Technical information:  (202) 691-6392     USDL 03-311
http://www.bls.gov/mls/
                                     
                                           For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                691-5902     Wednesday, June 18, 2003
                                     
                                     
            EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2003
  
  
   In the first quarter of 2003, 1,508 mass layoff actions were taken by
employers that resulted in the separation of 272,133 workers from their
jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released by 
the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Both the to-
tal number of layoff events and the number of separations were lower than 
in January-March 2002 and were the lowest for the first quarter since 2000.
(See table A.)  The decline from first quarter 2002 was most notable in ad-
ministrative and support services, general merchandise stores, and computer 
and electronic products manufacturing.
                                     
   The completion of seasonal work accounted for 26 percent of all events
and 76,203 separations during the period.  Layoffs due to internal company
restructuring accounted for 23 percent of events and resulted in 77,977 se-
parations, both lower than a year earlier.  Permanent closure of worksites 
occurred in 14 percent of all events and affected 50,894 workers.  A year 
earlier, such closures occurred in 20 percent of all events and affected 
92,795 workers.  Forty-one percent of the employers with layoffs in the 
first quarter indicated that they anticipated some type of recall, higher 
than a year ago (35 percent).
   
Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
   
   Extended mass layoff separations occurred in 468 of the 1,197 detailed in-
dustries for which data are available.  Manufacturing industries accounted 
for 36 percent of private-sector layoff events and 32 percent of separations 
during January-March 2003.  The 84,296 worker separations were the lowest for 
a first quarter since 1998.  Separations in this sector were concentrated in 
computer and electronic products (15,634, mostly in semiconductors and related 
devices), followed by transportation equipment (11,262, mainly in automobiles 
and aircraft) and food manufacturing (11,245, largely in the highly seasonal 
fruit and vegetable canning industry).  (See table 1.)  The level and propor-
tion of first-quarter layoff events and separations in manufacturing have de-
clined substantially since the 2001 peak for the January-March period.
   
   Retail trade accounted for 9 percent of private-sector layoff events and 
14 percent of separations, with the layoff activity concentrated in general 
merchandise stores.  Layoffs in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 
comprised 9 percent of events and 12 percent of separations, mostly among 
farm labor contractors.  Layoffs in construction accounted for 14 percent of 
events and 10 percent of separations, mainly among specialty trade contractors.  
The administrative and waste services sector accounted for an additional 10 
percent of events and 9 percent of separations during the quarter, primarily 
from temporary help services.
   
                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Period           | Layoff events|  Separations | Initial claimants
-------------------------|--------------|--------------|-------------------
          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.........|     1,625    |    334,794   |     287,685
          2000           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,330    |    254,646   |     221,368
April-June...............|     1,271    |    258,608   |     231,471
July-September...........|     1,014    |    230,103   |     189,250
October-December.........|     2,005    |    427,070   |     376,611
          2001           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,765    |    342,954   |     340,210
April-June...............|     2,072    |    481,886   |     401,270
July-September...........|     1,815    |    384,403   |     370,942
October-December(r)......|     2,698    |    542,284   |     502,724
          2002           |              |              |
January-March(r).........|     1,747    |    333,097   |     315,781
April-June(r)............|     1,905    |    432,914   |     352,807
July-September(r)........|     1,382    |    310,347   |     278,483
October-December(r)......|     2,259    |    468,982   |     421,669
          2003           |              |              |
January-March(p).........|     1,508    |    272,133   |     210,674
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  p=preliminary.                         r=revised.
   

   Layoffs in government establishments accounted for 3 percent of all
events and separations, mostly from executive, legislative, and general
government agencies and the postal service.
   
Reasons for Extended Layoff
   
   Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 26 percent
of the extended layoff events and resulted in 76,203 separations in the
first quarter.  (See table 2.)  Seasonal layoffs were most numerous among
workers in agriculture and forestry support services (largely among farm
labor contractors) and crop production (mostly in grape vineyards).
   
   Internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change,
financial difficulty, and reorganization) accounted for 23 percent of
layoff events and resulted in 77,997 separations.  These layoffs were
mostly among workers in general merchandise stores.
   
