Technical information:    (202) 691-6392        USDL 03-742
http://www.bls.gov/mls/
                                     
                                                For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                  691-5902        Thursday, November 20, 2003
                                     
                                     
            EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2003
  

   In the third quarter of 2003, 1,375 mass layoff actions were taken by
employers that resulted in the separation of 268,020 workers from their
jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released by 
the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Both the total
number of layoff events and the number of separations were lower than in
July-September 2002 and were the lowest for a third quarter since 2000.
(See table A.)  The decline from third quarter 2002 was most notable in
computer and electronic product manufacturing, truck transportation, and
general merchandise stores.
   
   The completion of seasonal work accounted for 22 percent of all events
and 74,805 separations during the period--the lowest level for a third quar-
ter since 1998.  Layoffs due to internal company restructuring represented 
22 percent of events and resulted in 57,727 separations, both lower than a 
year earlier.  Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 14 percent of all 
events and affected 46,646 workers.  A year earlier, such closures occurred 
in 21 percent of all events and affected 80,152 workers.  Forty percent of 
the employers anticipating a recall expected to extend the offer to all laid-
off workers, the highest proportion for a third quarter since 2000.
   
Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
   
   Extended mass layoff separations occurred in 441 of the 1,197 detailed
industries for which data are available.  Manufacturing industries accounted 
for 35 percent of private-sector layoff events and 34 percent of separations 
during July-September 2003.  The 82,030 worker separations in manufacturing 
were lower than in the third quarter of 2002.  Layoff activity in this sector 
was concentrated in food manufacturing (18,422, largely in the highly seasonal 
fruit and vegetable canning industry), followed by transportation equipment 
(9,955), computer and electronic product manufacturing (7,175), and textile 
mills (7,005).  (See table 1.)
   
   Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting accounted for 10 percent of
private-sector layoff events and 14 percent of separations, with nearly all
layoff activity concentrated in agriculture and forestry support activities.  
Layoffs in administrative and waste services comprised 10 percent of events 
and 13 percent of separations, almost entirely in temporary help services.  
Cutbacks in retail trade accounted for 5 percent of events and 7 percent of 
separations, mainly in supermarkets and other grocery stores.  The transpor-
tation and warehousing sector accounted for an additional 6 percent of events 
and separations during the quarter, primarily from school and employee bus 
transportation.
   
                                  - 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   |     401,269
July-September...........|     1,815    |    384,403   |     371,541
October-December.........|     2,697    |    542,125   |     502,502
          2002           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,750    |    334,017   |     316,489
April-June...............|     1,905    |    432,869   |     353,017
July-September(r)........|     1,383    |    310,351   |     284,629
October-December(r)......|     2,257    |    469,672   |     421,570
          2003           |              |              |
January-March(r).........|     1,700    |    334,464   |     333,197
April-June(r)............|     2,131    |    457,434   |     415,316
July-September(p)........|     1,375    |    268,020   |     181,793
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  p=preliminary.                         r=revised.
   
   
   Layoffs in government establishments accounted for 9 percent of all
events and separations, the highest third quarter share of events and
separations since the mass layoff series began in second quarter 1995.
Layoffs in the government sector were primarily concentrated in elementary
and secondary schools.

Reasons for Extended Layoff
   
   Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 22 percent
of the extended layoff events and resulted in 74,805 separations in the
third quarter.  (See table 2.)  This marked the lowest level of seasonal
separations for a third quarter since 1998.  Seasonal layoffs were most
numerous among workers in agriculture and forestry support activities
(largely among farm labor contractors and crew leaders), food manufacturing
(mainly in fruit and vegetable canning), and in crop production (mostly in
grape vineyards and in strawberry farming).
   
   Internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change,
financial difficulty, and reorganization) accounted for 22 percent of
layoff events and resulted in 57,727 separations.  These layoffs were
mostly among workers in textile mills, in credit intermediation and related
activities, and in food and beverage stores.  In the third quarter of 2002,
layoff events for these reasons represented 29 percent of events and
involved 98,292 workers.
   
   Contract completion accounted for 14 percent of events and resulted in
27,193 separations during the third quarter and were the largest third-
quarter shares since 2000.  These layoffs were primarily concentrated among
administrative and support services.
   
                                  - 3 -

     Table B.  Summary of employer expectations of a recall from
     extended layoff, third quarter 2002-third quarter 2003
     -------------------------------------------------------------
                          |         Percentage of events
                          |---------------------------------------
     Nature of the recall | III  |   IV  |   I   |  II   |  III
                          | 2002 |  2002 |  2003 | 2003r | 2003p
    ----------------------|------|-------|-------|-------|--------
     Anticipate a recall..| 36.4 |  55.8 |  38.4 |  46.6 | 38.3
                          |      |       |       |       |
           Timeframe      |      |       |       |       |
                          |      |       |       |       |
     Within 6 months......| 77.5 |  78.8 |  74.5 |  85.6 | 84.4
       Within 3 months....| 51.3 |  32.6 |  45.6 |  55.7 | 54.4
                          |      |       |       |       |
             Size         |      |       |       |       |
                          |      |       |       |       |
     At least half........| 82.5 |  86.7 |  80.1 |  86.9 | 84.6
       All workers........| 32.6 |  37.3 |  29.4 |  46.5 | 39.7
     -------------------------------------------------------------
       p=preliminary.                    r=revised.
   
   Out-of-country moves (overseas relocation) have resulted in 12,128
workers being separated from their jobs in extended mass layoffs so far
this year, compared with 13,668 workers during the first three quarters of
2002.  Company moves to Mexico have accounted for 41 percent of the workers
thus far in 2003 compared with 45 percent a year earlier.
   
Recall Expectations
   
   Thirty-eight percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the
third quarter of 2003 indicated they anticipated some type of recall.  This
compares with 36 percent of the employers anticipating a recall a year
earlier.  (See table B.)  Most of the employers not expecting a recall were
in administrative and support services, computer and electronic product
manufacturing, and credit intermediation and related activities.
   
