Technical information:  (202) 691-6392       USDL 03-165
http://www.bls.gov/mls/

                                             For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                691-5902       Wednesday, April 9, 2003

                                     
                   MASS LAYOFFS IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2003
                       AND ANNUAL AVERAGES FOR 2002
   
   Employers initiated 3,597 mass layoff actions in January-February 2003,
as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the 
2 months, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
Statistics.  Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single
establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 340,474.  (See
table 1.)  In January-February 2002, there were 3,529 mass layoff events
involving 402,805 workers.  (January-February 2003 had one more week than
the January-February periods of the prior two years.)
   
   With the resumption of the Mass Layoff Statistics program, data are now
available since November 2002 (issued on Dec. 24, 2002).  The addition of
December brings the total of layoff events for all of 2002 to 20,269 and
the total of initial claimants to 2,244,631.  Both of these measures were
lower than in 2001 (21,467 and 2,514,862, respectively).  Additional
information on the annual data is provided starting on page 2 of this
release.

Industry Distribution
   
   Manufacturing industries accounted for 35 percent of all mass layoff
events and 40 percent of all initial claims filed in January-February.  A
year earlier, layoffs in this sector accounted for 39 percent of events and
47 percent of initial claims.  Within manufacturing, the number of initial
claimants was highest in transportation equipment (22,592, mainly in auto-
mobile manufacturing), followed by food processing (13,586, mostly in fruits 
and vegetables).  (See table 2.)
   
   Twelve percent of all layoff events and all initial claims filed during
the 2 months were in administrative and waste services, mostly in temporary
help services.  Thirteen percent of the events and 9 percent of all initial
claims in January-February were from construction, largely specialty trade
contractors.  Retail trade accounted for 9 percent of all events and initial 
claims, mainly from general merchandise stores.  Transportation and ware-
housing contributed an additional 5 percent to all events and 6 percent to 
initial claims, primarily in school and employee bus transportation and in 
scheduled passenger air transportation.
   
   Government establishments accounted for 4 percent of events and 3 percent 
of initial claims filed during these 2 months, particularly in executive, 
legislative, and general government and in educational services.
   
   ------------------------------------------------------------------                 
  |                    Mass Layoff Statistics Program                |
  |                                                                  |
  |    This news release marks the resumption of the Mass Layoff Sta-|
  | tistics (MLS) program.  It was discontinued as of Dec. 31, 2002, |
  | due to a lack of funding.  However, funds for the MLS resumption |
  | were contained in H.J. Res. 2, the Omnibus Appropriation Bill,   |
  | signed into law on Feb. 20.                                      |
   ------------------------------------------------------------------
   
                                   - 2 -

   Compared with January-February 2002, the largest decreases in initial
claims were reported in transportation equipment manufacturing (-19,730)
and in computer and electronic products manufacturing (-9,627).  The
largest over-the-year increase in initial claims was reported in transit
and ground passenger transportation (+6,334).

Geographic Distribution
   
   Among the four regions, the highest number of initial claims in January-
February due to mass layoffs was in the West, 112,935.  (See table 3.)
Administrative and support services and agricultural and forestry support
activities accounted for 25 percent of all initial claims in that region
during the 2 months.  The South followed with 84,446 initial claims (mainly
in transportation equipment manufacturing and in textile mills).  The lowest 
numbers of initial claims was reported in the Northeast, 67,687, largely in 
transit and ground passenger transportation.
   
   From January-February 2002 to January-February 2003, the number of
initial claimants in mass layoffs declined in three of the four geographic
regions.  The largest decrease occurred in the South (-32,418), largely in
administrative and support services and in apparel manufacturing.  Eight of
the nine geographic divisions reported over-the-year decreases in the number 
of initial claims associated with mass layoffs, with the largest declines 
in the East North Central (-23,420), West South Central (-15,490), and East 
South Central (-15,179) divisions.  The Middle Atlantic division reported the 
only increase (+17,785).
   
   California had the largest number of initial claims filed in mass
layoff events this January-February, 87,682, mostly in administrative and
support services, followed by Pennsylvania, 25,786, New York, 24,071, and
Ohio, 20,786.  These four states accounted for 51 percent of all layoff
events and 47 percent of initial claims for unemployment insurance.  
(See table 4.)
   
