Internet address:  http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:  (202) 606-6396   USDL 99-131


                                         For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                606-5902   Tuesday, May 18, 1999

                                     
                       MASS LAYOFFS IN FEBRUARY 1999

     
   In February 1999, there were 878 mass layoff actions by employers as
measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the
month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics.  Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single
establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 80,134.  Both the
number of layoff events and the number of initial claimants for
unemployment insurance were slightly lower in February 1999 than in
February 1998.  (See table 1.)
   
   The monthly series in this release covers mass layoffs of 50 or more
workers beginning in a given month, regardless of the duration of the
layoffs.  Information on the length of the layoff is obtained later and
issued in a quarterly release that reports on mass layoffs lasting more
than 30 days (referred to as "extended mass layoffs") and provides more
information on the industry classification and location of the
establishment and on the demographics of the laid-off workers.  Because
monthly figures include short-term layoffs of 30 days or less, the sum of
the figures for the 3 months in a quarter will be higher than the quarterly
figure for mass layoffs of more than 30 days.  (See table 1.)  See the
Technical Note for more detailed definitions.
   
Industry Distribution
   
   In February 1999, manufacturing industries accounted for 32 percent of
all mass layoff events and 35 percent of the initial claims filed.
Manufacturing industries that had the highest numbers of initial claimants
were food products (4,789), primarily in candy and other confectionery
products and canned fruits and vegetables; transportation equipment
(4,174), mostly in motor vehicle and car bodies; and lumber and wood
products (2,682), particularly in millwork.  (See table 2.)
   
   In nonmanufacturing industries, services accounted for 23 percent of
all mass layoff events and 30 percent of all initial claims filed.  The
layoffs were predominantly in motion pictures (mostly in motion pictures
and video production) and business services (particularly in help supply
services).  Layoffs in the motion picture and help supply services
industries are more likely than most other industries to last less than 30
days.  Agriculture accounted for 13 percent of layoff events and 8 percent
of initial claimants during the month, concentrated primarily in
agricultural services.  Construction accounted for 11 percent of layoff
events and 8 percent of initial claimants during the month, largely in heavy
construction.
   
   Compared with February 1998, the largest increases in initial claims
occurred in motion pictures (5,401) and business services (3,377).  The

                                  - 2 -

largest over-the-year decreases in initial claims occurred in
transportation equipment (-3,930), local interurban passenger transit
(-2,245), and agricultural production crops (-2,147).
   
Geographic Distribution
   
   In February, the number of initial claims due to mass layoffs was
highest in the West (37,484).  (See table 3.)  Contributing to layoffs in
the West were the motion picture, agricultural, business services, and
construction industries.  In the Northeast region, the number of mass
layoff initial claims was the lowest (10,879) for any February since the
inception of the program in April 1995.  Initial claims due to mass layoffs
in the Northeast region declined by 3,147 over the year.  The reduction was
largely in the Middle Atlantic division, reflecting fewer layoffs in
manufacturing industries, especially transportation equipment.
   
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia reporting data for
February, California had the largest number of initial claims filed in mass
layoff events (33,052), primarily in motion pictures, followed by Texas
(5,819), Pennsylvania (5,231), and Wisconsin (3,593).  These four states
accounted for about 62 percent of all layoff events and 60 percent of all
initial claimants for unemployment insurance.  (See table 4.)
   
   From February 1998 to February 1999, Texas reported the largest over-
the-year rise in initial claims (3,121), primarily in oil and gas
extraction, followed by Missouri (2,104).  Maryland had the largest over-
the-year decline in initial claims (-2,863), mostly in transportation
equipment, followed by Pennsylvania (-2,113).
Technical Note
 
 
 
 The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state program that
uses a standardized, automated approach to identifying, describing, and
tracking the effects of major job cutbacks, using data from each state's
unemployment insurance database.  Each month, states report on
establishments which have at least 50 initial claims filed against them
during a consecutive 5-week period.  These establishments then are
contacted by the state agency to determine whether these separations lasted
31 days or longer, and, if so, other information concerning the layoff is
collected.  States report on layoffs lasting more than 1 month on a
quarterly basis.
 
 A given month contains an aggregation of the weekly unemployment
insurance claims filings for the Sunday through Saturday weeks in that
month.  All weeks are included for the particular month, except if the
first day of the month falls on Saturday.  In this case, the week is
included in the prior month's tabulations.  This means that some months
will contain 4 weeks and others 5 weeks, and the number of weeks in a given
month may be different from year to year.  Therefore, analysis of over-the-
month and over-the-year change should take this calendar effect into
consideration.
 
 The MLS program resumed operations in April 1995 after it had been
terminated in November 1992 due to lack of funding.  Prior to April 1995,
monthly layoff statistics were not available.
 
 Information in this release will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-606-STAT; TDD
phone: 202-606-5897; TDD message referral phone number:  1-800-326-2577.
 