   Among establishments expecting a recall, most employers expected to recall 
over one-half of the separated employees and to do so within 6 months.  Forty 
percent of the employers expected to extend the offer to all laid-off workers, 
the highest proportion for a third quarter since 2000.  

   Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in which 
93 percent of the employers expected a recall), employers expected to recall 
laid-off workers in 22 percent of the events.  In layoff events due to inter-
nal company restructuring, employers anticipated a recall in only 10 percent 
of the events.

Size of Extended Layoff
   
   Layoff events during the third quarter continued to be concentrated at
the lower end of the extended layoff-size spectrum, with 65 percent involving 
fewer than 150 workers.  These events, however, accounted for only 29 percent 
of all separations.  (See table C.)  Separations involving 500 or more workers 
accounted for 34 percent of all separations, down from 39 percent a year ear-
lier.  The average size of layoffs (as measured by separations per layoff 
event) differed widely by industry, ranging from a low of 68 separations in 
membership associations and organizations to a high of 821 in warehousing and 
storage industries.
                                  
                                  - 4 -

Table C.  Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff,
July-September 2003p
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                 |      Layoff events     |       Separations
      Size       |------------------------|------------------------
                 |   Number  |   Percent  |  Number  |   Percent
-----------------|-----------|------------|----------|-------------
                 |           |            |          |
    Total........|   1,375   |    100.0   |  268,020 |    100.0
                 |           |            |          |
50-99............|     603   |     43.9   |   42,339 |     15.8
100-149..........|     294   |     21.4   |   34,217 |     12.8
150-199..........|     142   |     10.3   |   23,892 |      8.9 
200-299..........|     146   |     10.6   |   34,334 |     12.8 
300-499..........|     112   |      8.1   |   41,148 |     15.4
500-999..........|      52   |      3.8   |   32,973 |     12.3
1,000 or more....|      26   |      1.9   |   59,117 |     22.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------
  p=preliminary.                        
   
Initial Claimant Characteristics
   
   A total of 181,793 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with extended mass layoffs in the third quarter of 2003.  Of
these claimants, 16 percent were black, 20 percent were Hispanic, 46 percent 
were women, and 16 percent were 55 years of age or older.  (See table 3.)  
Thirty-nine percent of claimants were 30 to 44 years of age.  Among the 
civilian labor force for the same period, 11 percent were black, 13 percent 
were Hispanic, 46 percent were women, and 15 percent were 55 years of age or 
older.  Thirty-six percent of the civilian labor force were ages 30 to 44.
   
Geographic Distribution
   
   In the third quarter, the number of separations due to extended mass
layoff events was highest in the West (127,734), followed by the Midwest
(56,038), the South (47,294), and the Northeast (36,954).  (See table 4.)
Extended mass layoffs in the West were mainly in administration and support
services and in agricultural and forestry support activities.
   
   Three of the four regions reported over-the-year decreases in separations, 
with the largest decrease occurring in the Northeast (-24,012), followed by 
the South (-22,814).  The West had the only over-the-year increase (+15,153).  
Six of the nine geographic divisions reported over-the-year declines in laid-
off workers, with the largest declines in the Middle Atlantic (-19,903), West 
South Central (-12,436), and West North Central (-11,008) divisions.  The 
largest increase in separations occurred in the Pacific (+23,736) division.
   
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the largest number of
worker separations occurred in California (105,816), followed by Illinois
(26,884).  These two states accounted for 38 percent of total layoff events
and 50 percent of the separations during the third quarter of 2003.  They
were followed by Florida (14,247), New York (11,782), and Washington (9,506).  
(See table 5.)  After excluding the substantial impact of seasonal work, 
California still reported the most laid-off workers (62,964), largely due 
to layoffs in administrative and support services, educational services, 
and motion picture and sound recording industries.
   
                                  - 5 -                                     
                                  
Table D.  Mass layoff events and separations, selected metropolitan areas
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          |   Events    |    Separations            
                                          |-------------|------------------
            Metropolitan area             |  III |  III |   III   |   III   
                                          | 2002 | 2003p|  2002   |  2003p 
------------------------------------------|------|------|---------|-------- 
                                          |      |      |         |
Total, nonmetropolitan areas..............|  188 |  170 |  34,637 |  25,731
                                          |      |      |         |              
Total, 331 metropolitan areas.............|  970 |  795 | 209,233 | 150,754
                                          |      |      |         |
    Chicago, Ill. ........................|   62 |   65 |  15,875 |  14,682   
    Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif. .......|   37 |   42 |  11,305 |  11,152
    Fresno, Calif. .......................|   22 |   17 |   6,228 |   7,170
    Ventura, Calif. ......................|   24 |   27 |   5,550 |   5,569
    Visalia-Tulare-Porterville,Calif. ....|   15 |   14 |   1,880 |   5,095
    Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif. .....|   25 |   16 |   5,468 |   4,544
    New York, NY. ........................|   54 |   30 |  10,019 |   4,055
    Modesto, Calif. ......................|    4 |    4 |   8,810 |   3,938
    Bakersfield, Calif. ..................|   17 |   11 |   7,805 |   3,756
    Stockton-Lodi, Calif. ................|  (1) |    5 |    (1)  |   2,935
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.  
p=preliminary.


   Over the year, New York reported the greatest decrease in laid-off workers 
(-12,899), followed by Texas (-11,757) and Florida (-8,086).  The largest 
increase occurred in California (+26,418).
   
   Fifty-eight percent of events and 56 percent of separations occurred in
metropolitan areas in the third quarter of 2003, a decrease from 70 percent
of events and 67 percent of separations during the third quarter of 2002.
Among the 331 metropolitan areas, Chicago, Ill., reported the highest number 
of separations, 14,682, mainly in administration and support services, 
amusement, gambling and recreation, and specialty trade contractors, closely 
followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif., with 11,152 separations, largely 
in administrative and support services and in food and beverage stores. The 
next-highest areas were Fresno, Calif. (7,170),  Ventura, Calif. (5,569), 
and Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, Calif. (5,095).  (See table D.)  Eight of 
the 10 areas reporting the largest number of extended mass layoffs in the 
third quarter were in California.  Employers located in nonmetropolitan 
areas separated 25,731 workers in mass layoffs, down from 34,637 workers in 
the third quarter of 2002.
   