   Lack of demand for products and services (slack work) accounted for 
17 percent of events and resulted in 35,107 separations during the first
quarter, mostly in computer and electronic products manufacturing and in
transportation equipment manufacturing.
   
Recall Expectations
   
   Forty-one percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the first 
quarter of 2003 indicated they anticipated some type of recall.  This compares 
with 35 percent of the employers anticipating a recall a year earlier.  (See 
table B.)  Most of the employers not expecting a recall were in general mer-
chandise stores, computer and electronic products manufacturing, and admin-
istrative and support services.
                                  
                                  - 3 -

     Table B.  Summary of employer expectations of a recall from
     extended layoff, first quarter 2002-first quarter 2003
     -------------------------------------------------------------
                          |         Percentage of events
                          |---------------------------------------
     Nature of the recall |  I   |   II  |   III |  IV   |   I 
                          | 2002 |  2002 |  2002 | 2002r | 2003p
    ----------------------|------|-------|-------|-------|--------
     Anticipate a recall..| 35.3 |  52.8 |  36.4 |  55.7 |  41.2
                          |      |       |       |       |
           Timeframe      |      |       |       |       |
                          |      |       |       |       |
     Within 6 months......| 77.3 |  82.0 |  77.5 |  78.8 |  74.2
       Within 3 months....| 46.5 |  57.4 |  51.5 |  32.6 |  46.3
                          |      |       |       |       |
           Size           |      |       |       |       |
                          |      |       |       |       |
     At least half........| 84.9 |  91.3 |  82.5 |  86.7 |  79.7
       All workers........| 27.7 |  42.8 |  32.6 |  37.4 |  29.3
     -------------------------------------------------------------
       p=preliminary.                    r=revised.
   
   
   Among establishments expecting a recall, most employers expected to recall 
over one-half of the separated employees and to do so within 6 months.  Twenty-
nine percent of the employers expected to extend the offer to all laid-off 
workers.
   
   Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in which 
88 percent of the employers expected a recall), employers expected to recall 
laid-off workers in 25 percent of the events.  In layoff events due to intern-
al company restructuring, employers anticipated a recall in only 6 percent of 
the events.
   
Size of Extended Layoff
   
   Layoff events during the first quarter continued to be concentrated at the
lower end of the extended layoff-size spectrum, with 64 percent involving few-
er than 150 workers.  These events, however, accounted for only 31 percent of 
all separations.  (See table C.)  Separations involving 500 or more workers 
accounted for 29 percent of all separations, down slightly from 32 percent a 
year earlier.  The average size of layoffs (as measured by separations per 
layoff event) differed widely by industry, ranging from a low of 71 separa-
tions in miscellaneous store retailers to a high of 527 in warehousing and 
storage.
   
Initial Claimant Characteristics
   
   A total of 210,674 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with extended mass layoffs in the first quarter of 2003.  Of
these claimants, 13 percent were black, 38 percent were women, 19 percent
were Hispanic, and 14 percent were 55 years of age or older.  (See table 3.)  
Forty percent of claimants were 30 to 44 years of age.  Among the civilian 
labor force for the same period, 11 percent were black, 47 percent were wo-
men, 13 percent were Hispanic, and 15 percent were 55 years of age or older.  
Thirty-seven percent of the civilian labor force were ages 30 to 44.

                                  - 4 -

Table C.  Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff,
January-March 2003(p)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                 |      Layoff events     |       Separations
      Size       |------------------------|------------------------
                 |   Number  |   Percent  |  Number  |   Percent
-----------------|-----------|------------|----------|-------------
                 |           |            |          |
    Total........|   1,508   |    100.0   |  272,133 |    100.0
                 |           |            |          |
50-99............|     634   |     42.0   |   44,812 |     16.5
100-149..........|     333   |     22.1   |   38,449 |     14.1
150-199..........|     176   |     11.7   |   29,677 |     10.9
200-299..........|     174   |     11.5   |   40,550 |     14.9
300-499..........|     110   |      7.3   |   39,436 |     14.5
500-999..........|      50   |      3.3   |   31,401 |     11.5
1,000 or more....|      31   |      2.1   |   47,808 |     17.6
-------------------------------------------------------------------
  p=preliminary.

