Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:  (202) 691-6392          USDL 01-47
                                     
                                                For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                691-5902          Thursday, February 22, 2001
                                     
                                     
            EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2000


   In the fourth quarter of 2000, there were 1,905 mass layoff actions by
employers that resulted in the separation of 374,320 workers from their
jobs for more than 30 days, according to preliminary figures released by
the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Both the total
number of layoff events and the number of separations were higher than in
October-December 1999.  (See table A.)  For all of 2000, however, extended
mass layoff events, at 5,522, and the number of worker separations, at
1,117,183, were lower than any other year since the program began in the
second quarter of 1995.  Additional information on the 2000 annual data is
provided in the review of 2000 section, beginning on page 5.
   
   The completion of seasonal work was the major reason cited for layoffs
in the fourth quarter, accounting for 53 percent of all events and 52
percent of all separations.  Layoffs due to internal company restructuring
accounted for 14 percent of events and resulted in 65,618 separations.
Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 12 percent of all events and
affected 47,688 workers, up from a year earlier (43,522 workers).
   
   The quarterly series on extended mass layoffs cover layoffs of at least
31-days duration that involve 50 or more individuals from a single
establishment filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a
consecutive 5-week period.  Data for the fourth quarter are preliminary and
subject to revision.  This release also includes revised data for previous
quarters.  Data are not seasonally adjusted, but survey data suggest that
there is a seasonal pattern to layoffs.  Thus, comparisons between
consecutive quarters should not be used as an indicator of trend.
Additional information about the program is provided in the technical note
that follows the analysis.
   
Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
   
   In the private sector, agriculture accounted for 18 percent of all
layoff events and 21 percent of all separations during October-December
2000.  The layoff activity occurred in agricultural services (primarily in
farm labor contracting) and agricultural crop production (mainly in grapes
and berry crops) and was almost entirely due to the end of seasonal work.
(See table 1.)

                                  - 2 -

 Table A.  Selected measures of mass layoff activity
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Period       |Layoff events | Separations | Initial claimants
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          1995         |              |             |
 April-June............|    1,724     |   400,980   |      332,731
 July-September........|      950     |   194,149   |      154,226
 October-December......|    1,764     |   348,741   |      312,428
          1996         |              |             |
 January-March.........|    1,408     |   272,480   |      224,393
 April-June............|    1,352     |   261,628   |      200,032
 July-September........|    1,021     |   233,199   |      185,247
 October-December......|    1,916     |   417,048   |      348,073
          1997         |              |             |
 January-March.........|    1,317     |   255,227   |      224,180
 April-June............|    1,587     |   351,198   |      292,673
 July-September........|    1,082     |   217,869   |      209,019
 October-December......|    1,697     |   321,821   |      316,035
          1998         |              |             |
 January-March.........|    1,320     |   208,082   |      247,315
 April-June............|    1,563     |   391,461   |      402,276
 July-September........|    1,234     |   248,054   |      256,803
 October-December......|    1,734     |   379,976   |      325,990
          1999         |              |             |
 January-March.........|    1,509     |   277,780   |      252,122
 April-June............|    1,444     |   294,968   |      242,464
 July-September........|    1,097     |   241,725   |      189,973
 October-December(r)...|    1,625     |   334,794   |      287,685
          2000         |              |             |
 January-March(r)......|    1,331     |   254,812   |      220,997
 April-June(r).........|    1,272     |   258,053   |      230,696
 July-September(r).....|    1,014     |   229,998   |      187,865
 October-December(p)...|    1,905     |   374,320   |      271,126
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      p=preliminary.                  r=revised.

   Thirty-two percent of all layoff events and separations occurred in
manufacturing industries.  Layoffs from durable goods industries were most
prevalent in transportation equipment (mostly in motor vehicles and car
bodies and in motor vehicle parts and accessories) and in primary metal
industries (primarily in blast furnaces and steel mills and in copper
rolling and drawings).  Forty-six percent of worker separations in
transportation equipment during the period were due to slack work.  Among
nondurable goods establishments, layoffs were most numerous in food and
kindred products (primarily in canned and frozen fruits and vegetables) and
in apparel.
   
   Services accounted for 14 percent of private-sector layoff events and
17 percent of separations, primarily in business services (largely help
supply services) and in hotels and lodging.  Cutbacks in construction
comprised 23 percent of all layoff events and 16 percent of all
separations.  These layoffs were largely in heavy construction, excluding
buildings (highway and street construction).  Retail trade made up for 4
percent of all layoff events and 6 percent of all separations, largely in
department stores and in catalog and mail-order houses.
   
   Layoffs in government establishments accounted for 2 percent of all
events and 5 percent of all separations, primarily in local government.
(The data in this release do not include temporary federal census workers
who completed their assignments.)
   