Definitions
 
 Initial claimant.  A person who files any notice of unemployment to
initiate a request either for a determination of entitlement to and
eligibility for compensation, or for a subsequent period of unemployment
within a benefit year or period of eligibility.
 
 Mass layoff event.  Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment
insurance benefits filed against an establishment during a 5-week period,
regardless of duration.
 Table 1. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, January 1997 to February 1999
  
                                                                 Extended mass layoffs 
                                                               lasting more than 30 days
            Date                                                                                    
                                     Total mass layoffs                                        Event
                                                                                             realization
                                                                                               rate(1)
                                                Initial                      Initial          
                                 Events        claimants       Events       claimants

             1997 
             
 January .....................    2,139        212,860     
 February ....................      755         63,352     
 March .......................      783         84,069     

 First quarter ...............    3,677        360,281          1,317        253,221           35.8     

 April .......................    1,269        152,168     
 May .........................    1,152        101,476     
 June ........................    1,238        121,256     

 Second quarter ..............    3,659        374,900          1,574        318,417           43.0     

 July ........................    1,899        237,410     
 August ......................      973         99,513     
 September ...................      548         59,062     
 
 Third quarter ...............    3,420        395,985          1,077        216,844           31.5     

 October .....................    1,414        139,297     
 November ....................    1,156        100,051     
 December ....................    1,634        172,029    
 
 Fourth quarter ..............    4,204        411,377          1,677        314,387           39.9    
 
            1998              

 January .....................    2,360        255,203     
 February ....................      970         81,455     
 March .......................      762         78,210     
 
 First quarter ...............    4,092        414,868          1,310        244,639           32.0     
  
 April .......................    1,253        132,476     
 May .........................    1,180        107,952     
 June ........................    1,208        183,590     
 
 Second quarter ..............    3,641        424,018          1,559        401,469           42.8     
 
 July ........................    2,221        286,097     
 August ......................      617         53,665     
 September ...................      637         79,629     
 
 Third quarter ...............    3,475        419,391          1,230        252,421           35.4     
 
 October .....................    1,553        160,830     
 November ....................    1,276        137,402                                                
 December ....................    1,605     (r)190,146
 
 Fourth quarter ..............    4,434        488,378          1,660        237,483           37.4     
 
            1999              
                                       
 January ..................... (r)2,212     (r)211,991
 February ....................      878         80,134

  1  The event realization rate is the percentage of total mass layoff events lasting more than 30 days.           
  r  = revised.
 Table 2. Industry distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
 February 1998 and February 1999
                                                                                            Initial claimants for
                                                                 Mass layoff events         unemployment insurance
                           Industry
                                                              February       February       February       February
                                                                1998           1999           1998           1999

      Total(1) ............................................      970            878         81,455         80,134     

 Total, private ...........................................      951            851         78,623         78,099     

   Agriculture ............................................      176            111         10,232          6,403     
   Nonagriculture .........................................      762            723         67,078         70,447     
     Manufacturing ........................................      308            278         30,530         27,805     
       Durable goods ......................................      143            151         17,316         16,200     
         Lumber and wood products .........................       23             24          1,847          2,682     
         Furniture and fixtures ...........................        7              7            457            399     
         Stone, clay, and glass products ..................       15              6          1,050            463     
         Primary metal industries .........................        7             11            527          2,578     
         Fabricated metal products ........................       14             11          1,158            882     
         Industrial machinery and equipment ...............       19             26          1,228          1,860     
         Electronic and other electrical equipment ........       25             29          2,455          2,274     
         Transportation equipment .........................       26             25          8,104          4,174     
         Instruments and related products .................        4              9            299            701     
         Miscellaneous manufacturing industries ...........        3              3            191            187    

       Nondurable goods ...................................      165            127         13,214         11,605     
         Food and kindred products ........................       67             55          5,377          4,789     
         Tobacco products .................................        3              6            222            832     
         Textile mill products ............................       16             13          1,352          1,111     
         Apparel and other textile products ...............       35             21          2,797          2,096     
         Paper and allied products ........................       12              6            899            825
         Printing and publishing ..........................       14             14          1,030          1,027     
         Chemicals and allied products ....................        4              4            293            336     
         Petroleum and coal products ......................        -              -              -              -
         Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products .......       11              5            956            417     
         Leather and leather products .....................        3              3            288            172     

     Nonmanufacturing .....................................      454            445         36,548         42,642     
       Mining .............................................        9             13            698          1,257     
       Construction .......................................      161             96          9,209          6,251     
       Transportation and public utilities ................       42             26          4,439          2,234     
       Wholesale and retail trade .........................       82             92          7,187          7,695     
          Wholesale trade .................................       17             26          1,196          1,834     
          Retail trade ....................................       65             66          5,991          5,861     
       Finance, insurance, and real estate ................       15             18          1,117          1,427     
       Services ...........................................      145            200         13,898         23,778     