Relative Impacts of Mass Layoffs
   
   The index of mass layoff activity describes a geographic area's share of
national mass layoffs relative to its share of national employment in
establishments with at least 50 workers.  This allows for geographic
comparisons that account for differences in each area's share of
employment.  An index at or near 100.0 indicates the area's share of mass
layoffs is in line with its share of employment.  An index below 100.0
indicates the area has relatively few layoffs, and, conversely, an index
over 100.0 indicates an area with a relatively high level of layoffs. (See
table 6.)  A separate index is calculated that excludes the impact of
seasonal work and vacation periods from the separation data.  (See table 7.)
   
   Among the four regions, the West, with an index of 226.4 in the third
quarter, recorded the highest concentration of mass layoffs relative to the
region's employment, due in part to the impact of the seasonal agriculture
sector.  (See table E.)  The Midwest, 83.6, the Northeast, 71.3, and the
South, 51.0, all reported indexes well below 100.0, indicating the relative
infrequency of layoffs in those regions.
   
                                  - 6 -

Table E.  Index of mass layoff activity, third quarter 2002-third 
quarter 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                   | Third quarter | Third quarter |   Over-the-year 
       Region      |      2002     |     2003p     |      change
-------------------|---------------|---------------|------------------
Northeast..........|     101.7     |      71.3     |      -30.4  
South..............|      65.3     |      51.0     |      -14.3  
Midwest............|      86.0     |      83.6     |       -2.4  
West...............|     171.8     |     226.4     |       54.6  
----------------------------------------------------------------------
  p=preliminary.

   
   Over the year, three of the four regions recorded declines, with the
largest decrease occurring in the Northeast (-30.4). The West posted the
only over-the-year increase (+54.6).
   
   Among the nine geographic divisions, the Pacific posted the highest index 
for the quarter, 300.0, primarily due to layoff activity in administrative 
and support services, agriculture and forestry support activities, and food 
manufacturing.  The next highest indexes were reported in East North Central, 
101.1, and New England, 82.3.  The West South Central division had the lowest 
index, 31.5, followed by the West North Central, 39.8, and the Mountain 
divisions, 48.9.
   
   Among the 47 states and the District of Columbia that reported extended
mass layoffs during the third quarter of 2003, 40 states and the District
of Columbia reported indexes below 100.0, indicating a relatively small
share of layoffs.  (See table 6.)  Of the seven States with indexes above
100.0, California had the highest index of 344.8--due to the high
concentrations of layoff activity in administrative and support services,
agriculture and forestry support activities, and in crop production.  (See
chart 1.)  Relative concentrations of layoffs also were high in Illinois
(198.1), Washington (193.6), and Idaho (185.2).  Utah, at 11.5, had the
lowest relative concentration of mass layoffs followed by Iowa (13.0), New
Hampshire (13.9), and West Virginia, (16.0).
   
   After the exclusion of seasonal work and vacation periods, the Pacific
division recorded the highest index, 242.9, reflecting a concentration of
layoffs in administrative and waste services and in manufacturing.  (See
chart 2.)
   
   At the state level, California reported the highest index, excluding
seasonal and vacation period events, (278.5) for third quarter 2003,
followed by Idaho (219.1) and Hawaii (218.4).  The lowest indexes occurred
in West Virginia (15.9), Utah (16.3), Arizona (16.4), and Nebraska (16.5).
(See table 7 and chart 2.)
   
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 estab-
lishment filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a con-
secutive 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 third quarter are preliminary and subject to
revision.  This release also includes revised data for previous quarters.
Data are not seasonally adjusted, but survey data suggest that there is a
seasonal pattern to layoffs.  Thus, comparisons between consecutive
quarters should not be used as an indicator of trend.
   
   The index of mass layoff activity is calculated as the area's share, 
or ratio, of the total number of private sector separations in the U.S.
divided by the same area's share of U.S. total private sector employment 
in establishments that employ at least 50 workers.  It facilitates relative
area-to-area comparisons by discounting the absolute size of the area.
Areas with indexes of more than 100.0 account for a larger share of layoffs
relative to their share of larger establishment employment.
   
   For additional information about the program, see the Technical Note.
   
                       ____________________________
   
   The report on Mass Layoffs in October 2003 is scheduled to be released
on Wednesday, November 26, 2003.
   
   
   
   
                                  

   
   
     
      
                                  - 7 -

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.

  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                    
                                                     III     II      III       III      II       III        III      II       III  
                                                    2002r   2003r   2003p     2002r    2003r    2003p      2002r    2003r    2003p 


        Total( 1 ) ...............................  1,383   2,131   1,375    310,351  457,434  268,020    284,629  415,316  181,793

Total, private ...................................  1,318   1,907   1,252    296,720  392,687  243,762    273,060  360,458  163,231

  Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting  ....    132     108     131     41,568   24,770   34,671     18,105   16,429   11,606
  Mining .........................................     10      10       4      1,517    2,705      582      1,451    2,694      331
  Utilities ......................................  ( 2 )       8   ( 2 )      ( 2 )      924    ( 2 )      ( 2 )      996    ( 2 )
  Construction ...................................     63     143     101      8,503   20,583   11,852     12,177   23,064   11,161
  Manufacturing ..................................    497     549     436    106,134  104,733   82,030    112,154  105,904   62,953
       Food ......................................     50      93      55     20,320   18,018   18,422     10,144   17,742    8,489
       Beverage and tobacco products .............  ( 2 )       4   ( 2 )      ( 2 )    1,082    ( 2 )      ( 2 )    1,000    ( 2 )
       Textile mills .............................     18      25      19      3,001    4,199    7,005      6,693    4,524    6,576
       Textile product mills .....................      6       6       6      1,043      604    1,257      1,851      678      898
       Apparel ...................................     36      30      27      7,487    3,535    4,370      6,497    3,690    3,283
       Leather and allied products ...............      6       7   ( 2 )        484      944    ( 2 )        486      836    ( 2 )
       Wood products .............................     12      16      17      1,584    2,357    1,629      2,288    4,146    1,682
       Paper .....................................     14      12      11      1,959    1,689    1,586      1,907    1,850      908
       Printing and related support activities ...      9      17       9      1,267    1,858    1,021      1,039    2,046      846
       Petroleum and coal products ...............  ( 2 )       3   ( 2 )      ( 2 )      559    ( 2 )      ( 2 )      574    ( 2 )