                                  - 3 -
 
 Table B.  Distribution of layoff events by size of layoff,
 October-December 2000p
 -------------------------------------------------------------
                 |    Layoff events   |      Separations
       Size      |--------------------------------------------
                 |  Number  |  Percent|   Number  | Percent
 -------------------------------------------------------------
  Total..........|   1,905  |  100.0  |  374,320  |  100.0
                 |          |                     |
 50-99...........|     679  |   35.6  |   48,104  |   12.9
 100-149.........|     422  |   22.2  |   48,836  |   13.0
 150-199.........|     243  |   12.8  |   40,079  |   10.7
 200-299.........|     265  |   13.9  |   61,583  |   16.5
 300-499.........|     188  |    9.9  |   66,605  |   17.8
 500-999.........|      79  |    4.1  |   52,468  |   14.0
 1,000 or more...|      29  |    1.5  |   56,645  |   15.1
 -------------------------------------------------------------
 p=preliminary.

Reasons for Extended Layoff
   
   Fifty-three percent of the events and 52 percent of the separations in
the fourth quarter were due to the completion of seasonal work.  These
layoffs were most numerous among workers in food production (agriculture
and food and kindred products) and heavy construction, excluding buildings
(mostly in highway and street construction).  Layoffs due to internal
company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change, financial
difficulty, and reorganization) accounted for 14 percent of layoff events
and 18 percent of separations, largely due to job cutbacks in hotels and
lodging and in transportation equipment manufacturing.  (See table 2.)

Size of Extended Layoff
   
   Layoff events during the fourth quarter continued to be concentrated at
the lower end of the layoff-size spectrum, with 58 percent involving fewer
than 150 workers.  These events, however, accounted for only 26 percent of
all separations.  (See table B.)  Separations involving 500 or more workers
accounted for 29 percent of all separations, down slightly from a year
earlier (30 percent).  The average size of layoffs (as measured by
separations per layoff event) differed widely by industry, ranging from a
low of 64 separations in auto repair, auto services, and parking companies
to a high of 825 in local government executive and legislative offices.

Initial Claimant Characteristics
   
   A total of 271,126 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with mass layoffs in the fourth quarter of 2000.  Of these
claimants, 11 percent were black, 34 percent were women, 27 percent were
Hispanic, and 12 percent were 55 years of age or older.  (See table 3.)
Forty-two percent of claimants were 30 to 44 years of age.  Among the
civilian labor force for the same period, 12 percent were black, 47 percent
were women, 11 percent were Hispanic, and 13 percent were 55 years of age
or older.  Thirty-eight percent of the civilian labor force were ages 30
to 44.
   
Geographic Distribution
   
   In the fourth quarter, the West reported the highest number of
separations due to extended mass layoff events (147,453), followed by the
Midwest (137,028).  (See table 4.)  Contributing to extended mass layoffs
in the West were agricultural services and crop production; in the Midwest,
construction and transportation equipment manufacturing were dominant.  The
lowest number of worker separations was reported in the Northeast region
(33,524).
   
                                  - 4 -

 Table C.  Summary of employer expectations of a recall from layoff,
 fourth quarter 1999-fourth quarter 2000
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
                         |         Percentage of events
                         |------------------------------------------
   Nature of the recall  |  IV   |   I   |  II   |   III   |  IV
                         | 1999  | 2000  | 2000  |  2000r  | 2000p
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Anticipate a recall.....| 68.6  | 58.0  | 60.6  |  51.9   | 68.2
                         |       |       |       |         |
        Timeframe        |       |       |       |         |
                         |       |       |       |         |
 Within 6 months.........|.81.9  | 79.1  | 88.7  |  82.1   | 82.7
   Within 3 months.......| 30.2  | 40.8  | 56.3  |  52.7   | 38.0
                         |       |       |       |         |
          Size           |       |       |       |         |
                         |       |       |       |         |
 At least half...........| 88.8  | 88.1  | 92.3  |  87.3   | 88.3
   All workers...........| 42.7  | 41.1  | 52.8  |  53.8   | 47.1
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
             p=preliminary.                     r=revised.

   All four regions reported over-the-year increases in separations, with
the largest increase occurring in the Midwest (+25,607), primarily in
transportation equipment and in local government.  Within the Midwest
region, higher levels of separations were reported mainly by employers in
the East North Central division (+33,524), with sharply more layoffs
occurring in transportation equipment; executive, legislative, and general
government; and primary metal industries.  Separations declined in the West
North Central (-7,917) and Mountain (-580) divisions.
   
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the largest number of
worker separations occurred in California (117,273), followed by Illinois
(48,115).  These two states accounted for 36 percent of total layoff events
and 44 percent of all separations during the fourth quarter of 2000.  (See
table 5.)  After excluding the substantial impact of seasonal work,
California still reported the most laid-off workers (37,491), largely due
to layoffs in business services.
   
   Over the year, the largest increases in laid-off workers occurred in
Illinois (+12,505) and Michigan (+8,329).  The largest decreases occurred
in California (-4,071) and Virginia (-3,278).

