related mass layoff
activity in Louisiana and Mississippi, September-December
2005p
---------------------------------------------------------       
     Measure     | Total potential |  Extended mass
                 |   mass layoffs  |   layoffs (1)
-----------------|-----------------|---------------------                        
Events ..........|         964     |         358           
Initial claims ..|     136,930     |      47,767           
Separations .....|       (2)       |      56,310          
---------------------------------------------------------                
  1 = Includes private nonfarm establishments only.
  2 = Separations are not available.
  p = preliminary.
  
   Fifty-nine percent of events and 53 percent of separations occurred in metro-
politan areas in 2005, compared with 56 percent of events and 47 percent of
separations in 2004.  Among the 367 metropolitan areas, New Orleans-Metairie-
Kenner, La., reported the highest number of separations, 48,542, with most re-
lated to the hurricanes.  Next were New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island,
N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., with 44,931 separations, and Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-
Ind.-Wis., with 41,946.  Employers located in nonmetropolitan areas separated
105,330 workers in extended mass layoffs during 2005, down from 110,186 workers
in 2004.

   Impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  The impacts of Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita were seen in the Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program through initial
claims filings against establishments in the most severely affected states--
Louisiana and Mississippi.  Total potential events in the period from August 28
through December 31 reached 964, with 136,930 initial claims filed.  Private
nonfarm extended mass layoffs directly or indirectly due to Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita totaled 358 events and 56,310 separations in the period.  (See table
H.)  The majority of the extended mass layoff activity (96 percent of the e-
vents and 88 percent of the separations) occurred in September, and all of the
events were from Louisiana and Mississippi employers.  Accommodation and food
service establishments reported the highest number of worker separations due
to the hurricanes, followed by retail trade and healthcare and social assist-
ance.

   Extended mass layoff events accounted for 37 percent of the mass layoff
events potentially related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (358 of 964) in
the 4 month period.  It is important to note that the 964 potential events
include 99 from government agencies which are not subject to the MLS em-
ployer interview.  Also, in response to the interview, many employers re-
sponded that the layoff was temporary (less than 31 days) or did not occur
at all.
     
Note
  
   The quarterly series on extended mass layoffs cover layoffs of at least
31-days duration that involve 50 or more individuals from a single establish-
ment filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a consecutive
5-week period.  Approximately 30 days after a mass layoff is triggered at an
establishment, the employer is contacted for additional information.  Data
for the fourth quarter are preliminary and subject to revision.  This release
also includes revised data for previous quarters.  Data are not seasonally
adjusted, but survey data suggest that there is a seasonal pattern to layoffs.
Thus, comparisons between consecutive quarters should not be used as an indi-
cator of trend.
  
   For additional information about the program, see the Technical Note.
     
     
                      ______________________________
     
     
   The report on Mass Layoffs in January 2006 is scheduled to be released
on Thursday, February 23, 2006.





                                  - 11 -

Technical Note
 

   The  Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state program 
which identifies, describes, and tracks the effects of major job cutbacks, 
using data from each state's unemployment insurance database.  Establish-
ments 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, gender, 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.

Definitions
   
   Establishment.  A unit at a single physical location at which predomi-
nantly one type of economic activity is conducted.
   
   Extended layoff event.  Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment
insurance benefits from an establishment during a 5-week period, with at
least 50 workers separated for more than 30 days.
   
   Initial claimant.  A person who files any notice of unemployment to
initiate a request either for a determination of entitlement to and
eligibility for compensation, or for a subsequent period of unemployment
within a benefit year or period of eligibility.
   
   Layoff.  The separation of persons from an employer as part of a mass
layoff event.  (See below.)  Such layoffs involve both persons subject to
recall and those who are terminated by the establishment.
   
   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 complete 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.

                                  - 12 -

Movement of work concepts and questions
   
   Because of the employer interview component, the BLS decided to use 
the MLS program as a vehicle for collecting additional information on
offshoring and outsourcing associated with job loss, by adding questions
that address movement of work.  The term "moving work" means that the
company experiencing the layoff has reassigned work activities that were
performed at a worksite by the company's employees (1) to another work-
site within the company; (2) to another company under formal arrangements 
at the same worksite; or (3) to another company under formal arrangements 
at another worksite.  The type of work activities subject to movement can
include accounting, customer service, cleaning, warehousing, etc.
   
   "Overseas relocation" is the movement of work from within the U.S. to
locations outside of the U.S. "Overseas relocation" can occur within the
same company and involve movement of work to a different location of that
company outside of the U.S., or to a different company altogether.

   "Domestic relocation" is the movement of work to other locations inside 
the U.S., either within the same company or to a different company.
  
   "Overseas relocation" and "domestic relocation" are no longer used in the
same way as they were in earlier extended mass layoff news releases.  There-
fore, the data presented in this news release are not comparable to those 
that were presented in earlier news releases.
   
   Questions on movement of work and location are asked for all identified
layoff events when the reason for separation is other than "seasonal work"
or "vacation period."  Seasonal and vacation layoff events were excluded
because movement of work appears unlikely.
   
   Questions on movement of work are asked after the analyst verifies that 
a layoff in fact occurred and lasted more than 30 days, and obtained the
total number of workers separated from jobs, the date the layoff began, and
the economic reason for the layoff.  If the reason for layoff is other than
seasonal or vacation, the employer was asked the following:
  
   (1) "Did this layoff include your company moving work from this lo-
cation(s) to a different geographic location(s) within your company?"
  