       Chemicals  ................................     10      13      13      2,515    4,463    1,538      1,488    2,919    1,201
       Plastics and rubber products ..............     16      15      17      2,434    1,712    2,024      2,088    2,514    2,033
       Nonmetallic mineral products ..............     11      11      10      1,623    1,815    1,337      1,679    1,685    1,432
       Primary metals ............................     30      29      31      4,907    7,270    5,273      6,232    6,497    4,162
       Fabricated metal products .................     25      32      29      4,629    5,261    3,988      3,894    5,530    3,480
       Machinery .................................     38      36      28      6,755    7,373    5,839      9,038    6,417    4,843
       Computer and electronic products ..........    105      71      50     20,630   11,109    7,175     20,626   11,297    5,591
       Electrical equipment and appliances .......     27      18      16      4,952    2,922    2,891      7,308    3,572    2,177
       Transportation equipment ..................     55      65      59     15,025   21,335    9,955     22,340   21,870   10,513
       Furniture and related products ............     10      34      18      1,877    4,914    3,606      2,806    4,801    2,521
       Miscellaneous manufacturing ...............     13      12      16      2,897    1,714    2,602      3,173    1,716    1,947

  Wholesale trade ................................     34      47      43      5,343    7,060    7,192      4,580    5,441    4,870
  Retail trade ...................................     62     114      65     18,579   26,099   16,250     18,367   24,533   10,070
  Transportation and warehousing .................     84     162      73     25,097   42,172   13,799     22,244   44,400   10,542
  Information ....................................     70      76      46     14,787   22,358   10,120     15,702   21,674    9,237
  Finance and insurance ..........................     53      52      47     10,984    9,776    9,263     11,005    8,564    6,672
  Real estate and rental and leasing .............      6       6   ( 2 )      1,197      915    ( 2 )      1,161      864    ( 2 )
  Professional and technical services ............     58      75      50      9,150   16,433    7,799      8,943   13,681    5,931
  Management of companies and enterprises ........  ( 2 )       9   ( 2 )      ( 2 )    1,775    ( 2 )      ( 2 )    2,064    ( 2 )
  Administrative and waste services ..............    124     172     120     33,487   35,291   32,342     32,597   31,109   16,350
  Educational services ...........................      8      11      12        821    3,200    1,083        704    2,420    1,095
  Health care and social assistance ..............     39     139      44      4,448   20,981    5,035      4,157   17,670    3,636
  Arts, entertainment, and recreation ............     26      55      28      7,541   16,877    4,433      3,485    6,265    3,161
  Accommodation and food services ................     34     117      29      4,159   28,486    4,514      3,809   25,518    3,294
  Other services, except public administration ...     12      51      14      1,929    7,055    1,288      1,431    6,674    1,161

  Unclassified ...................................      -       3       2          -      494      335          -      494      335

Government .......................................     65     224     123     13,631   64,747   24,258     11,569   54,858   18,562
       Federal ...................................      9      12      10      2,165    4,274    2,224      2,124    4,117    1,989
       State .....................................     14      20      23      3,124   10,413    4,675      3,105    4,453    3,537
       Local .....................................     42     192      90      8,342   50,060   17,359      6,340   46,288   13,036
          


    1 For the third quarter of 2003, data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia. 
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    p = preliminary. 
    r = revised.
    NOTE:  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      
                                      III       II        III         III       II        III          III       II        III  
                                     2002r     2003r     2003p       2002r     2003r     2003p        2002r     2003r     2003p 


   Total, all reasons( 1 ) .......   1,383     2,131     1,375      310,351   457,434   268,020      284,629   415,316   181,793

Automation .......................       3         -     ( 2 )          406         -     ( 2 )          273         -     ( 2 )
Bankruptcy .......................      59        65        39       24,103    16,458    14,332       20,244    13,355     9,312
Business ownership change ........      41        30        28       11,370     9,789     5,497        8,363     5,177     3,303
Contract cancellation ............      53        40        23       13,529     5,665    18,897        9,229     6,918     2,274
Contract completed ...............     154       250       189       28,359    42,650    27,193       36,588    46,437    26,153
Domestic relocation ..............      26        26        26        4,603     4,170     4,156        3,504     3,824     3,141
Energy-related ...................   ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -        ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -        ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -
Environment-related ..............       -         3         -            -       884         -            -       711         -
Financial difficulty .............     123       152        87       24,617    33,670    12,271       21,482    30,333     9,826
Import competition ...............      17        32        29        3,010     5,660     6,947        2,616     5,480     4,242
Labor dispute ....................       4         3         8          814     1,085     5,393          822       992     1,922
Material shortage ................       -         5     ( 2 )            -       618     ( 2 )            -     1,041     ( 2 )

Model changeover .................   ( 2 )     ( 2 )         5        ( 2 )     ( 2 )       340        ( 2 )     ( 2 )       315
Natural disaster .................       -     ( 2 )     ( 2 )            -     ( 2 )     ( 2 )            -     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Non-natural disaster .............   ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -        ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -        ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -
Overseas relocation ..............      18        18        14        4,603     4,205     3,534        3,525     3,204     2,818
Plant or machine repair ..........       7         7         5          825     1,161       618          656       804       673
Product line discontinued ........      10        10         6        1,693     1,829       903        1,137     2,454       657
Reorganization within company ....     181       186       145       38,202    33,040    25,627       38,189    32,897    18,745
Seasonal work ....................     306       645       296       86,968   161,524    74,805       48,530   121,104    33,603
Slack work .......................     268       266       193       43,857    41,201    25,447       62,309    48,830    26,556
Vacation period ..................      15        92        26        3,605    18,937     4,531        2,106    18,677     3,883
Weather-related ..................   ( 2 )         3         3        ( 2 )     2,456       423        ( 2 )     2,463       412
Other ............................      42        48        62        7,268    10,622    10,218        8,415     9,100     7,256
Not reported .....................      51       243       187       11,862    59,499    26,585       15,767    58,886    26,380