Recall Expectations
   
   Sixty-eight percent of employers reporting a layoff in the fourth
quarter of 2000 indicated they anticipated some type of recall, about the
same as a year earlier.  (See table C.)  Among establishments expecting a
recall, most employers expected to recall over one-half of the separated
employees and to do so within 6 months.

   Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in
which 95 percent of the employers expected a recall), employers expected to
recall laid-off workers in 38 percent of the events, somewhat higher than
during the same period a year ago (34 percent).  In layoff events due to
internal company restructuring, employers anticipated a recall in only 9
percent of the events.
   
                                  - 5 -

   Table D.  Selected measures of mass layoff activity, 1996-2000
   -------------------------------------------------------------------
      Period    |  Layoff events  |  Separations  |  Initial claimants
   -----------------------------------------------|-------------------
   1996.........|      5,697      |   1,184,355   |        957,745
   1997.........|      5,683      |   1,146,115   |      1,041,907
   1998.........|      5,851      |   1,227,573   |      1,232,384
   1999(r)......|      5,675      |   1,149,267   |        972,244
   2000(p)......|      5,522      |   1,117,183   |        910,684
   -------------------------------------------------------------------
        p=preliminary.                   r=revised.

Review of 2000
   
   For all of 2000, there were 5,522 extended mass layoff actions
resulting in 1,117,183 workers being separated from their jobs for more
than 30 days in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.  The total
number of layoff events and separations during 2000 declined (by 2.7
percent and 2.8 percent, respectively) from the previous year to the lowest
annual levels reported since this series began in the second quarter of
1995.  (See table D.)  The annual average national unemployment rate
decreased from 4.2 percent in 1999 to 4.0 percent in 2000, and nonfarm
payroll employment increased by 2.0 percent, or approximately 2.6 million
jobs.

   In the private sector, manufacturing accounted for 33 percent of all
mass layoff events and all separations that occurred during 2000, virtually
unchanged from 1999 (32 percent and 33 percent, respectively).  Layoffs in
the durable goods sector were most prevalent in transportation equipment
(65,657), primarily in motor vehicles and car bodies and in motor vehicle
parts and accessories.  In the nondurable goods sector, food and kindred
products accounted for 73,147 separated workers, mostly in canned and
frozen fruits and vegetables.  Compared with 1999, the largest decrease in
laid-off workers occurred in general merchandise stores (-21,551), followed
by motion pictures (-14,507).  The largest over-the-year increases in
separations occurred in business services (+11,033) and hotels and lodging
(+10,171).
   
   Forty-four percent of all layoff events and separations in 2000 were
due to the completion of seasonal work.  These layoffs occurred in
establishments primarily engaged in food production (agriculture and food
and kindred products).  The number of workers separated due to internal
company restructuring declined slightly from its peak in 1999 to 239,564
separations in 2000.

   In 2000, the West (400,202) reported more separated workers due to
extended mass layoff events than any other region.  Layoffs in the West
were primarily concentrated in food production (agriculture and food and
kindred products), which accounted for 53 percent of the worker separations
in the region.  Sixty-one percent of the layoffs and 63 percent of the
separations in the West were due to seasonal work.  The Northeast region
continued to report the lowest annual number of separations (148,221).

                                  - 6 -

   Over the year, the West reported the largest decrease (-45,523) in
worker separations, mainly in the Pacific division (-42,946).  The Midwest
registered the sharpest increase (+26,533) in laid-off workers compared
with 1999.  Industries contributing to the extended mass layoffs in the
Midwest were executive, legislative, and general government and
transportation equipment.
   
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, California continued
to report the largest number of separated workers (303,359), largely due to
seasonal layoffs in food production (agriculture and food and kindred
products).  Over the year, California's number of separated workers
declined (-32,966).  Illinois had the largest over-the-year increase in
laid-off workers (+14,122), followed by Florida (+11,925) and Kentucky
(+10,068).
Technical Note
  
  The  Mass  Layoff  Statistics (MLS) program is  a  federal-state  program
which  uses  a standardized, automated approach to identifying, describing,
and  tracking  the  effects of major job cutbacks,  using  data  from  each
state's  unemployment  insurance database.  Establishments  which  have  at
least  50  initial  claims filed against them during a  consecutive  5-week
period  are  contacted  by  the state agency  to  determine  whether  these
separations  are of at least 31 days duration, and, if so,  information  is
obtained on the total number of persons separated and the reasons for these
separations.    Establishments  are  identified   according   to   industry
classification  and  location,  and unemployment  insurance  claimants  are
identified by such demographic factors as age, race, sex, ethnic group, and
place  of  residence.  The program yields information  on  an  individual's
entire  spell  of  unemployment,  to the point  when  regular  unemployment
insurance benefits are exhausted.