   
Geographic Distribution
   
   In the first quarter, the number of separations due to extended mass
layoff events was highest in the West (98,030), followed by the Midwest
(68,658), the South (64,754), and the Northeast (40,691).  (See table 4.)
Extended mass layoffs in the West were mainly agriculture related.
   
   All four regions reported over-the-year decreases in separations, with
the largest decrease occurring in the South (-23,923), closely followed by
the West (-20,857).  Six of the nine geographic divisions reported over-the-
year declines in laid-off workers, with the largest decline in the South
Atlantic division.  This was followed closely by declines in the Mountain,
East South Central, and Middle Atlantic divisions.
   
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the largest number of
worker separations occurred in California (67,087), followed by Illinois
(29,995).  These two states accounted for 31 percent of total layoff events
and 36 percent of the separations during the first quarter of 2003.  They
were followed by Texas (18,236), New York (14,203), Florida (11,487), North
Carolina (11,050), and Washington (10,579).  (See table 5.)  After excluding 
the substantial impact of seasonal work, California still reported the most 
laid-off workers (35,777), largely due to layoffs in computer and electronic 
products manufacturing, general merchandise stores, and administrative and 
support services.
   
   Over the year, Florida reported the greatest decrease in laid-off workers 
(-12,206), followed by Pennsylvania (-9,698) and Alabama (-8,406).  The largest 
increase occurred in New York (+4,366).
   
Note
   
   The quarterly series on extended mass layoffs cover layoffs of at least
31-days duration that involve 50 or more individuals from a single establish-
ment filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a consecutive 
5-week period.  Approximately 30 days after a mass layoff is triggered at an 
establishment, the employer is contacted for additional information.  Data 
for the first quarter are preliminary and subject to revision.  This release 
also includes revised data for previous quarters.  Data are not seasonally 
adjusted, but survey data suggest that there is a seasonal pattern to layoffs.  
Thus, comparisons between consecutive quarters should not be used as an indi-
cator of trend.  For additional information about the program, see the Techni-
cal Note.
   
                      ______________________________
   
   
   The report on Mass Layoffs in May 2003 will be issued on Thursday, June
26, 2003.





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, 2002 and 2003   

                                                                                                            Initial claimants for  
                                                          Layoff events               Separations           unemployment insurance  
                      Industry                    
                                                        I       IV        I       I       IV        I        I       IV        I   
                                                      2002r    2002r    2003p   2002r    2002r    2003p    2002r    2002r    2003p 


        Total ( 1 ) ..............................    1,747    2,259    1,508  333,097  468,982  272,133  315,781  421,669  210,674

Total, private ...................................    1,712    2,204    1,458  324,272  450,141  265,208  308,319  409,983  204,494

  Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting  ....      103      285      128   25,535   77,538   31,954   15,951   40,510   15,767
  Mining .........................................       29       24       17    4,217    3,054    2,255    4,061    2,960    2,530
  Utilities ......................................    ( 2 )        7        6    ( 2 )    1,539      808    ( 2 )      950      533
  Construction ...................................      195      463      211   21,739   68,259   26,098   27,552   72,875   24,229
  Manufacturing ..................................      660      736      525  116,996  142,034   84,296  117,412  150,803   73,142
       Food ......................................       69      124       69   12,363   31,738   11,245   12,371   25,350    9,777
       Beverage and tobacco products .............        6        6        8    1,108      941      922      749    1,228      658
       Textile mills .............................       21       24        9    3,397    4,121    1,697    3,400    5,118    1,402
       Textile product mills .....................        4       11        5      410    3,479      459      385    3,675      503
       Apparel ...................................       45       32       20   10,594    5,395    4,342    9,914    5,021    2,770
       Leather and allied products ...............        4        8        -      322      860        -      392    1,006        -
       Wood products .............................       18       38       30    2,079    5,760    3,870    3,512    5,960    3,552
       Paper .....................................       15       19       12    2,135    3,133    2,474    1,891    2,721    2,335
       Printing and related support activities ...       22        8       11    3,835    1,441    1,134    3,239    1,107      965
       Petroleum and coal products ...............        3       18        3      249    2,942      238      247    3,150      251