    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, second and third quarters, 2003

                                                  Total                                  Percent of total                        
                                                 initial                            Hispanic                        Persons age 55
                           Layoff events        claimants            Black           origin            Women           and over   
           State         
                            II      III        II       III        II     III       II     III       II     III       II     III 
                           2003r   2003p      2003r    2003p      2003r  2003p     2003r  2003p     2003r  2003p     2003r  2003p

    Total( 1 )  .........  2,131   1,375     415,316  181,793      17.7   15.5      16.5   20.1      52.3   46.2      17.0   16.0

Alabama .................     17       7       2,502    1,115      40.2   50.2       7.8    5.6      53.1   37.8      17.9   20.6
Alaska ..................      9       3       1,220      185       3.5      -      14.4   20.0      48.2   33.0      17.8   20.0
Arizona .................     46      14       7,157    1,426       2.7    2.0      52.3   68.2      47.8   30.0      14.2   16.2
Arkansas ................      8       4         845      413      49.3   12.8       2.2     .2      62.8   65.6      12.4   22.5
California ..............    448     405      87,238   48,632      10.7    9.2      34.6   42.0      51.6   49.2      12.9   12.7
Colorado ................     20      12       3,337    1,210       5.7    9.9      21.8   18.3      53.2   52.7      14.7   16.1
Connecticut .............     16      12       3,226      935      11.0   15.0       9.3   15.2      72.9   39.6      16.6   22.9
Delaware ................  ( 2 )       -       ( 2 )        -      35.5      -       8.2      -      80.5      -      18.8      -
District of Columbia ....  ( 2 )   ( 2 )       ( 2 )    ( 2 )      16.2   27.9        .6     .4      64.5   74.6      15.6   14.1
Florida .................    206      94      33,046   12,332      26.5   20.2      29.8   29.1      51.8   47.0      19.7   18.8
Georgia .................     43      14       9,260    2,106      67.6   66.7        .7     .4      69.0   48.3      13.8   13.2
Hawaii ..................      7       3         710    1,208       1.4    2.6      16.3   36.7      46.9   18.0      13.5   16.8
Idaho ...................     13      12       1,926    1,750        .5     .2      14.7   24.4      50.9   40.7      22.6   19.0

Illinois ................    150     114      33,270   15,571      24.0   21.5      10.7   10.8      52.5   45.2      16.7   14.3
Indiana .................     50      21      11,526    4,019      16.2   18.7       3.6    2.6      48.5   33.6      18.8   15.5
Iowa ....................      5       4       1,422      354       1.0    1.7       3.6      -      56.3   49.2      24.4   15.5
Kansas ..................     11      10       1,529    1,766      15.0   22.5       3.1    2.5      45.7   56.1      18.9   17.1
Kentucky ................     26      14       3,742    1,119       7.8    8.4        .5     .7      39.4   57.6      16.0   20.8
Louisiana ...............     36       9       4,398      715      63.0   34.5       1.4    2.1      69.5   36.5      15.3   14.1
Maine ...................     13       4       1,378      260        .7    1.2        .1      -      46.3   70.0      14.3   23.5
Maryland ................      9       7       1,995      594      35.6   45.5       1.0      -      32.6   46.1      35.1   22.7
Massachusetts ...........     58      43      10,418    5,933      10.1    7.2       2.5    4.1      60.1   52.0      18.7   17.3
Michigan ................     70      49      18,112    5,904      14.7   18.8       4.0    3.6      46.1   43.4      13.6   12.3
Minnesota ...............     42      15       6,975    1,730       7.7   10.1       2.9    2.9      47.6   48.5      15.9   14.0
Mississippi .............     11       9       1,015      705      67.4   80.0        .9     .1      62.2   52.2       8.8    9.5
Missouri ................     34      12       7,348    1,560      33.4   22.9        .5     .4      67.5   67.1      23.3   25.9

Montana .................     11       4       1,334      231        .6     .4       3.7    4.3      54.6   72.7      14.2   19.5
Nebraska ................      7   ( 2 )         594    ( 2 )      17.0     .3       5.1     .8      58.8    8.8      27.4   16.0
Nevada ..................      9       5       1,159      540      20.5   13.7      13.4   19.1      59.4   45.4      19.8   33.3
New Hampshire ...........      6   ( 2 )         635    ( 2 )        .8     .7       6.1     .7      60.9   62.7      22.8   19.3
New Jersey ..............     74      50      16,342    6,664      20.2   31.4      11.7   15.9      69.0   60.9      29.4   23.5
New Mexico ..............     15       4       2,014      246       1.6    2.8      45.0   33.7      55.7   37.4       7.8    5.7
New York ................    114      85      28,133   10,284      15.1   12.3       8.9    8.5      55.2   50.9      18.3   15.8
North Carolina ..........     48      28       7,812    7,274      38.4   31.4       3.4    5.7      54.1   52.2      16.9   25.9
North Dakota ............      4   ( 2 )         461    ( 2 )        .9      -       1.5    1.2      62.5    3.5      17.1   24.4
Ohio ....................     54      51      12,295    5,810      11.0   10.1       1.8    1.3      36.6   33.9      16.0   13.6
Oklahoma ................     24       7       6,595      555      12.8    6.3       3.8    3.6      23.6   64.3      19.5   18.2
Oregon ..................     29      22       4,156    4,222       3.1    2.1       9.5   12.1      48.3   38.9      19.0   18.4
Pennsylvania ............     96      65      27,539   10,031      11.3    9.2       2.2    2.2      54.4   36.2      23.5   17.9