   (2) "Did this layoff include your company moving work that was performed
in-house by your employees to a different company, through contractual ar-
rangements?"
  
   A "yes" response to either question is followed by:
  
   "Is the location inside or outside of the U.S.?" and "How many of the
layoffs were a result of this relocation?"
  
   Layoff actions are classified as "overseas relocation" if the employer
responds "yes" to questions 1 and/or 2, and indicates that the location(s)
was outside of the U.S.  Domestic relocation is determined if the employer
responds "yes" to questions 1 and/or 2 and indicates that the location(s)
was within the U.S.
  
   After asking the movement of work questions, the employer interview
continues and responses are obtained for questions on recall expectations
and open/closed status of the worksite.

                                  - 13 - 
Reliability of the data
   
   The identification of establishments and layoff events in the MLS 
program and associated characteristics of claimants is based on admin-
istrative data on covered establishments and unemployment insurance claims, 
and, therefore, is not subject to issues associated with sampling error.
Nonsampling errors such as typographical errors may occur but are not
likely to be significant.  While the MLS establishments and layoff events
are not subject to sampling error, and all such employers are asked the
employer interview questions, the employer responses are subject to non-
sampling error.  Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including
the inability to obtain information for all respondents, inability or
unwillingness of respondents to provide correct information, and errors
made in the collection or processing of the data.  For the fourth quarter
of 2005, outright refusal to participate in the employer interview accounted 
for 2.4 percent of all private nonfarm events.  Although included in the 
total number of instances involving the movement of work, for the fourth
quarter, employers in 23 relocations were unable to provide the number of 
separations specifically associated with the movement of work, 14 of which 
involved out-of-country moves.
 
Other information
   
   Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.

    
 
 

Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

                                                                                                            Initial claimants for  
                                                        Layoff events               Separations            unemployment insurance  
                     Industry                                                                                                      
                                                     IV      III     IV        IV       III      IV         IV       III      IV   
                                                    2004    2005r   2005p     2004     2005r    2005p      2004     2005r    2005p 


      Total, private nonfarm(1) ..................  1,427   1,136   1,299    273,967  201,276  217,803    262,049  189,443  178,896

    Mining .......................................     24       4      25      3,915    1,312    3,068      3,508    1,001    2,510
    Utilities ....................................      6   ( 2 )       3      2,153    ( 2 )      519      1,730    ( 2 )      454
    Construction .................................    418      90     452     61,066   10,507   60,935     67,029   14,721   53,907
    Manufacturing ................................    439     292     364     84,535   55,848   61,766     88,664   56,243   57,684
         Food ....................................    109      50      83     26,473   10,214   16,274     23,241    8,786   13,833
         Beverage and tobacco products ...........      8   ( 2 )       5      2,455    ( 2 )      784      1,158    ( 2 )      568
         Textile mills ...........................      6      12      13        771    1,805    1,392      1,832    2,480    1,643
         Textile product mills ...................      3       6   ( 2 )        350      619    ( 2 )        385      851    ( 2 )
         Apparel .................................     16      13       8      3,940    1,459    2,075      2,700    1,616      924
         Leather and allied products .............      3   ( 2 )   ( 2 )        584    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        733    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
         Wood products ...........................     10      11      15      1,358    2,828    1,740      2,036    2,822    1,535
         Paper ...................................     12       9       8      1,423    1,174    1,143      1,212      984      805
         Printing and related support activities .      4       7       7        611      662    1,027        805      589      612
         Petroleum and coal products .............     16       -      16      2,389        -    2,285      2,695        -    2,280

         Chemicals  ..............................     11      10       9      1,417    1,901    1,458      1,451    1,821    1,197
         Plastics and rubber products ............     20       7      23      2,087      770    2,445      2,440      721    2,397
         Nonmetallic mineral products ............     34      12      35      5,409    1,433    5,862      6,365    1,631    5,512
         Primary metals ..........................     15       6      10      2,395    1,562    2,292      1,915      898    1,102
         Fabricated metal products ...............     23      25      11      3,368    2,623    1,342      3,575    2,978    1,036
         Machinery ...............................     17      26       7      2,528    6,079    1,112      3,084    6,335    1,108
         Computer and electronic products ........     27      21      20      4,791    4,259    3,729      4,144    3,126    2,666
         Electrical equipment and appliances .....     17       9   ( 2 )      5,149    4,604    ( 2 )      7,091    4,607    ( 2 )
         Transportation equipment ................     54      46      64     11,815    9,715   12,850     16,427   11,629   17,006
         Furniture and related products ..........     23       9      15      3,540    2,235    1,872      3,501    2,266    1,798
         Miscellaneous manufacturing .............     11      10       6      1,682    1,437      769      1,874    1,605      758

    Wholesale trade ..............................     17      36      21      4,019    4,561    2,674      2,519    4,030    2,828
    Retail trade .................................     53     112      61     21,377   20,902   16,885     14,926   19,512    8,747
    Transportation and warehousing ...............     33      87      31      6,003   17,820    5,949      7,169   15,750    4,465
    Information ..................................     46      26      18      8,416    3,425    3,397      9,144    3,265    2,957
    Finance and insurance ........................     31      25      15      6,045    5,029    2,276      5,341    5,178    1,938
    Real estate and rental and leasing ...........      3       7   ( 2 )      1,383      562    ( 2 )        970      978    ( 2 )
    Professional and technical services ..........     28      34      32      6,189    5,029    5,036      5,850    5,519    5,008
    Management of companies and enterprises ......      4   ( 2 )       3      1,581    ( 2 )      566        995    ( 2 )      466
    Administrative and waste services ............    153     121     147     28,401   22,670   23,830     25,775   22,413   20,746
    Educational services .........................      -      13   ( 2 )          -    2,390    ( 2 )          -    2,117    ( 2 )
    Health care and social assistance ............     31      94      19      7,467   11,064    4,497      5,049    9,377    2,549
    Arts, entertainment, and recreation ..........     46      32      40      8,875   13,985    9,434      5,916    6,386    4,875
    Accommodation and food services ..............     83     139      56     19,782   23,075   13,049     15,691   20,172    8,030
    Other services, except public administration .     10      18       9      2,357    2,285    1,551      1,641    2,099    1,058