   Texas reported the largest over-the-year decrease in initial claims 
(-13,548), followed by Alabama (-12,825), California (-9,656), Michigan 
(-9,449), and Illinois (-9,246).  The largest over-the-year increase 
occurred in New York (+19,215).
     
Review of 2002

   During 2002, 20,269 layoff events occurred in the nation, resulting 
in 2,244,631 initial claims filings for unemployment insurance.  In 2001,
there were 21,467 events and 2,514,862 initial claimants.  (See table A.)
     
   Manufacturing accounted for 35 percent of all mass layoff events and
40 percent of initial claims filed during 2002.  A year earlier, manufac-
turing accounted for 42 percent of events and 49 percent of initial claims.  
Initial claim filings were most numerous in transportation equipment, 176,619, 
followed by food production, 98,284, machinery manufacturing, 87,710, and 
computer and electronic products, 85,898.  Compared with 2001, the largest 
decrease in initial claims occurred in transportation equipment (-126,520).  
The largest over-the-year increase in initial claims occurred in textile 
product mills (+6,001).
     
   The number of initial claims filed in 2002 due to mass layoffs was
higher in the West, 745,638, than in any other region.  Layoffs in
administrative and support services, agricultural and forestry support
activities, and professional and technical services accounted for 31
percent of the claims in the West.  The fewest number of mass-layoff
initial claims was reported in the Northeast region, 338,965.  Over-the-
year decreases in mass-layoff initial claims occurred in each of the four
regions, with the largest in the Midwest (-227,476).
    
    Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, California recorded
the largest number of initial claims filed in mass layoff events for the
period, 576,110.  Michigan reported the largest over-the-year decrease in
initial claims (-133,109), followed by Pennsylvania (-43,857).  The largest
over-the-year increases occurred in Alabama (+41,593) and New York
(+39,174).

                                  - 3 -

Table A.  Number of mass layoff events and initial claimants 
for unemployment insurance, 1996-2002
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Year      | Layoff events |     Initial claimants for
              |               |    unemployment insurance
--------------|-------------- |-------------------------------
              |               |
1996..........|    14,111     |          1,437,628
1997..........|    14,960     |          1,542,543
1998..........|    15,904     |          1,771,069
1999..........|    14,909     |          1,572,399
2000..........|    15,738     |          1,835,592
2001(r).......|    21,467     |          2,514,862
2002..........|    20,269     |          2,244,631
--------------------------------------------------------------             
 r=revised.   
                                     
Note
   
   The monthly data series in this release cover mass layoffs of 50 or
more workers beginning in a given month, regardless of the duration of 
the layoffs.  Information on the length of the layoff is obtained later 
and issued in a quarterly release that reports on mass layoffs lasting 
more than 30 days (referred to as "extended mass layoffs") and provides 
more information on the industry classification and location of the 
establishment and on the demographics of the laid-off workers.  Because 
monthly figures include short-term layoffs of 30 days or less, the sum 
of the figures for the 3 months in a quarter are higher than the quarterly 
figure for mass layoffs of more than 30 days.  (See table 1.)  See the 
Technical Note for more detailed definitions.

  
 
 
 

Technical Note
 
 
 
 The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state program that
uses a standardized, automated approach to identifying, describing, and
tracking the effects of major job cutbacks, using data from each state's
unemployment insurance database.  Each month, states report on
establishments which have at least 50 initial claims filed against them
during a consecutive 5-week period.  These establishments then are
contacted by the state agency to determine whether these separations lasted
31 days or longer, and, if so, other information concerning the layoff is
collected.  States report on layoffs lasting more than 1 month on a
quarterly basis.
 
 A given month contains an aggregation of the weekly unemployment
insurance claims filings for the Sunday through Saturday weeks in that
month.  All weeks are included for the particular month, except if the
first day of the month falls on Saturday.  In this case, the week is
included in the prior month's tabulations.  This means that some months
will contain 4 weeks and others 5 weeks, and the number of weeks in a given
month may be different from year to year.  Therefore, analysis of over-the-
month and over-the-year change should take this calendar effect into
consideration.
 