       Chemicals  ................................       22       12        9    3,473    1,802    1,633    2,618    1,345    1,281
       Plastics and rubber products ..............       21       20       15    2,087    2,858    1,816    1,912    3,118    1,498
       Nonmetallic mineral products ..............       26       42       31    3,522    7,347    4,819    2,986    6,494    4,287
       Primary metals ............................       29       38       29    6,440    7,065    4,658    8,061    8,890    3,876
       Fabricated metal products .................       52       35       28    5,733    5,221    3,375    6,290    5,145    2,972
       Machinery .................................       43       55       42    4,720   12,156    6,359    5,218   13,320    6,898
       Computer and electronic products ..........      121       93       86   27,692   17,080   15,634   27,118   19,274   12,809
       Electrical equipment and appliances .......       24       28       23    4,120    7,802    3,399    5,032   12,722    2,788
       Transportation equipment ..................       71       80       54   16,293   13,392   11,262   16,354   18,315    9,757
       Furniture and related products ............       27       24       18    3,262    4,293    1,925    3,693    4,882    2,579
       Miscellaneous manufacturing ...............       17       21       23    3,162    3,208    3,035    2,030    2,962    2,184

  Wholesale trade ................................       38       35       32    5,096    7,402    4,344    4,098    5,221    3,325
  Retail trade ...................................      157       89      124   50,115   28,664   37,048   36,929   24,149   22,321
  Transportation and warehousing .................       62       61       62   11,461   19,770   16,762   11,313   17,120   13,276
  Information ....................................       70       64       63    9,928   14,925   12,715   11,216   14,892   10,141
  Finance and insurance ..........................       55       47       39    9,819    9,217    8,332    9,067    8,978    5,743
  Real estate and rental and leasing .............    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        4    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      411    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      319
  Professional and technical services ............       62       56       36    7,486   11,692    6,297    7,847   11,205    4,306
  Management of companies and enterprises ........        7    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    1,608    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    1,506    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
  Administrative and waste services ..............      163      176      142   39,139   34,383   24,724   42,869   35,562   21,535
  Educational services ...........................    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
  Health care and social assistance ..............       20       33       18    3,390    5,507    1,746    2,047    4,926    1,713
  Arts, entertainment, and recreation ............       16       33       12    5,710    7,946    2,798    2,003    4,622    1,350
  Accommodation and food services ................       51       64       29    8,388   12,987    3,621   10,722   10,185    3,513
  Other services, except public administration ...        7       18        7    1,642    2,712      623    1,688    2,355      523

  Unclassified ...................................        7        3        -    1,082      629        -      929      563        -

Government .......................................       35       55       50    8,825   18,841    6,925    7,462   11,686    6,180
       Federal ...................................       16       10       11    4,339    4,104    1,487    3,568    2,334    1,353
       State .....................................       11       19       18    2,720    7,613    2,499    2,516    5,229    2,375
       Local .....................................        8       26       21    1,766    7,124    2,939    1,378    4,123    2,452
 

    1 For the first quarter of 2003, data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia, except
Wyoming. 
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    p = preliminary. 
    r = revised. 
    NOTE: Industry data reflect the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), 2002. Dash represents zero. 
 