Rhode Island ............      7       4         874      387       3.5    5.7      25.9   14.0      80.5   62.0      22.3   20.7
South Carolina ..........     11       8       1,734      975      57.3   60.8         -     .8      64.2   57.7        .3    1.5
South Dakota ............      4   ( 2 )         641    ( 2 )        .5    3.9        .2      -      68.3   72.4      18.6      -
Tennessee ...............     20      21       2,524    2,263      37.1   17.5        .1      -      51.1   55.3      12.2   22.8
Texas ...................     84      41      20,602    8,234      19.6   16.4      36.0   36.5      45.2   39.3      13.3   12.2
Utah ....................      8   ( 2 )       1,042    ( 2 )       1.6     .6      15.5   11.1      67.2    3.1       9.7   22.2
Vermont .................     10       -       1,076        -        .4      -        .2      -      43.4      -      15.7      -
Virginia ................     28      12       4,531    1,612      44.4   42.7       2.3    1.3      64.8   61.4      15.1   16.5
Washington ..............     48      30       8,198    5,089       5.0    3.2      20.2   23.6      40.3   41.1      17.4   19.7
West Virginia ...........      6       3         519      171        .2      -         -      -      63.4   29.2      16.8   14.0
Wisconsin ...............     61      34      10,334    4,530       7.3   12.0       4.5    3.8      46.4   30.3      17.7   15.2
Wyoming .................      -       -           -        -         -      -         -      -         -      -         -      -

Puerto Rico .............     14      18       2,937    2,339     ( 3 )  ( 3 )     ( 3 )  ( 3 )      64.8   53.1      12.7    8.2


    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  
                                   III       II        III         III       II        III          III      II       III  
                                  2002r     2003r     2003p       2002r     2003r     2003p        2002r    2003r    2003p 

        United States( 1 ) ....   1,383     2,131     1,375      310,351   457,434   268,020      284,629  415,316  181,793

Northeast .....................     300       394       265       60,966    89,526    36,954       67,885   89,621   34,644

    New England ...............      63       110        65       15,708    27,037    11,599       12,939   17,607    7,665
    Middle Atlantic ...........     237       284       200       45,258    62,489    25,355       54,946   72,014   26,979

South .........................     350       582       280       70,108   112,965    47,294       74,561  101,697   40,466

    South Atlantic ............     203       356       168       40,764    74,348    30,315       40,780   59,474   25,347
    East South Central ........      48        74        51        8,204    11,867     8,275        5,550    9,783    5,202
    West South Central ........      99       152        61       21,140    26,750     8,704       28,231   32,440    9,917

Midwest .......................     285       492       314       66,696   112,843    56,038       68,731  104,507   41,782

    East North Central ........     215       385       269       48,074    89,165    48,424       45,800   85,537   35,834
    West North Central ........      70       107        45       18,622    23,678     7,614       22,931   18,970    5,948

West ..........................     448       663       516      112,581   142,100   127,734       73,452  119,491   64,901

    Mountain ..................      78       122        53       16,669    29,040     8,086       11,303   17,969    5,565
    Pacific ...................     370       541       463       95,912   113,060   119,648       62,149  101,522   59,336


    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         
                               III       II        III         III       II        III          III       II        III  
                              2002r     2003r     2003p       2002r     2003r     2003p        2002r     2003r     2003p 

    Total( 1 )  .........     1,383     2,131     1,375      310,351   457,434   268,020      284,629   415,316   181,793

Alabama .................     ( 2 )        17         7        ( 2 )     2,502     1,115        ( 2 )     2,502     1,115
Alaska ..................         -         9         3            -     1,279       185            -     1,220       185
Arizona .................        35        46        14        9,757     9,526     2,407        5,627     7,157     1,426
Arkansas ................     ( 2 )         8         4        ( 2 )     1,899     1,179        ( 2 )       845       413
California ..............       301       448       405       79,398    95,756   105,816       51,053    87,238    48,632
Colorado ................        24        20        12        3,522     8,495     1,894        3,348     3,337     1,210
Connecticut .............        12        16        12        3,592     3,690     1,553        2,892     3,226       935
Delaware ................         -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -
District of Columbia ....     ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Florida .................       110       206        94       22,333    45,511    14,247       19,301    33,046    12,332
Georgia .................        15        43        14        3,372    10,916     2,363        6,580     9,260     2,106
Hawaii ..................     ( 2 )         7         3        ( 2 )       690     1,559        ( 2 )       710     1,208
Idaho ...................         4        13        12          504     1,900     1,675          357     1,926     1,750

Illinois ................       109       150       114       29,186    37,024    26,884       23,573    33,270    15,571
Indiana .................        26        50        21        5,524    20,213     4,934        5,910    11,526     4,019
Iowa ....................         5         5         4          556     1,686       356          492     1,422       354
Kansas ..................        15        11        10        8,081     2,385     2,080       13,814     1,529     1,766
Kentucky ................        21        26        14        3,876     5,104     2,069        2,684     3,742     1,119
Louisiana ...............        15        36         9        2,052     4,846       980        1,543     4,398       715
Maine ...................     ( 2 )        13         4        ( 2 )     2,753       348        ( 2 )     1,378       260
Maryland ................         6         9         7        1,495     2,222     1,440          947     1,995       594
Massachusetts ...........        42        58        43       10,011    18,135     9,161        8,555    10,418     5,933
Michigan ................        12        70        49        3,993    15,289     6,117        2,636    18,112     5,904
Minnesota ...............        22        42        15        4,336     6,893     1,811        3,800     6,975     1,730
Mississippi .............         6        11         9        1,057     1,558     1,770          766     1,015       705
Missouri ................        24        34        12        4,890    10,765     2,451        4,275     7,348     1,560