  The  MLS  program  was resumed in April 1995; it had been  terminated  in
November  1992 due to lack of funding.  However, due to changes in concepts
and  definitions,  data  from the resumed program  are  not  comparable  to
earlier data.

  Information   in   this   release  will  be  made  available  to  sensory
impaired  individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message
referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.

Definitions

  Establishment.   A  unit  at   a  single   physical  location   at  which
predominantly one type of economic activity is conducted.

  Extended layoff event.  Fifty  or  more  initial  claims for unemployment
insurance  benefits from an establishment during a 5-week period,  with  at
least 50 workers separated for more than 30 days.

  Initial  claimant.  A person  who  files  any  notice of unemployment  to
initiate  a  request  either  for a determination  of  entitlement  to  and
eligibility  for  compensation, or for a subsequent period of  unemployment
within a benefit year or period of eligibility.

  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.

                                  - 2 -

  Mass layoff.  Fifty or more  initial  claims for  unemployment  insurance
benefits  from  an establishment beginning in a given month, regardless  of
duration.

  Worksite  closure.  The  full  closure  of  either multi-unit or  single-
unit  establishments  or the partial closure of a multi-unit  establishment
where  entire  worksites affected by layoffs are closed or  planned  to  be
closed.


Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment
insurance, selected quarters, 1999 and 2000
                                                                                                                               
                                                            Layoff events            Separations           Initial claimants for
                                                                                                           unemployment insurance
                         Industry

                                                           IV    III   IV        IV      III     IV         IV       III      IV
                                                          1999r 2000r 2000p     1999r   2000r   2000p      1999r    2000r    2000p     


         Total( 1 ) ....................................  1,625 1,014 1,905    334,794 229,998 374,320    287,685  187,865  271,126     

 Total, private ........................................  1,580   965 1,862    318,549 217,570 354,761    276,977  179,575  263,930     

   Agriculture  ........................................    397   147   333     81,410  42,791  72,805     56,841   22,335   40,280     
   Nonagriculture ......................................  1,179   812 1,517    236,609 173,863 280,594    219,538  155,926  222,360     
      Manufacturing  ...................................    457   386   590     92,294  86,707 115,049     92,317   78,027  100,851     
         Durable goods  ................................    227   217   321     38,610  50,963  62,801     46,315   49,687   60,695     
            Lumber and wood products ...................     26    16    33      2,758   1,834   4,511      2,514    1,763    4,430     
            Furniture and fixtures .....................      7     6     8        940     990     786      1,413      689      688     
            Stone, clay, and glass products ............     25     5    41      4,059     667   6,227      4,224      473    5,621     
            Primary metal industries ...................     16    18    33      2,924   4,905   9,505      3,243    4,501    8,179     
            Fabricated metal products ..................     25    29    46      3,476   4,765   6,166      3,973    4,666    6,994     
            Industrial machinery and equipment .........     42    38    31      8,950   9,955   5,776      9,444    8,855    5,009     
            Electronic and other electrical equipment ..     26    22    32      4,277   4,639   6,447      6,154    4,365    8,373     
            Transportation equipment ...................     40    65    72      8,359  21,003  20,867     11,973   22,045   18,975     
            Instruments and related products ...........      6    10     5        718   1,191     566        872    1,180      479     
            Miscellaneous manufacturing industries .....     14     8    20      2,149   1,014   1,950      2,505    1,150    1,947     

         Nondurable goods  .............................    230   169   269     53,684  35,744  52,248     46,002   28,340   40,156     
            Food and kindred products ..................    105    56   119     30,422  16,235  26,992     23,981   11,609   19,134     
            Tobacco products ...........................      - ( 2 ) ( 2 )          -   ( 2 )   ( 2 )          -    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
            Textile mill products ......................     19    14    18      5,063   2,885   4,362      4,296    2,746    2,986     
            Apparel and other textile products .........     43    38    44      7,564   6,375   6,451      8,134    6,255    5,703     
            Paper and allied products ..................      8    14    21        988   2,891   3,360        826    2,137    3,034     
            Printing and publishing ....................      8 ( 2 )    12      1,519   ( 2 )   1,813      1,524    ( 2 )    1,141     
            Chemicals and allied products ..............      9    10    10      1,282   2,120   1,246      1,443    1,675    1,091     
            Petroleum and coal products ................     15 ( 2 )    13      2,547   ( 2 )   1,656      2,409    ( 2 )    1,514     
            Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products .     15    23    27      2,794   2,803   5,350      2,036    2,244    4,765     
            Leather and leather products ...............      8     9 ( 2 )      1,505   1,518   ( 2 )      1,353      987    ( 2 )