 
 
 

Table 2. Reason for separation: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment 
insurance, selected quarters, 2002 and 2003   

                                                                                            Initial claimants for  
                                           Layoff events               Separations          unemployment insurance  
       Reason for separation              
                                        I       IV        I       I       IV        I        I       IV        I   
                                      2002r    2002r    2003p   2002r    2002r    2003p    2002r    2002r    2003p 

   Total, all reasons ( 1 ) ......    1,747    2,259    1,508  333,097  468,982  272,133  315,781  421,669  210,674

Automation .......................    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        3    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      500    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      459
Bankruptcy .......................       59       46       41   22,294   15,539   17,826   15,003   11,174    9,473
Business ownership change ........       72       33       29   15,837    8,503    4,992    9,408    5,870    3,239
Contract cancellation ............       48       44       31    7,827    8,423    5,717    6,790    7,194    3,245
Contract completed ...............      184      194      202   32,643   35,813   32,172   44,042   41,350   30,160
Domestic relocation ..............       33       18       21    4,822    5,053    2,685    4,603    3,982    2,159
Energy-related ...................    ( 2 )        -        -    ( 2 )        -        -    ( 2 )        -        -
Environment-related ..............        3        -        -      718        -        -      597        -        -
Financial difficulty .............      127      111      110   22,859   21,692   19,580   22,913   20,545   15,878
Import competition ...............       22       19       22    4,620    3,293    6,028    3,744    3,020    4,275
Labor dispute ....................    ( 2 )       11    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    2,300    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    2,245    ( 2 )
Material shortage ................    ( 2 )        4    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      379    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      509    ( 2 )
Model changeover .................    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        4    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    2,891    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    2,108
Natural disaster .................        -    ( 2 )        -        -    ( 2 )        -        -    ( 2 )        -

Non-natural disaster .............    ( 2 )        -        -    ( 2 )        -        -    ( 2 )        -        -
Overseas relocation ..............       16       21       19    4,853    3,407    3,965    4,245    3,021    2,303
Plant or machine repair ..........        5        5        6      543      877      725      454      981      660
Product line discontinued ........       13        9       13    1,494    1,025    2,532    1,359    1,060    2,202
Reorganization within company ....      240      186      163   50,822   36,752   35,599   43,053   37,953   22,900
Seasonal work ....................      357    1,016      388   69,630  226,530   76,203   55,253  169,547   51,982
Slack work .......................      438      319      261   67,215   51,407   35,107   79,544   66,363   33,272
Vacation period ..................        -    ( 2 )        5        -    ( 2 )      485        -    ( 2 )      647
Weather-related ..................        9       19       15    1,253    2,211    1,447    1,766    2,597    1,523
Other ............................       47       59       44    6,029   11,615    6,758    8,760   11,138    8,291
Not reported .....................       65      139      127   17,177   32,521   15,891   12,239   31,947   14,983


    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, fourth quarter, 2002 and first quarter, 2003

                                                   Total                                            Percent of total                  
                                                  initial                             Hispanic                         Persons age 55 
                             Layoff events       claimants           Black             origin            Women            and over    
         State        
                              IV        I      IV        I        IV        I       IV        I       IV        I       IV        I  
                             2002r    2003p   2002r    2003p     2002r    2003p    2002r    2003p    2002r    2003p    2002r    2003p

    Total ( 1 ) .........    2,259    1,508  421,669  210,674     11.4     13.1     21.0     19.0     35.5     37.9     14.2     14.4

Alabama .................        8        3    1,418      944     24.8     20.0      3.9      1.6     69.0     26.7     17.7     21.3
Alaska ..................       10        8    1,146      722      3.3      2.9     27.4      5.8     26.4     28.3     14.3     15.8
Arizona .................       21       13    3,189    1,751      6.7      2.0     24.8     40.6     40.4     26.7     16.6     13.6
Arkansas ................        7        6    4,147      649     13.2     22.0      1.2      4.2     36.9     28.7     12.1     16.3
California ..............      488      339   78,618   43,214      4.2      6.0     61.2     50.1     39.8     40.6     12.5     12.9
Colorado ................       33       21    5,612    3,274      5.8      6.7     23.9     18.3     29.7     37.6     13.9     14.8
Connecticut .............       17       16    2,866    1,931     10.5     17.1      5.9      9.9     23.0     55.2     16.5     14.0
Delaware ................        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -
District of Columbia ....        3        4      409      485     19.6     32.6     22.2      1.6     33.0     55.5     14.7     11.1
Florida .................      105       74   16,191    9,125     21.4     20.8     24.3     25.2     46.7     45.2     16.8     18.2
Georgia .................       28       24    7,120    2,902     39.6     56.5      5.9      5.4     47.2     50.1     14.0     15.9
Hawaii ..................       10        6    1,901      773       .7       .6     49.9     28.8     67.4     52.4     14.2     20.7
Idaho ...................        7        8    1,256    1,781      1.2      1.2      7.3      6.0     27.5     35.5     13.3     13.3