Montana .................         -        11         4            -     2,073       307            -     1,334       231
Nebraska ................         4         7     ( 2 )          759       708     ( 2 )          550       594     ( 2 )
Nevada ..................        10         9         5        1,106     1,124     1,168        1,081     1,159       540
New Hampshire ...........     ( 2 )         6     ( 2 )        ( 2 )       543     ( 2 )        ( 2 )       635     ( 2 )
New Jersey ..............        56        74        50        8,538    15,496     6,670        8,167    16,342     6,664
New Mexico ..............     ( 2 )        15         4        ( 2 )     2,675       415        ( 2 )     2,014       246
New York ................       122       114        85       24,681    32,189    11,782       26,790    28,133    10,284
North Carolina ..........        30        48        28        7,583     8,687     7,868        6,357     7,812     7,274
North Dakota ............         -         4     ( 2 )            -       613     ( 2 )            -       461     ( 2 )
Ohio ....................        50        54        51        5,711     6,421     5,395        8,964    12,295     5,810
Oklahoma ................         4        24         7          793     5,712       549          667     6,595       555
Oregon ..................        25        29        22        4,223     3,525     2,582        3,406     4,156     4,222
Pennsylvania ............        59        96        65       12,039    14,804     6,903       19,989    27,539    10,031

Rhode Island ............     ( 2 )         7         4        ( 2 )       840       384        ( 2 )       874       387
South Carolina ..........        14        11         8        1,760     1,442     1,058        2,115     1,734       975
South Dakota ............         -         4     ( 2 )            -       628     ( 2 )            -       641     ( 2 )
Tennessee ...............        19        20        21        3,052     2,703     3,321        1,915     2,524     2,263
Texas ...................        77        84        41       17,753    14,293     5,996       25,806    20,602     8,234
Utah ....................     ( 2 )         8     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     3,247     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     1,042     ( 2 )
Vermont .................     ( 2 )        10         -        ( 2 )     1,076         -        ( 2 )     1,076         -
Virginia ................        20        28        12        2,926     4,056     2,874        4,397     4,531     1,612
Washington ..............        41        48        30       11,955    11,810     9,506        7,354     8,198     5,089
West Virginia ...........         6         6         3          870       937       182          658       519       171
Wisconsin ...............        18        61        34        3,660    10,218     5,094        4,717    10,334     4,530
Wyoming .................         -         -         -            -         -         -            -         -         -

Puerto Rico .............        12        14        18        2,616     1,543     2,231        3,191     2,937     2,339


    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 6. State distribution: Index of mass-layoff separations, private sector, third quarter 2002 and 2003

                                   Share of                      Share of                    Index of mass-layoff                                             
                                separations(2)           establishment employment(3)            separations(4)
                                
          State                III             III             II              II             III             III  
                              2002            2003p           2001            2002            2002            2003p 

    Total( 1 )  .........   1.00000         1.00000         1.00000         1.00000           100.0           100.0

Alabama .................    .00071          .00416          .01311          .01307             5.4            31.8
Alaska ..................    .00000          .00069          .00164          .00167             0.0            41.3
Arizona .................    .03144          .00898          .01880          .01920           167.2            46.8
Arkansas ................    .00175          .00440          .00805          .00818            21.7            53.8
California ..............    .25583          .39481          .11500          .11451           222.5           344.8
Colorado ................    .01135          .00707          .01543          .01500            73.6            47.1
Connecticut .............    .01157          .00579          .01290          .01307            89.7            44.3
Delaware ................    .00000          .00000          .00346          .00348             0.0             0.0
District of Columbia ....    .00137          .00106          .00428          .00450            32.0            23.5
Florida .................    .07196          .05316          .05836          .05868           123.3            90.6
Georgia .................    .01087          .00882          .03059          .03037            35.5            29.0
Hawaii ..................    .00108          .00582          .00377          .00378            28.7           153.8
Idaho ...................    .00162          .00625          .00332          .00338            48.9           185.2

Illinois ................    .09404          .10031          .05102          .05063           184.3           198.1
Indiana .................    .01780          .01841          .02363          .02378            75.3            77.4
Iowa ....................    .00179          .00133          .01018          .01022            17.6            13.0
Kansas ..................    .02604          .00776          .00949          .00957           274.4            81.1
Kentucky ................    .01249          .00772          .01291          .01287            96.8            60.0
Louisiana ...............    .00661          .00366          .01258          .01261            52.6            29.0
Maine ...................    .00070          .00130          .00389          .00388            18.0            33.5
Maryland ................    .00482          .00537          .01786          .01829            27.0            29.4
Massachusetts ...........    .03226          .03418          .02673          .02639           120.7           129.5
Michigan ................    .01287          .02282          .03788          .03784            34.0            60.3
Minnesota ...............    .01397          .00676          .02078          .02088            67.2            32.4
Mississippi .............    .00341          .00660          .00787          .00792            43.3            83.4
Missouri ................    .01576          .00914          .02001          .02024            78.7            45.2

Montana .................    .00000          .00115          .00183          .00192             0.0            59.7
Nebraska ................    .00245          .00224          .00639          .00644            38.2            34.8
Nevada ..................    .00356          .00436          .00921          .00929            38.7            46.9
New Hampshire ...........    .00121          .00057          .00413          .00410            29.2            13.9
New Jersey ..............    .02751          .02489          .03052          .03063            90.2            81.3
New Mexico ..............    .00182          .00155          .00453          .00467            40.1            33.2
New York ................    .07953          .04396          .06408          .06407           124.1            68.6
North Carolina ..........    .02443          .02936          .02879          .02821            84.9           104.1
North Dakota ............    .00000          .00032          .00186          .00190             0.0            16.9
Ohio ....................    .01840          .02013          .04461          .04433            41.3            45.4
Oklahoma ................    .00256          .00205          .01021          .01016            25.0            20.2
Oregon ..................    .01361          .00963          .01062          .01054           128.1            91.4
Pennsylvania ............    .03879          .02576          .04577          .04606            84.8            55.9

Rhode Island ............    .00111          .00143          .00340          .00344            32.6            41.7
South Carolina ..........    .00567          .00395          .01349          .01337            42.0            29.5
South Dakota ............    .00000          .00086          .00220          .00219             0.0            39.2
Tennessee ...............    .00983          .01239          .02264          .02271            43.4            54.6
Texas ...................    .05720          .02237          .07214          .07214            79.3            31.0
Utah ....................    .00392          .00082          .00725          .00715            54.1            11.5
Vermont .................    .00376          .00000          .00173          .00174           217.3             0.0
Virginia ................    .00943          .01072          .02521          .02526            37.4            42.5
Washington ..............    .03852          .03547          .01873          .01832           205.7           193.6
West Virginia ...........    .00280          .00068          .00417          .00424            67.2            16.0
Wisconsin ...............    .01179          .01901          .02193          .02208            53.8            86.1
Wyoming .................    .00000          .00000          .00103          .00108             0.0             0.0
                                                       