    Unclassified .................................      2       1       -        403      178        -        132      178        -


    1 For the fourth quarter of 2005, data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia. Due to
budget constraints in the MLS program, beginning with data for the first quarter of 2004, the scope of quarterly extended mass
layoffs and plant closings has been redefined to cover only the private nonfarm economy. Quarterly information on layoff events in
agriculture and government are no longer being collected. However, the monthly reporting of the MLS program in the release, Mass
Layoffs, which is based only on administrative data, will be unaffected and will continue to cover the total economy.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.





Table 2. Reason for layoff: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

                                                                                                        Initial claimants for    
                                           Layoff events                    Separations                unemployment insurance    
         Reason for layoff                                                                                                       
                                      IV        III       IV          IV        III       IV           IV        III       IV    
                                     2004      2005r     2005p       2004      2005r     2005p        2004      2005r     2005p  


   Total, private nonfarm(1) .....   1,427     1,136     1,299      273,967   201,276   217,803      262,049   189,443   178,896

Automation .......................   ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -        ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -        ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -
Bankruptcy .......................      25        16        24        3,965     5,864     4,636        2,697     4,570     3,356
Business ownership change ........      28        29        14        4,743     5,298     2,282        3,811     4,628     1,685
Contract cancellation ............      23        19        16        4,164     3,309     2,452        2,977     2,869     1,393
Contract completed ...............     187       165       151       36,520    25,849    23,739       38,110    31,161    23,170
Energy-related ...................       -     ( 2 )     ( 2 )            -     ( 2 )     ( 2 )            -     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Environment-related ..............   ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )
Financial difficulty .............      48        32        29       10,373     6,200     5,752        7,540     5,667     3,751
Import competition ...............      13        14        16        1,709     3,568     2,712        1,661     3,320     2,337
Labor dispute ....................      13        11     ( 2 )        5,824     6,365     ( 2 )        4,814     5,200     ( 2 )
Material shortage ................   ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )

Model changeover .................       -         3         3            -     1,655       767            -     2,250       360
Natural disaster .................       -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -
Non-natural disaster .............   ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -        ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -        ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -
Plant or machine repair ..........       5         3     ( 2 )          600       280     ( 2 )          588       310     ( 2 )
Product line discontinued ........       6        10        13        1,496     1,493     2,007        1,388     1,430     1,282
Reorganization within company ....     116       104        94       23,945    20,616    16,061       22,349    19,958    14,594
Seasonal work ....................     667       174       725      129,859    36,992   123,288      111,692    26,964    91,237
Slack work .......................     166       117       125       22,196    16,426    15,790       38,246    20,618    21,885
Vacation period ..................       -         9     ( 2 )            -       662     ( 2 )            -       627     ( 2 )
Weather-related ..................      32       344        24        4,217    49,832     7,528        3,785    45,473     3,569
Other ............................      38        26        16        8,491     4,949     2,183        7,069     2,793     1,790
Not reported .....................      55        54        40       14,780    10,757     7,051       14,611    10,686     7,051


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.





Table 3. State and selected claimant characteristics: Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 
private nonfarm sector, third and fourth quarters, 2005

                                                          Total                                 Percent of total                         
                                                         initial                            Hispanic                       Persons age 55
                                  Layoff events         claimants           Black            origin           Women           and over   
              State                                                                                                                      
                                   III     IV         III      IV         III    IV        III    IV        III    IV        III    IV  
                                  2005r   2005p      2005r    2005p      2005r  2005p     2005r  2005p     2005r  2005p     2005r  2005p 

    Total, private nonfarm(1) ..  1,136   1,299     189,443  178,896      26.4   11.6      10.6   14.6      47.3   30.7      16.6   16.3

Alabama ........................      3       6         384      622      61.5   35.4       2.3    2.1      43.8   29.7      25.8   20.9
Alaska .........................      3       8         756    1,282       2.0    4.1      22.8   23.5      29.9   25.2      18.4   12.5
Arizona ........................      3   ( 2 )         787    ( 2 )       1.4    7.1      53.1   25.0      20.6   30.4      27.3   16.1
Arkansas .......................  ( 2 )   ( 2 )       ( 2 )    ( 2 )      64.2   21.6         -      -      88.7   72.2      24.5   20.6
California .....................     87      79      13,199   10,461      10.3    6.7      31.1   45.6      50.5   50.8      18.7   17.4
Colorado .......................      5      18         705    2,169       3.7    1.8      14.2   37.2      32.6   18.9      24.5   17.9
Connecticut ....................      9       8         980      904      11.7   10.3      11.8    7.4      59.2   27.0      21.1   15.6
Delaware .......................      -       -           -        -         -      -         -      -         -      -         -      -
District of Columbia ...........  ( 2 )       -       ( 2 )        -      28.6      -      26.4      -      48.4      -      20.9      -
Florida ........................     78      74      14,659   10,476      15.7   15.3      30.6   30.6      48.7   46.2      17.5   18.2
Georgia ........................     13      15       2,224    1,780      48.6   68.2        .4     .5      60.8   58.6      15.6   15.6
Hawaii .........................      3       3         359      300       2.5    1.0      13.6   22.0      40.4    5.3      18.9    8.7
Idaho ..........................      7      18       1,143    2,362        .5     .1      28.6   22.9      59.4   39.9      23.9   18.9