      Nonmanufacturing  ................................    722   426   927    144,315  87,156 165,545    127,221   77,899  121,509     
         Mining  .......................................     18     4    20      3,002     874   2,592      2,628      729    2,042     
         Construction ..................................    314    62   425     50,066  10,895  58,430     49,821   10,757   52,073     
         Transportation and public utilities ...........     49    77    66      7,678  12,732   9,810      9,092   11,705   10,042     
         Wholesale and retail trade ....................    115    75   124     32,877  13,856  28,363     22,840   10,606   17,383     
            Wholesale trade  ...........................     37    19    43      7,172   2,764   6,025      5,486    1,742    4,040     
            Retail trade  ..............................     78    56    81     25,705  11,092  22,338     17,354    8,864   13,343     
         Finance, insurance, and real estate ...........     26    23    31      4,406   5,600   5,373      4,542    4,109    2,917     
         Services ......................................    200   185   261     46,286  43,199  60,977     38,298   39,993   37,052     

   Not identified  .....................................      4     6    12        530     916   1,362        598    1,314    1,290     

 Government ............................................     45    49    43     16,245  12,428  19,559     10,708    8,290    7,196     
         Federal .......................................      8    11    11      2,219   3,995   2,203      2,657    2,133    2,542     
         State .........................................     19    10    12      8,965   3,142   3,915      3,883    1,818    1,928     
         Local .........................................     18    28    20      5,061   5,291  13,441      4,168    4,339    2,726     
 

   1 For the fourth quarter 2000, data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia.   
   2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   p = preliminary.
   r = revised.
   NOTE:  Dash represents zero.
   
Table 2. Reason for separation: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment 
insurance, selected quarters, 1999 and 2000


                                        Layoff events                Separations              Initial claimants for                                                                           
                                                                                              unemployment insurance
           Reason for separation                                                               
             
 
                                     IV      III      IV        IV       III       IV         IV        III       IV
                                    1999r   2000r    2000p     1999r    2000r     2000p      1999r     2000r     2000p     



    Total, all reasons( 1 ).......  1,625   1,014    1,905    334,794  229,998   374,320    287,685   187,865   271,126      

 Automation ......................  ( 2 )       -        -      ( 2 )        -         -      ( 2 )         -         -
 Bankruptcy ......................     26      36       41      7,177   10,605    12,700      3,202     6,106     5,138      
 Business ownership change .......     34      35       24      9,792    9,186    11,285      5,403     4,911     3,124      
 Contract cancellation ...........     18      26       20      2,535    4,424     3,353      3,034     3,580     4,034      
 Contract completed ..............    155     142      187     30,663   25,718    38,098     32,546    29,860    31,352      
 Domestic relocation .............      8      16       15      1,929    3,270     2,230      1,537     3,804     1,073      
 Energy-related ..................      -       3        6          -      744     1,538          -       515     1,004      
 Environment-related .............      6   ( 2 )    ( 2 )      1,306    ( 2 )     ( 2 )      1,120     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
 Financial difficulty ............     41      56       97     10,105   10,628    22,665      6,150     6,462    13,722      
 Import competition ..............     26      17       22      7,081    2,412     4,160      4,905     2,013     3,396      
 Labor dispute ...................      8      10        4      2,615   10,853     3,296      1,757    10,806     3,093      
 Material shortage ...............      -       3        -          -      321         -          -       432         -

 Model changeover ................  ( 2 )   ( 2 )    ( 2 )      ( 2 )    ( 2 )     ( 2 )      ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
 Overseas relocation .............      9      10       10      1,479    1,886     2,517      1,230     1,637     3,400      
 Plant or machine repair .........      3   ( 2 )       10        376    ( 2 )     1,403        374     ( 2 )       741      
 Product line discontinued .......      6       6        8      1,556    1,329     1,164      1,985     1,599       945      
 Reorganization within company ...     98      92       98     18,337   22,978    18,968     18,735    16,917    13,534      
 Seasonal work ...................    948     323    1,002    196,643   80,958   194,602    158,275    54,480   128,200      
 Slack work ......................    118     122      215     17,708   26,962    33,569     24,790    27,792    37,908      
 Vacation period .................      6      10        4        921    1,095       534      1,445     1,150       357      
 Weather-related .................     20       -       21      3,195        -     2,246      2,786         -     2,224      
 Other ...........................     40      34       42     11,207    6,314     6,726      8,256     3,857     5,215      
 Not reported ....................     52      68       77      9,704    9,724    12,605      9,679     9,645    12,030                                                       


1 See footnote 1, table 1.                                                  
2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
p = preliminary.
r = revised.          
NOTE:  Dash represents zero.
Table 3. State and selected claimant characteristics: Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment
insurance, third and fourth quarters, 2000
               
                                                                                                 Percent of total
                                                Total
                          Layoff events        initial                              Hispanic                            
                                              claimants            Black             origin              Women        Persons age 55
                                                                                                                         and over 
          State
                            III    IV        III     IV         III      IV       III      IV         III      IV       III     IV
                           2000r  2000p     2000r   2000p      2000r    2000p    2000r    2000p      2000r    2000p    2000r   2000p 