Illinois ................      213      134   38,981   19,404     15.5     18.3     17.0     12.8     29.0     38.2     12.5     13.2
Indiana .................       74       43   17,064    6,274      7.6      7.4      2.8      4.2     29.7     30.7     13.5     16.5
Iowa ....................       22       15    4,322    1,855       .9      1.8      2.5      1.4     25.9     50.2     12.4     17.7
Kansas ..................       13       12    2,722    2,762     16.1     14.0      7.0      3.2     38.5     32.5     13.3     21.7
Kentucky ................       28       19    3,584    2,436      6.3      7.8      1.1       .2     39.6     39.3     16.6     14.8
Louisiana ...............       22       17    2,761    1,278     47.5     47.7      3.0      3.4     26.3     20.4     12.7     11.0
Maine ...................       13       11    2,759    1,649       .2       .2       .1       .2     49.8     25.2     17.5     17.6
Maryland ................        7        3    1,207      187     25.0     11.8      1.0      5.3     45.6     41.2     30.6     41.2
Massachusetts ...........       65       45   10,975    5,171      5.9      7.5      2.4      1.0     39.4     41.0     15.1     13.7
Michigan ................       54       34    8,526    4,079     15.9     17.1     12.5      3.7     36.4     38.8     12.7     11.3
Minnesota ...............       93       33   13,387    3,815      2.4      5.3      8.0      3.4     21.2     30.5     14.6     13.9
Mississippi .............       14        5    1,347      544     54.2     88.8       .5       .2     48.3     69.1     16.3     11.0
Missouri ................       43       11    8,451    1,525     10.5      7.8       .5       .2     40.9     56.3     20.6     20.1

Montana .................       11    ( 2 )    1,723    ( 2 )       .4       .7      2.1      1.5     17.3     19.6     15.8     15.2
Nebraska ................        9        4      930      384      1.3      1.6     11.1      9.1     13.3     21.4     20.2     15.9
Nevada ..................        7    ( 2 )    2,214    ( 2 )      8.7      9.0     15.0     25.9     41.1     35.6     21.4     15.8
New Hampshire ...........        8        4    1,066      473       .8      1.9      4.5      2.1     41.1     46.5     22.2     16.9
New Jersey ..............       68       34   11,736    3,531     16.0     20.1     17.4      9.8     43.5     46.6     19.4     20.4
New Mexico ..............        4        4      458      289      2.8      2.4     66.8     71.6     32.8     27.3     15.9     15.6
New York ................      145       92   32,783   11,202     12.1     12.6      8.1      8.3     37.8     35.8     15.3     12.0
North Carolina ..........       29       36    6,239    5,720     36.6     40.9      4.6      4.4     47.1     46.8     13.8     13.0
North Dakota ............        8        3    1,427      306       .6       .3      3.4      1.6     13.9     43.5     14.2     18.0
Ohio ....................      106       63   18,908    7,651     13.6     12.3      3.4      2.0     20.0     27.5     12.1     13.6
Oklahoma ................        7        9    1,105    1,240      8.9     12.7      9.1      3.5     19.8     27.9     15.0     16.9
Oregon ..................       42       40    7,998    6,169      2.2      1.2     14.9     12.3     35.4     40.5     14.5     17.6
Pennsylvania ............       78       68   25,440   12,146      6.3      9.2      2.6      3.3     34.9     33.6     15.8     18.2