Illinois .......................     75     164      15,346   21,335      24.5   14.9      11.5   21.9      40.2   24.5      14.9   12.7
Indiana ........................     10      42       3,669    5,263      10.1   10.2       1.3    4.0      31.9   20.9      15.4   10.8
Iowa ...........................      3      34       1,713    4,317       1.5    1.9        .6    5.4      39.8   13.4      10.7   19.0
Kansas .........................      5       4         500      630       8.6    3.8       5.4    8.6      28.6   13.2      12.0   16.8
Kentucky .......................     15      24       1,616    2,324      13.4    8.8        .2     .1      47.8   28.0      16.0   16.4
Louisiana ......................    331      18      41,600    2,751      58.7   64.2       4.3    3.9      59.1   63.9      10.9    4.8
Maine ..........................      3       4         315      647       1.6     .3         -     .2      73.0   18.9      18.4   19.2
Maryland .......................  ( 2 )   ( 2 )       ( 2 )    ( 2 )      29.6    7.7        .3      -      32.6    6.2      22.0   10.8
Massachusetts ..................     19      16       2,893    2,154       8.3    5.5       2.3    7.9      50.9   31.0      20.9   24.3
Michigan .......................     38     107       8,339   17,405      13.7   13.0       2.6    7.5      37.7   26.9      14.7   13.1
Minnesota ......................     19      84       4,752   10,336       3.4    2.0       1.9   11.6      21.5   18.0      17.2   16.5
Mississippi ....................     45   ( 2 )       8,941    ( 2 )      43.7   29.0      10.3    3.8      56.3   58.0      15.1   13.7
Missouri .......................     12      27       1,419    5,926      38.0    9.1       1.0     .4      62.0   32.8      23.5   23.3

Montana ........................  ( 2 )      11       ( 2 )      969        .4     .3       1.8    3.5      14.7   12.3      26.7   17.9
Nebraska .......................  ( 2 )      11       ( 2 )      964       1.7    4.9      25.6   16.8      22.3   19.4       9.1   19.9
Nevada .........................  ( 2 )       5       ( 2 )      433       5.3   12.7      16.2   17.6      28.7   47.8      28.7   25.9
New Hampshire ..................      3       5         281      936       1.1    1.5       6.4   25.0      54.8   23.4      24.6   15.6
New Jersey .....................     34      32       5,173    3,741      21.8   14.2      10.9   15.0      49.1   35.7      28.7   26.5
New Mexico .....................  ( 2 )   ( 2 )       ( 2 )    ( 2 )       5.0      -      15.0   90.8      26.7   40.6      11.7   20.8
New York .......................     94      99      15,757   13,534      14.5    7.6      11.5    6.8      44.7   22.4      18.8   17.1
North Carolina .................     20      21       6,363    2,308      31.8   35.8       3.6    5.4      49.0   47.6      20.1   24.1
North Dakota ...................      -       6           -      744         -     .1         -    3.1         -    7.0         -   16.9
Ohio ...........................     38     105       7,238   13,666      12.2    9.4       1.6    2.9      39.3   20.4      15.3   13.0
Oklahoma .......................  ( 2 )       3       ( 2 )      590      18.1    6.9       4.0   15.9      30.7   43.9      11.6   31.7
Oregon .........................      6      10         994    2,659        .5     .8      30.3   36.3      54.8   55.9      22.5   18.9
Pennsylvania ...................     65      64      12,191   11,077       6.0    9.0       2.0    2.8      37.5   42.0      20.8   20.9

Rhode Island ...................  ( 2 )   ( 2 )       ( 2 )    ( 2 )       1.7    1.4       6.7    8.6      95.0   14.1      25.0   13.6
South Carolina .................     10      10       1,779    1,855      54.5   53.4        .3     .2      61.6   53.1       5.1   11.2
South Dakota ...................      -   ( 2 )           -    ( 2 )         -    1.8         -     .9         -    5.5         -   20.0
Tennessee ......................     12      11       2,650    1,243      13.0   25.5         -      -      50.6   35.8      31.3   28.1
Texas ..........................     21      22       3,321    3,722      17.0   19.8      39.3   32.1      35.4   33.8      16.7   14.9
Utah ...........................  ( 2 )       9       ( 2 )      994       4.3    1.4      26.9   14.2      60.7   21.7       5.6   10.3
Vermont ........................      -       5           -      468         -      -         -     .4         -   18.8         -   20.1
Virginia .......................     10      16       1,307    1,615      44.5   40.1       2.0    5.8      45.4   49.7      18.2   17.5
Washington .....................      9      30       1,069    5,048       5.6    3.1       5.1   35.4      32.5   35.5      23.9   16.9
West Virginia ..................      3   ( 2 )         435    ( 2 )        .2    4.6         -      -      10.6   31.2      12.9   15.6
Wisconsin ......................     11      57       2,649    7,625       6.7    2.5      16.7   12.2      29.0   18.0      20.1   14.4
Wyoming ........................      -   ( 2 )           -    ( 2 )         -     .5         -      -         -   37.4         -   46.3

Puerto Rico ....................      6      11       2,104    1,601     ( 3 )  ( 3 )     ( 3 )  ( 3 )      61.7   52.0       6.3   10.9


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    3 Data are not available.       
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.