 The MLS program resumed operations in April 1995 after it had been
terminated in November 1992 due to lack of funding.  Prior to April 1995,
monthly layoff statistics were not available.
 
 Information in this release will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; 
TDD message referral phone number:  1-800-877-8339.
 
Definitions
 
 Initial claimant.  A person who files any notice of unemployment to
initiate a request either for a determination of entitlement to and
eligibility for compensation, or for a subsequent period of unemployment
within a benefit year or period of eligibility.
 
 Mass layoff event.  Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment
insurance benefits filed against an establishment during a 5-week period,
regardless of duration.

 
 
 
 

Table 1. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, January 2001 to February 2003
                            
                                                            Extended mass layoffs 
                                Total mass layoffs        lasting more than 30 days        Realization rates(1)
             Date           

                                           Initial                        Initial                      Initial
                                Events    claimants       Events         claimants         Events     claimants
                            
             2001           

January ....................     1,522     200,343
February ...................     1,501     172,908
March ......................     1,527     171,466

First Quarter ..............     4,550     544,717         1,765          340,210           38.8         62.5

April ......................     1,450     176,265
May ........................     1,434     159,365
June .......................     2,107     253,826

Second Quarter .............     4,991     589,456         2,072          401,270           41.5         68.1

July .......................     2,117     273,807
August .....................     1,490     166,148
September ..................     1,327     160,402

Third Quarter ..............     4,934     600,357         1,815          370,942           36.8         61.8

October ....................     1,831     215,483
November ...................     2,721     295,956
December ...................     2,440     268,893

Fourth Quarter .............     6,992     780,332         2,698          502,287           38.6         64.4

             2002           

January ....................     2,146     263,821
February ...................     1,383     138,984
March ......................     1,460     161,336

First Quarter ..............     4,989     564,141         1,748          314,966           35.0         55.8

April ......................     1,507     165,861
May ........................     1,726     180,007
June .......................     1,580     161,928

Second Quarter .............     4,813     507,796         1,905          347,321           39.6         68.4

July .......................     2,041     245,211
August .....................     1,247     128,080
September ..................     1,062     124,512

Third Quarter ..............     4,350     497,803   (2)(p)1,309    (2)(p)193,385        (p)30.1      (p)38.8

October ....................     1,497     171,088
November ...................     2,150     240,028
December ...................     2,470     263,775

Fourth Quarter .............     6,117     674,891

             2003           

January (p) ................     2,286     222,186
February (p) ...............     1,311     118,288


    1 The event realization rate is the percentage of total mass layoff events lasting more than 30 days.  The
initial claimant realization rate is the percentage of total mass-layoff initial claimants associated with
layoffs lasting more than 30 days. 
    2 These quarterly numbers are provisional and will increase as more data on these layoffs become avaliable.
Recent experience suggests that the number of extended mass layoff events is generally revised upwards by less
than 10 percent and the number of initial claimants associated with such events increases by 25-40 percent. 
    p=preliminary. 

 
 
 
 

Table 2. Industry distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance
                                                 
                                                                                                    Initial claimants for          
                                                             Mass layoff events                     unemployment insurance         
                     Industry                    

                                                   February December  January  February   February   December    January    February
                                                     2002     2002     2003p    2003p       2002       2002       2003p      2003p 


     Total(1) ...................................    1,383    2,470    2,286    1,311      138,984    263,775    222,186    118,288

Total, private ..................................    1,351    2,392    2,199    1,271      135,518    257,087    214,197    115,286

  Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ....       97       72       96      100        5,493      4,663      6,407      5,626
  Mining ........................................       15       26       19        7        1,802      1,981      1,559        724
  Utilities .....................................    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        8        -        ( 2 )      ( 2 )        561          -
  Construction ..................................      140      407      263      194       10,277     31,937     18,571     13,282
  Manufacturing .................................      482      984      817      427       58,842    126,834     89,525     45,290
      Food ......................................       63       89       89       59        6,991     10,597      8,111      5,475
      Beverage and tobacco products .............        7        9       11        8          409      1,032        755        407
      Textile mills .............................       21       46       42       16        2,380      6,676      7,611      1,958
      Textile product mills .....................        8       23       18        7          873      3,014      1,890        571
      Apparel ...................................       26       42       53       20        2,190      5,101      6,085      1,525
      Leather and allied products ...............    ( 2 )       10        5    ( 2 )        ( 2 )        854        294      ( 2 )
      Wood products .............................       37       64       56       28        3,854      7,219      6,702      2,291
      Paper .....................................       16       21       19       13        1,636      1,540      2,510        999
      Printing and related support activities ...       12       11       21       13        1,321      1,186      1,803        793
      Petroleum and coal products ...............    ( 2 )        9        5    ( 2 )        ( 2 )        932        339      ( 2 )

      Chemicals .................................       12       11       14        8          780      1,523      1,202      1,098
      Plastics and rubber products ..............       15       77       34       15        1,472     11,776      3,599      1,086
      Nonmetallic mineral products ..............       10       54       35       18          976      5,366      3,201      1,652
      Primary metals ............................       24       65       48       16        2,829      7,179      5,846      1,613
      Fabricated metal products .................       36       72       58       34        3,471      8,249      5,664      2,622
      Machinery .................................       28       57       53       21        6,027      7,547      6,031      2,105
      Computer and electronic products ..........       58       68       78       41        6,025      6,655      6,800      3,671
      Electrical equipment and appliances .......       16       39       30       19        2,162      8,304      2,920      3,159
      Transportation equipment ..................       56      159       85       53       11,424     25,463     12,057     10,535
      Furniture and related products ............       20       35       36       24        2,593      3,868      4,003      2,702
      Miscellaneous manufacturing ...............       14       23       27        9        1,172      2,753      2,102        613

  Wholesale trade ...............................       24       35       42       17        1,569      2,696      3,229      1,170
  Retail trade ..................................      105      112      205      103       10,605     11,324     21,251      9,338
  Transportation and warehousing ................       45      142      143       32        5,179     15,976     16,016      4,249
  Information ...................................       69       54       67       53        9,902     10,396      5,902      5,133
  Finance and insurance .........................       38       27       46       23        2,539      2,095      3,854      1,723
  Real estate and rental and leasing ............        8        7        7        9          469        431        408        745
  Professional and technical services ...........       45       56       44       31        2,956      4,595      6,269      4,084
  Management of companies and enterprises .......        8    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        5          699      ( 2 )      ( 2 )        431
  Administrative and waste services .............      185      229      269      164       17,306     20,191     26,190     14,776
  Educational services ..........................        -        8    ( 2 )        4            -        475      ( 2 )        201
  Health care and social assistance .............       18       27       26       19        1,115      3,252      1,811      1,401
  Arts, entertainment, and recreation ...........    ( 2 )       25       29       15        ( 2 )      1,724      2,060      1,447
  Accommodation and food services ...............       49      154       86       51        4,091     15,215      7,035      4,676
  Other services, except public administration ..        9       15       27       11          481      1,174      3,097        629

  Unclassified ..................................        6        6        2        6        1,563        469        172        361

Government ......................................       32       78       87       40        3,466      6,688      7,989      3,002
  Federal .......................................        8        6       19        7        1,002        672      2,303        421
  State .........................................        7       14       28       14          449      1,031      2,630      1,054
  Local .........................................       17       58       40       19        2,015      4,985      3,056      1,527


    1 Data were reported by all states and the District of Columbia.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    p = preliminary. 
    NOTE:  Industry data reflect the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), 2002.  Dash represents zero. 