Rhode Island ............       10        -    1,211        -      3.1        -     28.1        -     56.0        -     21.6        -
South Carolina ..........       20       11    5,217      910     49.7     58.2       .2       .5     39.6     50.9      2.3      5.2
South Dakota ............        -    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )        -        -        -      3.4        -     49.7        -     25.9
Tennessee ...............       15       15    3,385    1,458     20.9     19.5       .1        -     36.0     43.3     16.9     18.1
Texas ...................       70       90   19,957   20,536     18.5     16.6     34.0     29.7     31.4     30.9     11.2     10.7
Utah ....................        5    ( 2 )      744    ( 2 )       .3      1.8      8.3      5.5     24.9        -     12.5     21.8
Vermont .................    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )        -       .3        -        -        -     65.0        -     22.0        -
Virginia ................       27       20    4,498    2,880     41.2     48.1      3.1       .9     53.0     59.4     14.4     15.4
Washington ..............       66       49   10,713    7,308      3.8      4.6     35.6     12.4     36.3     37.4     13.3     19.0
West Virginia ...........        8        6    1,189      708       .8       .1        -        -     49.3     23.2     17.2     14.1
Wisconsin ...............      115       49   22,302    8,483      4.1      6.7     12.5      4.8     29.3     34.6     16.8     13.5
Wyoming .................    ( 2 )    ( 1 )    ( 2 )    ( 1 )      1.0    ( 1 )      1.0    ( 1 )     40.4    ( 1 )     26.9    ( 1 )

Puerto Rico .............        3       12      664    1,343    ( 3 )    ( 3 )    ( 3 )    ( 3 )     49.8     38.6     12.8     10.6


    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, 2002 and 2003   

                                                                                        Initial claimants for  
                                       Layoff events               Separations          unemployment insurance  
   Census region and division           
                                     I       IV        I       I       IV        I        I       IV        I   
                                   2002r    2002r    2003p   2002r    2002r    2003p    2002r    2002r    2003p 

        United States ( 1 ) ...    1,747    2,259    1,508  333,097  468,982  272,133  315,781  421,669  210,674

Northeast .....................      259      406      270   51,777   86,272   40,691   52,165   89,199   36,103

    New England ...............       77      115       76   14,832   24,725   14,870   12,695   19,240    9,224
    Middle Atlantic ...........      182      291      194   36,945   61,547   25,821   39,470   69,959   26,879

South .........................      485      398      342   88,677   71,871   64,754   94,602   79,774   52,002

    South Atlantic ............      252      227      178   46,859   41,778   33,273   42,445   42,070   22,917
    East South Central ........      104       65       42   19,507   12,082    8,020   17,695    9,734    5,382
    West South Central ........      129      106      122   22,311   18,011   23,461   34,462   27,970   23,703

Midwest .......................      441      750      403   73,756  135,113   68,658   72,444  137,020   56,685

    East North Central ........      345      562      323   59,878  102,818   53,344   59,183  105,781   45,891
    West North Central ........       96      188       80   13,878   32,295   15,314   13,261   31,239   10,794

West ( 1 ) ....................      562      705      493  118,887  175,726   98,030   96,570  115,676   65,884

    Mountain ( 1 ) ............      109       89       51   24,094   24,346   12,244   16,197   15,300    7,698
    Pacific ...................      453      616      442   94,793  151,380   85,786   80,373  100,376   58,186


    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, 2002 and 2003

                                                                                  Initial claimants for  
                                  Layoff events               Separations         unemployment insurance  
           State                      
                               I       IV        I       I       IV        I        I       IV        I   
                             2002r    2002r    2003p   2002r    2002r    2003p    2002r    2002r    2003p 

    Total ( 1 )  ........    1,747    2,259    1,508  333,097  468,982  272,133  315,781  421,669  210,674

Alabama .................       36        8        3    9,359      790      953    9,884    1,418      944
Alaska ..................        4       10        8      303    1,146      722      303    1,146      722
Arizona .................       26       21       13    5,125    5,263    3,472    4,825    3,189    1,751
Arkansas ................        4        7        6      899    1,525    2,203      823    4,147      649
California ..............      362      488      339   73,196  123,700   67,087   61,057   78,618   43,214
Colorado ................       23       33       21    5,046    7,755    5,991    3,017    5,612    3,274
Connecticut .............       10       17       16    2,340    2,963    2,948    2,701    2,866    1,931
Delaware ................        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -
District of Columbia ....        3        3        4      404      409      485      404      409      485
Florida .................      113      105       74   23,693   17,066   11,487   20,709   16,191    9,125
Georgia .................       20       28       24    4,291    6,515    2,480    3,033    7,120    2,902
Hawaii ..................       10       10        6      904    2,468    1,125    1,612    1,901      773
Idaho ...................        8        7        8      905    1,982    1,750      557    1,256    1,781