   Not identified .........................................       13             17          1,313          1,249    

 Government ...............................................       19             27          2,832          2,035     
   Federal ................................................        3              6            238            628     
   State ..................................................        4             10            749            732     
   Local ..................................................       12             11          1,845            675     

    1  Data were reported by all states and the District of Columbia.
    Dash represents zero.
 Table 3. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance by census region and 
 division, February 1998 and February 1999
                                                                     
                                        Mass layoff events          Initial claimants for
                                                                    unemployment insurance
    Census region and
       division                      February       February       February       February
                                       1998           1999           1998           1999
      
          United States ..........      970            878         81,455         80,134  
   
    Northeast ....................      154            108         14,026         10,879     

       New England ...............       31             26          3,684          2,672     
       Middle Atlantic ...........      123             82         10,342          8,207   

    South ........................      157            197         16,465         17,291    

      South Atlantic..............       86             83         10,366          7,176     
      East South Central..........       27             37          2,439          3,494     
      West South Central..........       44             77          3,660          6,621     
   
    Midwest ......................      132            144         14,724         14,480     

      East North Central..........       99            113         11,888         10,412     
      West North Central..........       33             31          2,836          4,068    

    West .........................      527            429         36,240         37,484    

      Mountain....................       27             28          2,712          2,384     
      Pacific.....................      500            401         33,528         35,100   


      NOTE:  The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the 
 various 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,
 February 1998 and February 1999
                                                                     Initial claimants for
                                         Mass layoff events          unemployment insurance
                                                                     
               State
                                      February       February       February       February
                                        1998           1999           1998           1999

    Total(1) ......................      970            878         81,455         80,134     

 Alabama ..........................        9              8          1,251          1,007                                        
 Alaska ...........................    ( 2 )              -          ( 2 )              -
 Arizona ..........................        8          ( 2 )            545          ( 2 )
 Arkansas .........................    ( 2 )              3          ( 2 )            281     
 California .......................      472            376         31,407         33,052     
 Colorado .........................        4              4            902            311
 Connecticut ......................    ( 2 )          ( 2 )          ( 2 )          ( 2 )
 Delaware .........................        3              -          1,471              -
 District of Columbia .............        -          ( 2 )              -          ( 2 )
 Florida ..........................       32             37          2,043          2,826     
 Georgia ..........................        8             10            555            730 
 Hawaii ...........................    ( 2 )              3          ( 2 )            194     
 Idaho ............................        5              8            328            781    

 Illinois .........................       28             16          2,764          1,240     
 Indiana ..........................       11             10            862          1,058     
 Iowa .............................        6              6            613            402 
 Kansas ...........................        3          ( 2 )            180          ( 2 )
 Kentucky .........................    ( 2 )              8          ( 2 )            824     
 Louisiana ........................        9              7            632            465     
 Maine ............................       10              7            706            722 
 Maryland .........................       11          ( 2 )          2,917          ( 2 )
 Massachusetts ....................       12             14          1,519          1,554     
 Michigan .........................       12             26          3,013          2,648     
 Minnesota ........................       12              5          1,160            502     
 Mississippi ......................        9              5            654            529     
 Missouri .........................       11             16            800          2,904    

 Montana ..........................    ( 2 )              -          ( 2 )              -
 Nebraska .........................        -          ( 2 )              -          ( 2 )
 Nevada ...........................        7              9            762            709 
 New Hampshire ....................    ( 2 )          ( 2 )          ( 2 )          ( 2 )
 New Jersey .......................       18             14          2,131          1,455
 New Mexico .......................    ( 2 )              4          ( 2 )            260     
 New York .........................       15              7            867          1,521     
 North Carolina ...................       12             12          1,076          1,311
 North Dakota .....................        -          ( 2 )              -          ( 2 )
 Ohio .............................       18             22          1,569          1,873
 Oklahoma .........................    ( 2 )          ( 2 )          ( 2 )          ( 2 )
 Oregon ...........................       16             14          1,251          1,251     
 Pennsylvania .....................       90             61          7,344          5,231    

 Rhode Island .....................        7          ( 2 )          1,344          ( 2 )
 South Carolina ...................        9              9            918            691
 South Dakota .....................    ( 2 )              -          ( 2 )              -
 Tennessee ........................        8             16            475          1,134     
 Texas ............................       31             66          2,698          5,819
 Utah .............................        -          ( 2 )              -          ( 2 )
 Vermont ..........................        -              -              -              -
 Virginia .........................       11             12          1,386          1,350     
 Washington .......................        9              8            609            603     
 West Virginia ....................        -              -              -              -
 Wisconsin ........................       30             39          3,680          3,593     
 Wyoming ..........................        -              -              -              -

 Puerto Rico ......................       10             14            881          1,201 


   1 Data were reported by all states and the District of Columbia
   2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
   Dash represents zero.