Table 4. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

                                                                                                    Initial claimants for   
                                        Layoff events                    Separations               unemployment insurance   
   Census region and division                                                                                               

                                   IV        III       IV           IV       III       IV           IV       III      IV   
                                  2004      2005r     2005p        2004     2005r     2005p        2004     2005r    2005p  

        United States(1) ......   1,427     1,136     1,299      273,967   201,276   217,803      262,049  189,443  178,896

Northeast .....................     298       228       235       48,461    31,395    33,734       58,044   37,650   33,681

    New England ...............      51        35        40        9,800     4,443     7,825        8,110    4,529    5,329
    Middle Atlantic ...........     247       193       195       38,661    26,952    25,909       49,934   33,121   28,352

South .........................     265       567       225       47,028    93,317    39,487       42,867   86,124   29,688

    South Atlantic ............     166       137       138       30,802    29,580    22,042       26,399   27,162   18,208
    East South Central ........      40        75        43        6,502    16,061     6,581        5,361   13,591    4,320
    West South Central ........      59       355        44        9,724    47,676    10,864       11,107   45,371    7,160

Midwest .......................     608       213       643      110,693    46,876   106,095      113,135   45,746   88,321

    East North Central ........     441       172       475       82,685    36,626    79,845       85,505   37,241   65,294
    West North Central ........     167        41       168       28,008    10,250    26,250       27,630    8,505   23,027

West ..........................     256       128       196       67,785    29,688    38,487       48,003   19,923   27,206

    Mountain ..................      57        20        66       14,495     8,191    12,265        8,136    3,546    7,456
    Pacific ...................     199       108       130       53,290    21,497    26,222       39,867   16,377   19,750


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the 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 5. State distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

                                                                                                        Initial claimants for    
                                           Layoff events                    Separations                 unemployment insurance    
           State                                                                                                                 
                                      IV        III       IV          IV        III       IV           IV        III       IV    
                                     2004      2005r     2005p       2004      2005r     2005p        2004      2005r     2005p  

    Total, private nonfarm(1) ..     1,427     1,136     1,299      273,967   201,276   217,803      262,049   189,443   178,896

Alabama ........................         4         3         6        1,005       444       806        1,005       384       622
Alaska .........................        10         3         8        1,451       670     2,138        1,451       756     1,282
Arizona ........................         8         3     ( 2 )        2,034     1,406     ( 2 )        1,244       787     ( 2 )
Arkansas .......................         4     ( 2 )     ( 2 )          651     ( 2 )     ( 2 )          368     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
California .....................       131        87        79       40,882    16,921    13,959       28,771    13,199    10,461
Colorado .......................        22         5        18        5,507     4,691     3,297        2,866       705     2,169
Connecticut ....................         6         9         8        1,498     1,382     1,426        1,091       980       904
Delaware .......................         -         -         -            -         -         -            -         -         -
District of Columbia ...........         -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -
Florida ........................       106        78        74       19,258    18,156    12,824       16,200    14,659    10,476
Georgia ........................        13        13        15        1,239     1,002     1,893        2,160     2,224     1,780
Hawaii .........................         5         3         3          487       336       308          419       359       300
Idaho ..........................        10         7        18        1,435     1,185     2,645        1,946     1,143     2,362

Illinois .......................       155        75       164       36,251    16,862    32,967       29,161    15,346    21,335
Indiana ........................        34        10        42        5,021     2,614     5,164        8,529     3,669     5,263
Iowa ...........................        35         3        34        4,708     1,510     4,911        6,533     1,713     4,317
Kansas .........................        11         5         4        2,160       548       875        1,816       500       630
Kentucky .......................        24        15        24        3,091     2,613     3,898        2,678     1,616     2,324
Louisiana ......................        19       331        18        3,665    44,614     6,982        2,207    41,600     2,751
Maine ..........................         7         3         4        3,558       207     2,645        1,943       315       647
Maryland .......................     ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Massachusetts ..................        22        19        16        2,886     2,461     2,077        3,191     2,893     2,154
Michigan .......................        92        38       107       15,758     7,530    14,107       19,338     8,339    17,405
Minnesota ......................        81        19        84       12,553     5,571    12,646       12,510     4,752    10,336
Mississippi ....................         4        45     ( 2 )          265     9,691     ( 2 )          261     8,941     ( 2 )
Missouri .......................        22        12        27        5,384     2,301     5,951        4,562     1,419     5,926

Montana ........................         5     ( 2 )        11          647     ( 2 )     1,136          444     ( 2 )       969
Nebraska .......................         9     ( 2 )        11        1,030     ( 2 )       998          902     ( 2 )       964
Nevada .........................         4     ( 2 )         5          410     ( 2 )       505          326     ( 2 )       433
New Hampshire ..................         7         3         5          804       333       981          804       281       936
New Jersey .....................        44        34        32        7,255     6,195     4,264        7,732     5,173     3,741
New Mexico .....................         3     ( 2 )     ( 2 )          655     ( 2 )     ( 2 )          655     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
New York .......................       116        94        99       18,846    14,132    14,268       20,347    15,757    13,534
North Carolina .................        17        20        21        3,030     5,906     2,308        2,087     6,363     2,308
North Dakota ...................         8         -         6        1,173         -       744        1,173         -       744
Ohio ...........................        80        38       105       10,740     7,018    19,640       12,397     7,238    13,666
Oklahoma .......................         4     ( 2 )         3          407     ( 2 )       361          642     ( 2 )       590
Oregon .........................        21         6        10        4,293     1,653     5,785        3,980       994     2,659
Pennsylvania ...................        87        65        64       12,560     6,625     7,377       21,855    12,191    11,077