      
   

Table 2a. Industry distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance
                                                 
                                                                                                    Initial claimants for          
                                                             Mass layoff events                     unemployment insurance         
                     Industry                    

                                                   December January  December  January    December   January    December    January
                                                     2001     2002     2002     2003p       2001       2002       2002       2003p 


     Total(1) ...................................    2,440    2,146    2,470    2,286      268,893    263,821    263,775    222,186

Total, private ..................................    2,387    2,093    2,392    2,199      264,225    258,219    257,087    214,197

  Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ....       68       65       72       96        4,728      5,950      4,663      6,407
  Mining ........................................       32       20       26       19        3,581      2,110      1,981      1,559
  Utilities .....................................        6    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        8        1,076      ( 2 )      ( 2 )        561
  Construction ..................................      364      199      407      263       28,637     15,869     31,937     18,571
  Manufacturing .................................    1,103      892      984      817      136,820    128,825    126,834     89,525
      Food ......................................       99       61       89       89       11,126      6,949     10,597      8,111
      Beverage and tobacco products .............        7        7        9       11          725        488      1,032        755
      Textile mills .............................       35       37       46       42        4,323      9,448      6,676      7,611
      Textile product mills .....................       12       19       23       18        1,300      3,109      3,014      1,890
      Apparel ...................................       43       66       42       53        4,337     11,560      5,101      6,085
      Leather and allied products ...............       16        5       10        5        1,641        332        854        294
      Wood products .............................       62       63       64       56        6,316      6,990      7,219      6,702
      Paper .....................................       28       22       21       19        2,458      1,676      1,540      2,510
      Printing and related support activities ...       18       17       11       21        1,328      2,173      1,186      1,803
      Petroleum and coal products ...............        7        6        9        5          619        388        932        339

      Chemicals .................................       19       14       11       14        2,116      1,026      1,523      1,202
      Plastics and rubber products ..............       74       39       77       34        9,156      3,780     11,776      3,599
      Nonmetallic mineral products ..............       47       31       54       35        4,543      2,597      5,366      3,201
      Primary metals ............................       69       44       65       48       10,388      6,247      7,179      5,846
      Fabricated metal products .................      106       75       72       58        9,458      7,377      8,249      5,664
      Machinery .................................       84       69       57       53       12,584      8,837      7,547      6,031
      Computer and electronic products ..........       95      103       68       78       13,346     14,073      6,655      6,800
      Electrical equipment and appliances .......       42       36       39       30        5,991      3,835      8,304      2,920
      Transportation equipment ..................      175      112      159       85       26,558     30,900     25,463     12,057
      Furniture and related products ............       41       43       35       36        5,972      5,429      3,868      4,003
      Miscellaneous manufacturing ...............       24       23       23       27        2,535      1,611      2,753      2,102

  Wholesale trade ...............................       26       38       35       42        1,979      3,962      2,696      3,229
  Retail trade ..................................      116      185      112      205       12,298     21,717     11,324     21,251
  Transportation and warehousing ................      120       87      142      143       15,384      8,067     15,976     16,016
  Information ...................................       46       71       54       67        8,123      7,809     10,396      5,902
  Finance and insurance .........................       26       49       27       46        1,931      5,005      2,095      3,854
  Real estate and rental and leasing ............       10        8        7        7          770        676        431        408
  Professional and technical services ...........       59       59       56       44        6,117     13,474      4,595      6,269
  Management of companies and enterprises .......        4        5    ( 2 )    ( 2 )          485        804      ( 2 )      ( 2 )
  Administrative and waste services .............      219      237      229      269       23,863     26,181     20,191     26,190
  Educational services ..........................        4    ( 2 )        8    ( 2 )          208      ( 2 )        475      ( 2 )
  Health care and social assistance .............       19       24       27       26        1,594      1,803      3,252      1,811
  Arts, entertainment, and recreation ...........       18       27       25       29        1,228      2,773      1,724      2,060
  Accommodation and food services ...............      109       87      154       86       11,733      8,295     15,215      7,035
  Other services, except public administration ..       13       18       15       27        1,433      1,756      1,174      3,097

  Unclassified ..................................       25       16        6        2        2,237      2,468        469        172

Government ......................................       53       53       78       87        4,668      5,602      6,688      7,989
  Federal .......................................        7       13        6       19          651      1,751        672      2,303
  State .........................................       14       16       14       28        1,160      1,741      1,031      2,630
  Local .........................................       32       24       58       40        2,857      2,110      4,985      3,056


    1 Data were reported by all states and the District of Columbia.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    p = preliminary. 
    NOTE: Industry data reflect the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), 2002. 
Table 3. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance by census region and division
                            