Illinois ................      157      213      134   33,892   45,739   29,995   27,342   38,981   19,404
Indiana .................       29       74       43    3,490   13,945    5,935    3,433   17,064    6,274
Iowa ....................        9       22       15    1,399    2,881    2,107    1,718    4,322    1,855
Kansas ..................        9       13       12    1,257    2,966    3,815    1,032    2,722    2,762
Kentucky ................       24       28       19    2,673    4,682    3,281    2,226    3,584    2,436
Louisiana ...............       22       22       17    4,574    2,983    1,803    3,188    2,761    1,278
Maine ...................        8       13       11    1,930    4,659    2,593    1,317    2,759    1,649
Maryland ................       17        7        3    2,703    1,316      219    2,092    1,207      187
Massachusetts ...........       41       65       45    8,299   14,127    8,869    6,441   10,975    5,171
Michigan ................       41       54       34    4,414    6,016    3,090    8,012    8,526    4,079
Minnesota ...............       41       93       33    6,085   14,813    5,647    6,381   13,387    3,815
Mississippi .............       17       14        5    3,118    2,211    1,041    2,010    1,347      544
Missouri ................       26       43       11    3,408    8,841    2,492    2,684    8,451    1,525

Montana .................        6       11    ( 2 )      826    2,259    ( 2 )      610    1,723    ( 2 )
Nebraska ................        8        9        4    1,234    1,367      769    1,093      930      384
Nevada ..................       26        7    ( 2 )    4,557    3,955    ( 2 )    4,300    2,214    ( 2 )
New Hampshire ...........        5        8        4      675    1,074      460      854    1,066      473
New Jersey ..............       54       68       34    9,304   11,767    3,512    9,178   11,736    3,531
New Mexico ..............        6        4        4    1,224      802      289      916      458      289
New York ................       53      145       92    9,837   34,419   14,203   10,283   32,783   11,202
North Carolina ..........       49       29       36    9,577    6,483   11,050    8,066    6,239    5,720
North Dakota ............    ( 2 )        8        3    ( 2 )    1,427      351    ( 2 )    1,427      306
Ohio ....................       84      106       63   12,323   14,229    6,339   13,450   18,908    7,651
Oklahoma ................        8        7        9    1,315      902    1,219    1,620    1,105    1,240
Oregon ..................       26       42       40    5,459    7,998    6,273    5,121    7,998    6,169
Pennsylvania ............       75       78       68   17,804   15,361    8,106   20,009   25,440   12,146

Rhode Island ............        8       10        -      752    1,152        -      752    1,211        -
South Carolina ..........       12       20       11      928    4,171    1,331    2,383    5,217      910
South Dakota ............    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )
Tennessee ...............       27       15       15    4,357    4,399    2,745    3,575    3,385    1,458
Texas ...................       95       70       90   15,523   12,601   18,236   28,831   19,957   20,536
Utah ....................       13        5    ( 2 )    6,305    1,350    ( 2 )    1,866      744    ( 2 )
Vermont .................        5    ( 2 )        -      836    ( 2 )        -      630    ( 2 )        -
Virginia ................       28       27       20    4,327    4,329    5,193    4,811    4,498    2,880
Washington ..............       51       66       49   14,931   16,068   10,579   12,280   10,713    7,308
West Virginia ...........       10        8        6      936    1,489    1,028      947    1,189      708
Wisconsin ...............       34      115       49    5,759   22,889    7,985    6,946   22,302    8,483
Wyoming .................    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 1 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 1 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 1 )

Puerto Rico .............       15        3       12    2,089      769    2,091    2,670      664    1,343


    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.