Rhode Island ...................         6     ( 2 )     ( 2 )          685     ( 2 )     ( 2 )          712     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
South Carolina .................         6        10        10        1,094     1,408     1,898        1,129     1,779     1,855
South Dakota ...................     ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )
Tennessee ......................         8        12        11        2,141     3,313     1,739        1,417     2,650     1,243
Texas ..........................        32        21        22        5,001     2,581     3,310        7,890     3,321     3,722
Utah ...........................         3     ( 2 )         9          457     ( 2 )     1,638          358     ( 2 )       994
Vermont ........................         3         -         5          369         -       468          369         -       468
Virginia .......................        14        10        16        3,568     1,300     2,808        3,155     1,307     1,615
Washington .....................        32         9        30        6,177     1,917     4,032        5,246     1,069     5,048
West Virginia ..................         8         3     ( 2 )        1,848     1,067     ( 2 )        1,207       435     ( 2 )
Wisconsin ......................        80        11        57       14,915     2,602     7,967       16,080     2,649     7,625
Wyoming ........................     ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )

Puerto Rico ....................         4         6        11          284       480     1,411        1,471     2,104     1,601


    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 6. Information technology-producing industries: Extended mass layoff events and separations, private nonfarm sector, 1998-2005

                                                                 Information technology-producing industries(1)                      
       Year              Total extended                                                                                              
                          mass layoffs            Computer              Software and          Communications        Communications   
                                                 hardware(2)        computer services(3)       equipment(4)          services(5)     

                      Layoff                  Layoff                 Layoff                 Layoff                Layoff             
                      events    Separations   events   Separations   events   Separations   events   Separations  events  Separations

        1998                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,115      178,251       29        5,212         8         1,550        7          725        9        1,685
Second quarter ....    1,333      336,536       37        8,455         5           357        7        1,317        5          650
Third quarter .....    1,028      201,186       63       11,066         5         1,175       12        3,031        5        1,051
Fourth quarter ....    1,383      275,272       37       11,336         5           974        7        1,898        6          764

    Total .........    4,859      991,245      166       36,069        23         4,056       33        6,971       25        4,150

        1999                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,262      230,711       35        4,363        10         1,796       10        1,600        6        1,002
Second quarter ....    1,194      246,251       28        3,891         7         1,731        8        1,097    ( 6 )        ( 6 )
Third quarter .....      898      184,429       22       11,546         7         1,141        5          840    ( 6 )        ( 6 )
Fourth quarter ....    1,202      240,060       18        2,757         5           526        4          807        6        1,430

    Total .........    4,556      901,451      103       22,557        29         5,194       27        4,344       18        3,930

        2000                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,081      202,500       22        5,195        14         2,717        9        1,402        4          771
Second quarter ....    1,055      205,861       18        8,862        22         9,114        7          805        7          977
Third quarter .....      817      174,628       10        1,678        12         1,422        4        1,465        6        1,280
Fourth quarter ....    1,638      332,973       16        3,070        22         3,521        5          946        7        1,020

    Total .........    4,591      915,962       66       18,805        70        16,774       25        4,618       24        4,048

        2001                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,546      304,171       91       20,991        44         7,963       22        4,441       24        5,312
Second quarter ....    1,828      430,499      161       38,986        87        12,943       36       12,109       28        6,386
Third quarter .....    1,629      330,391      142       24,813        55         6,820       39        8,200       36        7,134
Fourth quarter ....    2,372      459,771      109       17,797        56         8,290       43       10,124       48       11,252

    Total .........    7,375    1,524,832      503      102,587       242        36,016      140       34,874      136       30,084

        2002                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,611      299,266       84       18,574        39         4,442       32        8,192       42        6,664
Second quarter ....    1,624      344,606       69       11,764        49         5,454       27        4,870       53        8,538
Third quarter .....    1,186      255,152       76       15,017        42         5,415       34        6,529       42        7,945
Fourth quarter ....    1,916      373,307       74       14,298        32         7,071       19        3,645       39        8,987

    Total .........    6,337    1,272,331      303       59,653       162        22,382      112       23,236      176       32,134

        2003                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,502      286,947       71       11,900        33         5,689       23        4,402       41        6,591
Second quarter ....    1,799      368,273       54        9,221        27         4,124       21        3,098       29        5,891
Third quarter .....    1,190      236,333       46        6,488        26         4,433        9        1,289       15        2,604
Fourth quarter ....    1,690      325,333       25        5,080        14         1,984        9        1,619       28        6,635

    Total .........    6,181    1,216,886      196       32,689       100        16,230       62       10,408      113       21,721

        2004                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,339      276,503       27        3,222        16         2,992        8          894       23        4,197
Second quarter ....    1,358      278,831       18        2,959        21         3,576        -            -       22        5,295
Third quarter .....      886      164,608       13        2,288        15         1,617        4          430       13        4,317
Fourth quarter ....    1,427      273,967       18        3,055        10         1,547        4          563       23        3,457

    Total .........    5,010      993,909       76       11,524        62         9,732       16        1,887       81       17,266