                                                                                       Initial claimants for            
                                           Mass layoff events                          unemployment insurance           
  Census region and division

                              February   December    January    February    February    December     January     February
                                2002       2002       2003p      2003p        2002        2002        2003p       2003p 

      United States(1) .....    1,383      2,470      2,286      1,311       138,984     263,775     222,186     118,288

Northeast ..................      175        444        475        225        20,241      43,796      44,396      23,291

  New England ..............       38        119         68         26         4,107      13,823       6,928       2,758
  Middle Atlantic ..........      137        325        407        199        16,134      29,973      37,468      20,533

South ......................      350        557        525        255        37,256      60,660      58,258      26,188

  South Atlantic ...........      176        290        288        142        16,633      32,679      32,616      15,410
  East South Central .......       67        140        167         45         7,024      16,041      19,318       5,249
  West South Central .......      107        127         70         68        13,599      11,940       6,324       5,529

Midwest ....................      284        830        523        235        34,912     101,493      52,162      23,244

  East North Central .......      217        609        401        181        27,662      71,477      41,608      16,279
  West North Central .......       67        221        122         54         7,250      30,016      10,554       6,965

West .......................      574        639        763        596        46,575      57,826      67,370      45,565

  Mountain .................       60         72         73         27         5,782       6,498       6,136       2,857
  Pacific ..................      514        567        690        569        40,793      51,328      61,234      42,708


    1 See footnote 1, table 2.
    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 3a. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance by census region and division
                            
                                                                                       Initial claimants for            
                                           Mass layoff events                          unemployment insurance           
  Census region and division

                              December   January    December    January     December    January     December     January
                                2001       2002       2002       2003p        2001        2002        2002        2003p 

      United States(1) .....    2,440      2,146      2,470      2,286       268,893     263,821     263,775     222,186

Northeast ..................      401        274        444        475        40,843      29,934      43,796      44,396

  New England ..............      116         58        119         68        12,809       5,852      13,823       6,928
  Middle Atlantic ..........      285        216        325        407        28,034      24,082      29,973      37,468

South ......................      451        581        557        525        52,331      79,608      60,660      58,258

  South Atlantic ...........      185        229        290        288        19,366      33,142      32,679      32,616
  East South Central .......      124        227        140        167        15,232      32,722      16,041      19,318
  West South Central .......      142        125        127         70        17,733      13,744      11,940       6,324

Midwest ....................    1,013        559        830        523       119,250      71,176     101,493      52,162

  East North Central .......      774        437        609        401        87,719      53,645      71,477      41,608
  West North Central .......      239        122        221        122        31,531      17,531      30,016      10,554

West .......................      575        732        639        763        56,469      83,103      57,826      67,370

  Mountain .................       83         83         72         73         8,547       9,315       6,498       6,136
  Pacific ..................      492        649        567        690        47,922      73,788      51,328      61,234


    1 See footnote 1, table 2.
    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 4. State distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance
                            
                                                                                          Initial claimants for            
                                            Mass layoff events                            unemployment insurance           
            State           

                              February    December     January    February     February    December     January    February
                                2002        2002        2003p       2003p        2002        2002        2003p       2003p 

   Total(1) ................    1,383       2,470       2,286       1,311       138,984     263,775     222,186     118,288

Alabama ....................       21          32         119           9         2,129       3,532      14,789       1,547
Alaska .....................    ( 2 )           3           7       ( 2 )         ( 2 )         175         471       ( 2 )
Arizona ....................       11          10          14           7           939         852       1,292         537
Arkansas ...................        4           8           8           4           299         773         699         288
California .................      460         485         579         525        34,494      42,225      48,913      38,769
Colorado ...................       10           9          16           6           976       1,013       1,540         535
Connecticut ................    ( 2 )           8          16           3         ( 2 )         801       1,508         190
Delaware ...................        -       ( 2 )       ( 2 )       ( 2 )             -       ( 2 )       ( 2 )       ( 2 )
District of Columbia .......    ( 2 )       ( 2 )           4           -         ( 2 )       ( 2 )         350           -
Florida ....................       86          77          83          59         5,903       5,377       5,767       4,459
Georgia ....................       20          58          89          23         2,396       5,417      12,406       3,627
Hawaii .....................       10           7           8           3         1,090       1,448         773         186
Idaho ......................       13          18          19           4         1,579       1,339       1,478         996