     Total( 1 ) ........   1,014  1,905    187,865 271,126     14.7     10.6     24.6     26.6       42.3     34.3     13.7    12.3     

 Alabama ...............      12     11      3,029   1,688     21.7     24.6       .1       .7       32.8     27.5     24.7    13.3     
 Alaska ................   ( 2 )     11      ( 2 )   1,139      1.3      1.9     13.1     13.4       30.5     26.4     11.4    11.6     
 Arizona ...............      15     12      1,887   1,849      1.6      4.2     79.7     31.5       45.0     50.0     12.0    12.2     
 Arkansas ..............       5      5        562     641     31.9     17.8     13.9       .2       45.2     57.1     10.9    14.5     
 California ............     225    489     43,871  61,285      4.9      4.1     64.3     71.4       47.0     42.3     12.4    10.5     
 Colorado ..............       3     16        263   1,862     12.2      1.7     21.3     39.0       65.0     17.5     13.3    11.6     
 Connecticut ...........       5     11        757   1,154     23.0      9.9     11.9      4.0       50.3     34.1     13.7    14.8     
 Delaware ..............       -      -          -       -        -        -        -        -          -        -        -       -
 District of Columbia ..       -      -          -       -        -        -        -        -          -        -        -       -
 Florida ...............      98     62     14,786   7,205     26.8     21.5     20.3     24.6       43.9     50.4     17.7    16.8     
 Georgia ...............       7      3        830     493     55.8     37.5       .6     11.2       74.6     44.4     21.7    15.8     
 Hawaii ................   ( 2 )  ( 2 )      ( 2 )   ( 2 )      2.6        -      1.0       .4       12.7      4.7     20.8    19.1     
 Idaho .................       4      5        320     611       .3        -     19.7     10.6       20.9     26.7     15.3     9.5     

 Illinois ..............      85    204     13,878  30,396     20.7     14.4     13.6     15.7       40.2     26.2     12.4    11.6     
 Indiana ...............      12     44      1,882   8,305     14.1      5.8      3.3      2.8       43.9     24.6      8.8    11.0     
 Iowa ..................   ( 2 )     33      ( 2 )   5,061        -      1.3      7.0      2.7       50.1     17.4      6.5    12.6     
 Kansas ................   ( 2 )      8      ( 2 )   1,234     17.1      4.2      8.8      7.1       37.3     21.0      5.7    12.0     
 Kentucky ..............      22     30      4,070   3,555      7.3      4.8       .1       .1       40.6     28.6     11.1    15.5     
 Louisiana .............   ( 2 )     11      ( 2 )   1,089     57.0     56.2      1.1       .9       76.0     35.2     10.1     9.9     
 Maine .................       4      4        345     370        -        -        -        -       43.2     41.9     13.9    12.7     
 Maryland ..............       4      9        780     720     39.1     39.2       .6       .1       27.7     27.8     17.2    28.5     
 Massachusetts .........      16     36     10,523   3,514      3.9      7.4      5.9     13.5       46.1     38.4     13.3    15.9     
 Michigan ..............      67    157     10,164  23,978     23.9     15.5      5.9      9.2       39.9     35.3      8.6    10.0     
 Minnesota .............      11     73      1,595   8,940      3.4       .9     12.2      6.0       44.2     16.7     15.0    13.3     
 Mississippi ...........      13     19      1,230   1,764     64.1     71.5       .7       .3       76.1     61.5      8.8     8.0     
 Missouri ..............      11      8      1,014     811      5.1     11.2       .9      2.2       40.4     50.8     13.5    18.4     

 Montana ...............       3      7        663   1,013        -      1.0       .8      1.1       28.7     22.0     15.2    15.8     
 Nebraska ..............   ( 2 )      -      ( 2 )       -     14.6        -     19.6        -       17.6        -      7.0       -
 Nevada ................      11      7      1,872   1,147     12.1      7.1     24.5     15.6       38.4     50.6     19.2    23.5     
 New Hampshire .........   ( 2 )  ( 2 )      ( 2 )   ( 2 )        -        -       .6        -       58.9     13.1     10.0    15.6     
 New Jersey ............      36     33      6,321   3,759     28.4     13.5     26.4     21.0       60.2     49.6     19.9    23.6     
 New Mexico ............   ( 2 )  ( 2 )      ( 2 )   ( 2 )      2.0      2.7     53.5     80.8       34.3     35.4     13.1    15.0     
 New York ..............      70     65     11,308   8,055     19.5     11.1     12.5     13.9       55.6     41.8     20.6    13.8     
 North Carolina ........      26     37      2,876   5,628     38.3     32.0       .8      2.5       50.7     36.3     13.1     9.3     
 North Dakota ..........       -  ( 2 )          -   ( 2 )        -        -        -      4.6          -     19.2        -    12.8     
 Ohio ..................      47    130      7,025  18,798     11.3     11.2      1.3      3.3       27.1     17.7     12.3    12.4     
 Oklahoma ..............       3      5        286   2,015      9.4     16.3      5.2      2.2       45.1     24.5     21.3    11.0     
 Oregon ................      12     30      6,949   4,880      8.7      1.1      5.5     32.2       14.3     44.4      7.9    15.5     
 Pennsylvania ..........      42     45     12,471  12,981      6.1      7.1      1.0      3.1       32.2     42.6     18.0    18.7     

