Technical information:  (202) 691-6392       USDL 04-150
http://www.bls.gov/mls/
                                     
                                             For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                691-5902       Thursday, February 12, 2004
                                     
                                     
            EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2003
                       AND ANNUAL AVERAGES FOR 2003
  
   In the fourth quarter of 2003, 1,956 mass layoff actions were taken by
employers that resulted in the separation of 359,085 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 sharply lower
than in October-December 2002 and were the lowest for a fourth quarter
since 1999.  (See table A.)  The decline over the year was most notable in
general merchandise stores, computer and electronic product manufacturing,
and machinery manufacturing.  In the fourth quarter of 2003 the national
unemployment rate was 5.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted; a year earlier
it was 5.6 percent.  Nonfarm payroll employment, not seasonally adjusted,
declined by 0.2 percent, or 211,000 jobs, between October-December 2002 and
October-December 2003.
   
   The completion of seasonal work accounted for 50 percent of all events
and 198,054 separations during the period--the lowest level for a fourth
quarter since 1999.  Layoffs due to internal company restructuring repre-
sented 14 percent of events and resulted in 49,091 separations, both lower 
than a year earlier.  Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 10 percent 
of all events and affected 31,711 workers, the lowest level for any fourth 
quarter.  Forty percent of the employers anticipating a recall expected to 
extend the offer to all laid-off workers, the highest proportion for a fourth 
quarter since 2000.
   
   For all of 2003, the total of extended mass layoff events was 7,245 and
the total number of worker separations was 1,452,427.  These annual totals
were lower than in 2002, (7,295 and 1,546,976, respectively).  Since their
peak in 2001, the annual number of extended layoff events has fallen by
1,104, or 13 percent, and the number of separations has declined by 298,941, 
or 17 percent.  Additional information on the annual data is available start-
ing on page 7 of this release.
   
Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
   
   Extended mass layoff separations occurred in 420 of the 1,197 detailed
industries for which data are available.  Manufacturing industries accounted 
for 26 percent of private-sector layoff events and 24 percent of separations 
during October-December 2003.  The 83,438 worker separations in manufacturing 
were the lowest for any fourth quarter since the mass layoff series began in 
1995.  Layoff activity in this sector was concentrated in food manufacturing 
(26,167, largely in the highly seasonal fruit and vegetable canning industry), 
followed by nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing (7,429), transportation 
equipment manufacturing (5,959), and computer and electronic product manufac-
turing (5,667).  (See table 1.)
   
                                  - 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...........|     1,383    |    310,351   |     284,629
October-December(r)......|     2,257    |    469,739   |     421,646
          2003           |              |              |
January-March(r).........|     1,700    |    334,605   |     334,117
April-June(r)............|     2,131    |    457,836   |     418,702
July-September(r)........|     1,458    |    300,901   |     269,323
October-December(p)......|     1,956    |    359,085   |     272,807
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  p=preliminary.                         r=revised.
   
   Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting accounted for 16 percent of
private-sector layoff events and 21 percent of separations, with nearly all
layoff activity concentrated in agriculture and forestry support activities.  
Layoffs in construction comprised 24 percent of events and 18 percent of 
separations, mostly in highway, street, and bridge construction.  Cutbacks 
in administrative and waste services accounted for 10 percent of events and 
9 percent of separations, mainly in temporary help services. The retail trade 
sector accounted for an additional 4 percent of events and 7 percent of 
separations during the quarter, primarily in supermarkets and other grocery 
stores.
   
   Layoffs in government establishments accounted for 3 percent of all
events and separations, mostly in executive, legislative and general
government and in the administration of environmental programs.
   
Reasons for Extended Layoff
   
   Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 50 percent
of the extended layoff events and resulted in 198,054 separations in the
fourth quarter.  (See table 2.)  Seasonal layoffs typically peak in the
fourth quarter.  However, 2003 recorded the lowest level of seasonal
separations for a fourth quarter since 1999.  Seasonal layoffs were most
numerous among workers in agriculture and forestry support activities
(largely among farm labor contractors and crew leaders), heavy and civil
engineering construction (mainly in highway, street, and bridge construc-
tion), crop production (mostly in vegetable and melon farming and in 
strawberry farming), and in food processing.
   
                                  - 3 -

     Table B.  Summary of employer expectations of a recall from
     extended layoff, fourth quarter 2002-fourth quarter 2003
     -----------------------------------------------------------------
                          |         Percentage of events
                          |-------------------------------------------
     Nature of the recall |   IV  |   I   |   II  |   III   |   IV
                          |  2002 |  2003 |  2003 |  2003r  |  2003p
    ----------------------|-------|-------|-------|---------|---------
     Anticipate a recall..|  55.8 |  38.4 |  46.6 |  37.5   |  62.2
                          |       |       |       |         |
           Timeframe      |       |       |       |         |
                          |       |       |       |         |
     Within 6 months......|  78.8 |  74.5 |  85.6 |  84.1   |  84.3
       Within 3 months....|  32.6 |  45.6 |  55.7 |  53.7   |  35.6
                          |       |       |       |         |
             Size         |       |       |       |         |
                          |       |       |       |         |
     At least half........|  86.7 |  80.1 |  86.9 |  84.5   |  90.7
       All workers........|  37.3 |  29.4 |  46.5 |  40.0   |  39.8
     -----------------------------------------------------------------
       p=preliminary.                    r=revised.
   