Illinois ...................       58         122          88          44        10,045      15,469       8,794       4,956
Indiana ....................       25         119          34          28         2,319      20,385       3,011       2,267
Iowa .......................       13          65          34          15         1,869       8,024       3,083       1,191
Kansas .....................        4          22          15           5           431       3,942       1,108       2,056
Kentucky ...................       27          79          20          14         2,963       9,849       2,512       2,174
Louisiana ..................       13          27          19          16         2,409       1,691       1,240       1,043
Maine ......................    ( 2 )           8           8       ( 2 )         ( 2 )         604       1,201       ( 2 )
Maryland ...................        6           4           8           6           606         472         592         562
Massachusetts ..............       25          63          33          18         2,406       7,495       3,162       1,620
Michigan ...................       41          71          22          21         4,235       6,500       1,982       1,719
Minnesota ..................       24          51          33           8         2,662       6,748       3,026         614
Mississippi ................        5          10           4          10           757         788         228         732
Missouri ...................       20          58          30          15         1,510       8,606       2,351       1,922

Montana ....................        3           4           3       ( 2 )           225         538         204       ( 2 )
Nebraska ...................        5          18           7           6           564       2,015         539         830
Nevada .....................       14          26          15           8         1,122       2,426       1,276         659
New Hampshire ..............    ( 2 )          11           5           -         ( 2 )       1,210         623           -
New Jersey .................       39          74          49          31         6,074       7,315       4,372       3,772
New Mexico .................        3           5           5           -           279         330         294           -
New York ...................       26         101         188          42         2,375       9,599      18,806       5,265
North Carolina .............       18          10          26          17         2,628         793       3,215       1,385
North Dakota ...............        -           5       ( 2 )           3             -         483       ( 2 )         229
Ohio .......................       50         124         151          46         4,966      11,472      16,689       4,097
Oklahoma ...................       15          23          15           7         1,810       2,910       2,225         553
Oregon .....................       24          45          66          24         2,576       5,250       7,672       2,036
Pennsylvania ...............       72         150         170         126         7,685      13,059      14,290      11,496

Rhode Island ...............        6          21           4       ( 2 )           942       2,921         310       ( 2 )
South Carolina .............       25          91          50          20         2,808      13,918       5,954       2,159
South Dakota ...............    ( 2 )       ( 2 )       ( 2 )       ( 2 )         ( 2 )       ( 2 )       ( 2 )       ( 2 )
Tennessee ..................       14          19          24          12         1,175       1,872       1,789         796
Texas ......................       75          69          28          41         9,081       6,566       2,160       3,645
Utah .......................        6           -       ( 2 )           -           662           -       ( 2 )           -
Vermont ....................    ( 2 )           8       ( 2 )       ( 2 )         ( 2 )         792       ( 2 )       ( 2 )
Virginia ...................       17          45          24          13         2,061       6,298       3,266       1,263
Washington .................       18          27          30          15         2,495       2,230       3,405       1,511
West Virginia ..............        3       ( 2 )           3       ( 2 )           166       ( 2 )         174       ( 2 )
Wisconsin ..................       43         173         106          42         6,097      17,651      11,132       3,240
Wyoming ....................        -           -           -       ( 2 )             -           -           -       ( 2 )

Puerto Rico ................        7           6          14          10           827         698       1,371       1,336


    1 See footnote 1, table 2.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. 
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero. 