 Rhode Island ..........   ( 2 )      5      ( 2 )     640      2.2      1.6      1.3      3.3       71.8     32.0     11.0    17.2     
 South Carolina ........       7      6      1,182   1,321     47.7     57.7       .5       .1       59.9     52.5      9.8     2.3     
 South Dakota ..........       -      -          -       -        -        -        -        -          -        -        -       -
 Tennessee .............      16     17      1,721   1,789     26.3     18.8       .2       .3       56.2     58.7     17.8    21.0     
 Texas .................      61     85     15,214  15,256     21.5     15.7     32.7     43.2       32.6     31.1     10.1    11.1     
 Utah ..................       5     11        568   1,599       .4       .8     10.0     11.6       38.9     23.1      5.6     7.3     
 Vermont ...............       -  ( 2 )          -   ( 2 )        -       .6        -        -          -     17.3        -    17.9     
 Virginia ..............      11     24      1,518   2,869     34.5     37.9       .4      1.7       55.1     56.2     16.5    13.1     
 Washington ............      11     54      1,376   7,271      4.2      2.4     28.5     41.6       42.4     36.0     12.3    11.0     
 West Virginia .........       3      -        393       -        -        -        -        -       82.4        -     15.0       -
 Wisconsin .............      15     74      2,340  13,415       .9      5.6       .5     10.7       30.3     26.2     10.6    12.7     
 Wyoming ...............       -      -          -       -        -        -        -        -          -        -        -       -

 Puerto Rico ...........      21     12      3,778   1,948    ( 3 )    ( 3 )    ( 3 )    ( 3 )       57.8     58.6      5.8     9.8


     1 See footnote 1, table 1.                                                                     
     2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.                                    
     3 Data are not available.                                                                       
     p = preliminary.
     r = revised.
     NOTE:  Dash represents zero.                                                                     
Table 4. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment
insurance, selected quarters, 1999 and 2000



                                                                                                        Initial claimants for
                                     Layoff events                       Separations                    unemployment insurance
 Census region and division

                                IV       III        IV            IV         III        IV             IV         III        IV
                               1999r    2000r      2000p         1999r      2000r      2000p          1999r      2000r      2000p     


       United States( 1 )...   1,625    1,014      1,905        334,794    229,998    374,320        287,685    187,865    271,126     

 Northeast .................     194      176        202         31,117     38,306     33,524         40,301     42,132     30,763     

     New England ...........      56       28         59         12,025     13,890     12,539          8,882     12,032      5,968     
     Middle Atlantic .......     138      148        143         19,092     24,416     20,985         31,419     30,100     24,795     

 South .....................     234      290        324         45,893     52,232     56,315         43,210     48,656     46,033     

     South Atlantic ........      92      156        141         21,909     28,394     25,371         13,439     22,365     18,236     
     East South Central ....      36       63         77          5,226     11,786     11,974          5,069     10,050      8,796     
     West South Central ....     106       71        106         18,758     12,052     18,970         24,702     16,241     19,001     

 Midwest ...................     550      253        733        111,421     49,912    137,028        101,172     38,666    111,157     

     East North Central ....     421      226        609         85,908     44,938    119,432         79,107     35,289     94,892     
     West North Central ....     129       27        124         25,513      4,974     17,596         22,065      3,377     16,265     

 West ......................     647      295        646        146,363     89,548    147,453        103,002     58,411     83,173     

     Mountain ..............      64       43         60         11,368      8,844     10,788          7,705      5,672      8,341     
     Pacific ...............     583      252        586        134,995     80,704    136,665         95,297     52,739     74,832     


      1 See footnote 1, table 1.
      p = preliminary.
      r = revised.
      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,
selected quarters, 1999 and 2000

                                                                                                 
                                Layoff events                Separations               Initial claimants for 
                                                                                       unemployment insurance
        State
                             IV      III     IV         IV       III      IV           IV       III      IV
                            1999r   2000r   2000p      1999r    2000r    2000p        1999r    2000r    2000p 


     Total( 1 )..........   1,625   1,014   1,905     334,794  229,998  374,320      287,685  187,865  271,126     