                         
     1 See footnote 1, table 1.
     2 The share of separations is the proportion of each State's private sector separations to the total number 
of private sector separations in the U.S. for the period.
     3 The share of establishment employment is the proportion of each State's private sector covered employment 
in establishments of 50 workers or more to the comparable U.S. total.  Covered employment refers to workers 
who are covered by State unemployment insurance laws.
     4 The index is the ratio of the share of separations to the share of establishment employment, multiplied by 100.                         
     p = preliminary.                                        
                         
                         
                         
                         

Table 7. State distribution: Index of mass-layoff separations (excluding seasonal work and vacation periods),
private sector, third quarter 2002 and 2003

				    Share of                       Share of                    Index of mass-layoff         
				 separations(2)           establishment employment(3)             separations(4)
	   State                         
			       III             III             II              II              III             III  
			      2002            2003p           2001            2002            2002            2003p  

    Total( 1 )  .........   1.00000         1.00000         1.00000         1.00000           100.0           100.0

Alabama .................    .00100          .00438          .01311          .01307             7.6            33.5
Alaska ..................    .00000          .00000          .00164          .00167             0.0             0.0
Arizona .................    .01815          .00315          .01880          .01920            96.6            16.4
Arkansas ................    .00247          .00625          .00805          .00818            30.6            76.4
California ..............    .15815          .31890          .11500          .11451           137.5           278.5
Colorado ................    .01523          .00705          .01543          .01500            98.7            47.0
Connecticut .............    .01475          .00635          .01290          .01307           114.3            48.6
Delaware ................    .00000          .00000          .00346          .00348             0.0             0.0
District of Columbia ....    .00193          .00150          .00428          .00450            45.2            33.4
Florida .................    .08427          .06176          .05836          .05868           144.4           105.3
Georgia .................    .01511          .01252          .03059          .03037            49.4            41.2
Hawaii ..................    .00153          .00826          .00377          .00378            40.6           218.4
Idaho ...................    .00143          .00739          .00332          .00338            43.0           219.1

Illinois ................    .09541          .10791          .05102          .05063           187.0           213.1
Indiana .................    .01713          .02535          .02363          .02378            72.5           106.6
Iowa ....................    .00207          .00189          .01018          .01022            20.3            18.5
Kansas ..................    .02994          .00943          .00949          .00957           315.5            98.6
Kentucky ................    .01476          .00826          .01291          .01287           114.3            64.2
Louisiana ...............    .00906          .00519          .01258          .01261            72.0            41.2
Maine ...................    .00099          .00153          .00389          .00388            25.5            39.3
Maryland ................    .00617          .00689          .01786          .01829            34.5            37.7
Massachusetts ...........    .03648          .03947          .02673          .02639           136.5           149.6
Michigan ................    .01779          .03185          .03788          .03784            47.0            84.2
Minnesota ...............    .01658          .00711          .02078          .02088            79.8            34.0
Mississippi .............    .00276          .00885          .00787          .00792            35.1           111.8
Missouri ................    .01429          .00690          .02001          .02024            71.4            34.1

Montana .................    .00000          .00053          .00183          .00192             0.0            27.6
Nebraska ................    .00345          .00106          .00639          .00644            54.0            16.5
Nevada ..................    .00471          .00565          .00921          .00929            51.1            60.9
New Hampshire ...........    .00171          .00081          .00413          .00410            41.3            19.8
New Jersey ..............    .02508          .02561          .03052          .03063            82.2            83.6
New Mexico ..............    .00257          .00220          .00453          .00467            56.7            47.1
New York ................    .07973          .03150          .06408          .06407           124.4            49.2
North Carolina ..........    .03450          .04170          .02879          .02821           119.8           147.8
North Dakota ............    .00000          .00046          .00186          .00190             0.0            24.0
Ohio ....................    .02569          .02859          .04461          .04433            57.6            64.5
Oklahoma ................    .00361          .00291          .01021          .01016            35.4            28.6
Oregon ..................    .01601          .00780          .01062          .01054           150.7            74.0
Pennsylvania ............    .05075          .03016          .04577          .04606           110.9            65.5

Rhode Island ............    .00128          .00106          .00340          .00344            37.6            30.8
South Carolina ..........    .00640          .00405          .01349          .01337            47.4            30.3
South Dakota ............    .00000          .00122          .00220          .00219             0.0            55.7
Tennessee ...............    .01389          .01713          .02264          .02271            61.3            75.4
Texas ...................    .07787          .03133          .07214          .07214           108.0            43.4
Utah ....................    .00553          .00117          .00725          .00715            76.3            16.3
Vermont .................    .00531          .00000          .00173          .00174           306.8             0.0
Virginia ................    .01331          .01523          .02521          .02526            52.8            60.3
Washington ..............    .03212          .02648          .01873          .01832           171.5           144.6
West Virginia ...........    .00396          .00067          .00417          .00424            94.8            15.9
Wisconsin ...............    .01508          .02452          .02193          .02208            68.8           111.1
Wyoming .................    .00000          .00000          .00103          .00108             0.0             0.0
			 
						       
     1 See footnote 1, table 1.
     2 The share of separations is the proportion of each State's private sector separations to the total number
of private sector separations in the U.S. for the period.  Seasonal work and vacation periods as reasons for 
layoff are excluded from these calculations.
     3 The share of establishment employment is the proportion of each State's private sector covered employment
in establishments of 50 workers or more to the comparable U.S. total.  Covered employment refers to workers
who are covered by State unemployment insurance laws.
     4 The index is the ratio of the share of separations (excluding seasonal work and vacation periods) to
     the share of establishment employment, multiplied by 100.                         
     p = preliminary.