 
 
 
 

Table 4a. State distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance
                            
                                                                                          Initial claimants for            
                                            Mass layoff events                            unemployment insurance           
            State           

                              December    January     December     January     December    January     December     January
                                2001        2002        2002        2003p        2001        2002        2002        2003p 

   Total(1) ................    2,440       2,146       2,470       2,286       268,893     263,821     263,775     222,186

Alabama ....................       12         163          32         119         1,902      27,032       3,532      14,789
Alaska .....................        3           7           3           7           237         467         175         471
Arizona ....................       10          12          10          14           831       1,252         852       1,292
Arkansas ...................       10           5           8           8         1,030         445         773         699
California .................      406         563         485         579        39,239      62,844      42,225      48,913
Colorado ...................       14          13           9          16         1,295       1,487       1,013       1,540
Connecticut ................        9           5           8          16           674         428         801       1,508
Delaware ...................        4       ( 2 )       ( 2 )       ( 2 )           521       ( 2 )       ( 2 )       ( 2 )
District of Columbia .......    ( 2 )           3       ( 2 )           4         ( 2 )         499       ( 2 )         350
Florida ....................       54          78          77          83         4,136       9,173       5,377       5,767
Georgia ....................       15          46          58          89         1,268      10,630       5,417      12,406
Hawaii .....................        5          14           7           8           494       1,302       1,448         773
Idaho ......................       17          13          18          19         1,914       1,054       1,339       1,478

Illinois ...................      130          89         122          88        15,387      12,951      15,469       8,794
Indiana ....................       77          36         119          34         9,516       5,101      20,385       3,011
Iowa .......................       63          32          65          34         7,523       3,982       8,024       3,083
Kansas .....................       25          16          22          15         6,065       1,331       3,942       1,108
Kentucky ...................       74          30          79          20         9,912       2,565       9,849       2,512
Louisiana ..................       24          20          27          19         1,619       2,249       1,691       1,240
Maine ......................        7           5           8           8           571         616         604       1,201
Maryland ...................        6          11           4           8           451         998         472         592
Massachusetts ..............       52          30          63          33         5,534       2,867       7,495       3,162
Michigan ...................      298          82          71          22        34,681       8,915       6,500       1,982
Minnesota ..................       55          29          51          33         6,181       2,913       6,748       3,026
Mississippi ................       11           7          10           4           740         584         788         228
Missouri ...................       70          39          58          30         8,799       8,709       8,606       2,351

Montana ....................        4       ( 2 )           4           3           728       ( 2 )         538         204
Nebraska ...................       19           4          18           7         2,324         466       2,015         539
Nevada .....................       30          31          26          15         3,202       4,133       2,426       1,276
New Hampshire ..............       17           7          11           5         1,930       1,001       1,210         623
New Jersey .................       45          49          74          49         5,416       7,066       7,315       4,372
New Mexico .................        4           4           5           5           246         535         330         294
New York ...................       35          27         101         188         3,026       2,481       9,599      18,806
North Carolina .............       20          25          10          26         1,869       3,386         793       3,215
North Dakota ...............        4       ( 2 )           5       ( 2 )           352       ( 2 )         483       ( 2 )
Ohio .......................      123         158         124         151        11,562      18,614      11,472      16,689
Oklahoma ...................       19           8          23          15         3,214         778       2,910       2,225
Oregon .....................       54          39          45          66         5,946       5,278       5,250       7,672
Pennsylvania ...............      205         140         150         170        19,592      14,535      13,059      14,290

Rhode Island ...............       19           7          21           4         2,288         694       2,921         310
South Carolina .............       36          33          91          50         5,049       3,753      13,918       5,954
South Dakota ...............        3       ( 2 )       ( 2 )       ( 2 )           287       ( 2 )       ( 2 )       ( 2 )
Tennessee ..................       27          27          19          24         2,678       2,541       1,872       1,789
Texas ......................       89          92          69          28        11,870      10,272       6,566       2,160
Utah .......................        4           7           -       ( 2 )           331         551           -       ( 2 )
Vermont ....................       12           4           8       ( 2 )         1,812         246         792       ( 2 )
Virginia ...................       47          27          45          24         5,875       3,303       6,298       3,266
Washington .................       24          26          27          30         2,006       3,897       2,230       3,405
West Virginia ..............    ( 2 )           4       ( 2 )           3         ( 2 )         258       ( 2 )         174
Wisconsin ..................      146          72         173         106        16,573       8,064      17,651      11,132
Wyoming ....................        -       ( 2 )           -           -             -       ( 2 )           -           -

Puerto Rico ................        9           8           6          14         1,281       1,020         698       1,371


    1 See footnote 1, table 2.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. 
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.