        2005                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,142      187,128       13        1,526        13         2,679        4          439       17        3,569
Second quarter ....    1,203   (r)245,790       20     (r)2,973        17         2,106        4          842       11        1,904
Third quarter(r) ..    1,136      201,276       23        3,280        12         1,742    ( 6 )        ( 6 )       11        1,127
Fourth quarter(p) .    1,299      217,803       19        3,450         7         1,331    ( 6 )        ( 6 )        7          992
    
    Total(p) ......    4,780      851,997       75       11,229        49         7,858       13        3,000       46        7,592


    1 Information technology-producing industries are defined in Digital Economy 2003, Economics and Statistics Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce.
    2 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
semiconductor machinery manufacturing; office machinery manufacturing; electronic computer manufacturing; computer storage
device manufacturing; computer terminal manufacturing; other computer peripheral equipment mfg.; electron tube manufacturing;
bare printed circuit board manufacturing; semiconductors and related device mfg.; electronic capacitor manufacturing;
electronic resistor manufacturing; electronic coils, transformers, and inductors; electronic connector manufacturing;
printed circuit assembly manufacturing; other electronic component manufacturing; industrial process variable instruments;
electricity and signal testing instruments; analytical laboratory instrument mfg.; computer and software merchant wholesalers;
and computer and software stores.
    3 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
software publishers; internet service providers; web search portals; data processing and related services; computer and
software merchant wholesalers; computer and software stores; custom computer programming services; computer systems design
services; computer facilities management services; other computer related services; office equipment rental and leasing;
and computer and office machine repair.
    4 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
telephone apparatus manufacturing; audio and video equipment manufacturing; broadcast and wireless communications equip.;
fiber optic cable manufacturing; software reproducing; and magnetic and optical recording media mfg.
    5 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
wired telecommunications carriers; cellular and other wireless carriers; telecommunications resellers; cable and other
program distribution; satellite telecommunications; other telecommunications; and communication equipment repair.
    6 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.





Table 7. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

                                                               Layoff events                           Separations            
                     Industry                                                                                                 


                                                       IV           III          IV           IV           III          IV    
                                                      2004         2005r        2005p        2004         2005r        2005p  


      Total, private nonfarm(1) .................       83           68           54        19,599        15,497        9,851

    Mining ......................................        -            -            -             -             -            -
    Utilities ...................................        -            -        ( 2 )             -             -        ( 2 )
    Construction ................................        -            -            -             -             -            -
    Manufacturing ...............................       56           43           38        12,782         7,546        7,719
         Food ...................................        5            5            4         1,401           929          816
         Beverage and tobacco products ..........        -            -            -             -             -            -
         Textile mills ..........................    ( 2 )        ( 2 )            3         ( 2 )         ( 2 )          323
         Textile product mills ..................        -        ( 2 )            -             -         ( 2 )            -
         Apparel ................................        3            3            3         1,405           362          540
         Leather and allied products ............    ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )         ( 2 )             -        ( 2 )
         Wood products ..........................    ( 2 )            -            -         ( 2 )             -            -
         Paper ..................................        3            4            -           380           695            -
         Printing and related support activities     ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )         ( 2 )             -        ( 2 )
         Petroleum and coal products ............        -            -            -             -             -            -

         Chemicals  .............................    ( 2 )            3        ( 2 )         ( 2 )           563        ( 2 )
         Plastics and rubber products ...........    ( 2 )        ( 2 )            -         ( 2 )         ( 2 )            -
         Nonmetallic mineral products ...........        -            -        ( 2 )             -             -        ( 2 )
         Primary metals .........................    ( 2 )            -            -         ( 2 )             -            -
         Fabricated metal products ..............    ( 2 )            7        ( 2 )         ( 2 )           749        ( 2 )
         Machinery ..............................        3            3        ( 2 )           604           594        ( 2 )
         Computer and electronic products .......        7            6            7         2,390         1,169        1,469
         Electrical equipment and appliances ....        4        ( 2 )        ( 2 )           960         ( 2 )        ( 2 )
         Transportation equipment ...............        8            7            5         1,440         1,665        1,567
         Furniture and related products .........        8            -            3         1,863             -          347
         Miscellaneous manufacturing ............        3            -        ( 2 )           692             -        ( 2 )

    Wholesale trade .............................        3            5        ( 2 )           307           744        ( 2 )
    Retail trade ................................        3            4        ( 2 )         1,429         1,078        ( 2 )
    Transportation and warehousing ..............        3            4            -           619         4,489            -
    Information .................................    ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )        ( 2 )
    Finance and insurance .......................        7            6            4         1,449           695          746
    Real estate and rental and leasing ..........    ( 2 )            -            -         ( 2 )             -            -
    Professional and technical services .........    ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )        ( 2 )
    Management of companies and enterprises .....    ( 2 )            -            -         ( 2 )             -            -
    Administrative and waste services ...........        5        ( 2 )            4           813         ( 2 )          411
    Educational services ........................        -            -            -             -             -            -
    Health care and social assistance ...........        -        ( 2 )            -             -         ( 2 )            -
    Arts, entertainment, and recreation .........        -            -            -             -             -            -
    Accommodation and food services .............    ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )         ( 2 )             -        ( 2 )
    Other services, except public administration         -        ( 2 )            -             -         ( 2 )            -

    Unclassified ................................        -            -            -             -             -            -
                                                                                                                             

    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 8. Reason for layoff: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work, 
selected quarters, 2004 and 2005


                                              Layoff events                                  Separations               
         Reason for layoff                                                                                             

                                        IV         III         IV               IV               III              IV   
                                       2004       2005r       2005p            2004             2005r           2005p  


   Total, private nonfarm(1) .....      83          68          54            19,599           15,497           9,851