 Alabama ................      15      12      11       1,821    3,311    2,060        2,071    3,029    1,688     
 Alaska .................       7   ( 2 )      11       5,183    ( 2 )    2,272          942    ( 2 )    1,139     
 Arizona ................       8      15      12         627    4,180    1,450        1,036    1,887    1,849     
 Arkansas ...............      10       5       5       1,469      920    1,351        1,426      562      641     
 California .............     525     225     489     121,344   70,945  117,273       85,198   43,871   61,285     
 Colorado ...............      18       3      16       2,952      258    2,358        1,867      263    1,862     
 Connecticut ............       5       5      11       1,370    1,475    2,708          634      757    1,154     
 Delaware ...............   ( 2 )       -       -       ( 2 )        -        -        ( 2 )        -        -
 District of Columbia ...   ( 2 )       -       -       ( 2 )        -        -        ( 2 )        -        -
 Florida ................      28      98      62       6,553   19,045    9,886        3,489   14,786    7,205     
 Georgia ................      12       7       3       1,737    1,626      764        1,680      830      493     
 Hawaii .................       7   ( 2 )   ( 2 )         932    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        1,199    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
 Idaho ..................      11       4       5       1,538      446      590        1,176      320      611     

 Illinois ...............     148      85     204      35,610   21,303   48,115       26,024   13,878   30,396     
 Indiana ................      27      12      44       5,334    1,868    7,815        4,533    1,882    8,305     
 Iowa ...................      32   ( 2 )      33       6,690    ( 2 )    3,738        6,690    ( 2 )    5,061     
 Kansas .................       8   ( 2 )       8       1,271    ( 2 )    1,165        1,519    ( 2 )    1,234     
 Kentucky ...............       6      22      30       1,435    4,313    5,460          692    4,070    3,555     
 Louisiana ..............       7   ( 2 )      11       1,137    ( 2 )    1,096          990    ( 2 )    1,089     
 Maine ..................      12       4       4       3,412      525      811        1,607      345      370     
 Maryland ...............       4       4       9         380      832    1,178          359      780      720     
 Massachusetts ..........      35      16      36       6,658   11,364    7,887        6,056   10,523    3,514     
 Michigan ...............      90      67     157      13,002    9,788   21,331       18,971   10,164   23,978     
 Minnesota ..............      73      11      73      13,211    2,998   11,551       10,792    1,595    8,940     
 Mississippi ............      10      13      19       1,305    2,244    2,655          961    1,230    1,764     
 Missouri ...............      15      11       8       3,868    1,307      923        2,591    1,014      811     

 Montana ................       4       3       7         461      506      946          510      663    1,013     
 Nebraska ...............       -   ( 2 )       -           -    ( 2 )        -            -    ( 2 )        -
 Nevada .................      10      11       7       1,911    2,008    1,567        1,246    1,872    1,147     
 New Hampshire ..........       -   ( 2 )   ( 2 )           -    ( 2 )    ( 2 )            -    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
 New Jersey .............      31      36      33       3,832    6,105    3,928        5,505    6,321    3,759     
 New Mexico .............   ( 2 )   ( 2 )   ( 2 )       ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
 New York ...............      41      70      65       6,201   11,682    9,778        5,766   11,308    8,055     
 North Carolina .........      22      26      37       4,409    4,316    8,836        3,318    2,876    5,628     
 North Dakota ...........   ( 2 )       -   ( 2 )       ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )        ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )
 Ohio ...................      80      47     130      16,692    9,335   21,070       13,274    7,025   18,798     
 Oklahoma ...............   ( 2 )       3       5       ( 2 )      431    2,015        ( 2 )      286    2,015     
 Oregon .................      15      12      30       2,184    6,949    4,880        1,966    6,949    4,880     
 Pennsylvania ...........      66      42      45       9,059    6,629    7,279       20,148   12,471   12,981     

 Rhode Island ...........   ( 2 )   ( 2 )       5       ( 2 )    ( 2 )      765        ( 2 )    ( 2 )      640     
 South Carolina .........       6       7       6         669      615      760          870    1,182    1,321     
 South Dakota ...........       -       -       -           -        -        -            -        -        -
 Tennessee ..............       5      16      17         665    1,918    1,799        1,345    1,721    1,789     
 Texas ..................      87      61      85      15,891   10,522   14,508       22,025   15,214   15,256     
 Utah ...................      11       5      11       2,712    1,321    2,781        1,492      568    1,599     
 Vermont ................       3       -   ( 2 )         431        -    ( 2 )          431        -    ( 2 )     
 Virginia ...............      15      11      24       7,225    1,455    3,947        2,876    1,518    2,869     
 Washington .............      29      11      54       5,352    2,175   12,012        5,992    1,376    7,271     
 West Virginia ..........   ( 2 )       3       -       ( 2 )      505        -        ( 2 )      393        -
 Wisconsin ..............      76      15      74      15,270    2,644   21,101       16,305    2,340   13,415     
 Wyoming ................       -       -       -           -        -        -            -        -        -
 
 Puerto Rico ............      14      21      12       1,344    2,986    3,380        1,830    3,778    1,948


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.     
    p = preliminary.
    r = revised.    
    NOTE:  Dash represents zero.