Automation .......................   ( 2 )           -           -             ( 2 )                -               -
Bankruptcy .......................       -       ( 2 )           -                 -            ( 2 )               -
Business ownership change ........   ( 2 )       ( 2 )       ( 2 )             ( 2 )            ( 2 )           ( 2 )
Contract cancellation ............       3       ( 2 )       ( 2 )               424            ( 2 )           ( 2 )
Contract completed ...............       -       ( 2 )           -                 -            ( 2 )               -
Energy-related ...................       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Environment-related ..............       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Financial difficulty .............       5           6       ( 2 )             2,025              791           ( 2 )
Import competition ...............       5           6           8               586            1,183           1,399
Labor dispute ....................       -       ( 2 )           -                 -            ( 2 )               -
Material shortage ................       -       ( 2 )           -                 -            ( 2 )               -
Model changeover .................       -           -           -                 -                -               -

Natural disaster .................       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Non-natural disaster .............       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Plant or machine repair ..........       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Product line discontinued ........       3           5           -             1,033              481               -
Reorganization within company ....      49          39          37            10,733            7,714           7,132
Seasonal work ....................   ( 3 )       ( 3 )       ( 3 )             ( 3 )            ( 3 )           ( 3 )
Slack work .......................       4       ( 2 )       ( 2 )               594            ( 2 )           ( 2 )
Vacation period ..................   ( 3 )       ( 3 )       ( 3 )             ( 3 )            ( 3 )           ( 3 )
Weather-related ..................       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Other ............................      11       ( 2 )           4             3,551            ( 2 )             624
Not reported .....................       -           -           -                 -                -               -

    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    3 The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers when the reason for layoff was either seasonal
work or vacation period.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.





Table 9. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2004 and 2005


                                       Layoff events                             Separations              
 Census region and division                                                                               
                               IV           III         IV            IV             III             IV   
                              2004         2005r       2005p         2004           2005r           2005p  


        United States(1) ..     83           68          54         19,599         15,497          9,851

Northeast .................     15           10          13          3,526          1,651          2,321

    New England ...........      5            5       ( 2 )          1,211            653          ( 2 )
    Middle Atlantic .......     10            5       ( 2 )          2,315            998          ( 2 )

South .....................     26           22          17          7,901          3,961          2,860

    South Atlantic ........     19        ( 2 )          11          4,647          ( 2 )          1,544
    East South Central ....  ( 2 )        ( 2 )           3          ( 2 )          ( 2 )            253
    West South Central ....  ( 2 )        ( 2 )           3          ( 2 )          ( 2 )          1,063

Midwest ...................     21           17          12          4,679          7,347          2,878

    East North Central ....  ( 2 )           14           9          ( 2 )          3,551          1,935
    West North Central ....  ( 2 )            3           3          ( 2 )          3,796            943

West ......................     21           19          12          3,493          2,538          1,792

    Mountain ..............      5        ( 2 )       ( 2 )            728          ( 2 )          ( 2 )
    Pacific ...............     16        ( 2 )       ( 2 )          2,765          ( 2 )          ( 2 )


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the census divisions are:
New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massa chusetts, 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 10. Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005


                                                    Layoff events                              Separations               
         Action                                                                                                          

                                           IV          III            IV           IV              III             IV   
                                          2004        2005r          2005p        2004            2005r           2005p  


Total, private nonfarm(1) ..........     1,427        1,136          1,299       273,967         201,276         217,803

  Total, excluding seasonal                                                                                           
    and vacation events(2) .........       760          953            572       144,108         163,622          94,190
                                                                                                                        
    Total, movement of work(3) .....        83           68             54        19,599          15,497           9,851
                                                                                                                        
      Movement of work action ......       138           83             73         ( 4 )           ( 4 )           ( 4 )
        With separations reported ..        95           62             50        13,351           8,035           6,271
        With separations unknown ...        43           21             23         ( 4 )           ( 4 )           ( 4 )


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 The question on movement of work were not asked of employers when the reason for layoff
was either seasonal work or vacation period.
    3 Movement of work can involve more than one action.
    4 Data are not available.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.





Table 11. Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by employers,
selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

                                           Layoff events(1)                       Separations          
         Actions                                                                                       
                                       IV        III         IV            IV        III          IV   
                                      2004      2005r       2005p         2004      2005r        2005p  

With separations reported(2) ..        95         62         50          13,351     8,035       6,271

          By location                                                                                

  Out-of-country relocations ..        32         20         19           5,258     2,702       2,047
      Within company ..........        29         15         14           4,825     2,137       1,355
      Different company .......         3          5          5             433       565         692

  Domestic relocations ........        63         42         31           8,093     5,333       4,224
      Within company ..........        55         32         26           7,285     3,075       3,823
      Different company .......         8         10          5             808     2,258         401

  Unable to assign place of                                                                          
     relocation ...............         -          -          -               -         -           -

           By company                                                                                

  Within company ..............        84         47         40          12,110     5,212       5,178
      Domestic ................        55         32         26           7,285     3,075       3,823
      Out of country ..........        29         15         14           4,825     2,137       1,355
      Unable to assign ........         -          -          -               -         -           -

  Different company ...........        11         15         10           1,241     2,823       1,093

      Domestic ................         8         10          5             808     2,258         401
      Out of country ..........         3          5          5             433       565         692
      Unable to assign ........         -          -          -               -         -           -


    1 Only actions for which separations associated with the movement of work were reported are shown.
    2 See footnote 1, table 1.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    Note: Dash represents zero.