   
   Internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change,
financial difficulty, and reorganization) accounted for 14 percent of
layoff events and resulted in 49,091 separations.  These layoffs were
mostly among workers in telecommunications, in administrative and support
services, in credit intermediation and related activities, and in computer
and electronic product manufacturing.  In the fourth quarter of 2002,
layoff events for these reasons represented 17 percent of events and
involved 82,973 workers.
   
   Contract completion accounted for 10 percent of events and resulted in
31,326 separations during the fourth quarter.  These layoffs were primarily
in administrative and support services and in specialty trade contractors.
   
Recall Expectations
   
   Sixty-two percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the fourth 
quarter of 2003 indicated they anticipated some type of recall.  This compares 
with 56 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, transportation equipment manufacturing, and computer and 
electronic product manufacturing.

   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 fourth quarter since 
2000.
   
   Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in
which 96 percent of the employers expected a recall), employers expected 
to recall laid-off workers in 28 percent of the events, slightly higher 
than a year earlier when 25 percent of employers expected a recall.  In 
layoff events due to internal company restructuring, employers anticipated 
a recall in only 7 percent of the events.
   
                                  - 4 -
   
Table C.  Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff,
October-December 2003p
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                 |      Layoff events     |       Separations
      Size       |------------------------|------------------------
                 |   Number  |   Percent  |  Number  |   Percent
-----------------|-----------|------------|----------|-------------
    Total........|   1,956   |    100.0   |  359,085 |    100.0
                 |           |            |          |
50-99............|     738   |     37.7   |   52,354 |     14.6
100-149..........|     453   |     23.2   |   53,415 |     14.9
150-199..........|     236   |     12.1   |   39,517 |     11.0 
200-299..........|     244   |     12.5   |   57,592 |     16.0 
300-499..........|     175   |      8.9   |   64,834 |     18.1
500-999..........|      86   |      4.4   |   53,458 |     14.9
1,000 or more....|      24   |      1.2   |   37,915 |     10.6
-------------------------------------------------------------------
  p=preliminary.                        
   
Size of Extended Layoff
   
   Layoff events during the fourth quarter continued to be concentrated 
at the lower end of the extended layoff-size spectrum, with 61 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 25 percent of all separations, down from
31 percent a year earlier.  The average size of layoffs (as measured by
separations per layoff event) differed widely by industry, ranging from a
low of 82 separations in nursing and residential care facilities to a high
of 726 in food and beverage stores.
   
Initial Claimant Characteristics
   
   A total of 272,807 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with extended mass layoffs in the fourth quarter of 2003.  Of
these claimants, 10 percent were black, 26 percent were Hispanic, 35 per-
cent were women, and 14 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, 47 percent were women, and 15 percent were 55
years of age or older.  Thirty-seven percent of the civilian labor force
were ages 30 to 44.
   
Geographic Distribution
   
   In the fourth quarter, the number of separations due to extended mass
layoff events was highest in the West (158,816), followed by the Midwest
(116,116), the South (43,368), and the Northeast (40,785).  (See table 4.)
Extended mass layoffs in the West were mainly in agriculture and forestry
support activities, crop production, and food processing.
   
   All four regions reported over-the-year decreases in separations, with
the largest decrease occurring in the Northeast (-45,497).  Each of the
nine geographic divisions reported over-the-year declines in laid-off
workers, with the largest declines in the Middle Atlantic (-29,972), New
England (-15,525), and East North Central (-12,813) divisions.

   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the largest number of
worker separations occurred in California (125,775), followed by Illinois
(39,238).  These two states accounted for 37 percent of total layoff events
and 46 percent of the separations during the fourth quarter of 2003.  They
were followed by Ohio (16,414), Florida (15,309), and Washington (14,471).
(See table 5.)  After excluding the substantial impact of seasonal work,
California still reported the most laid-off workers (46,119), largely due
to layoffs in food and beverage stores, administrative and support
services, and agriculture and forestry support activities.

                                  - 5 -   
   
Table D.  Mass layoff events and separations, selected metropolitan areas
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          |   Events    |    Separations            
                                          |-------------|------------------
            Metropolitan area             |  IV  |  IV  |   IV    |   IV    
                                          | 2002 | 2003p|  2002   |  2003p 
------------------------------------------|------|------|---------|-------- 
Total, nonmetropolitan areas..............|  338 |  262 |  57,936 |  43,640
                                          |      |      |         |              
Total, 331 metropolitan areas.............|1,380 |1,084 | 270,024 | 201,823
                                          |      |      |         |
    Fresno, Calif. .......................|   67 |   61 |  22,179 |  20,713   
    Chicago, Ill. ........................|  120 |   95 |  22,970 |  18,363
    Salinas, Calif. ......................|   49 |   54 |  15,958 |  17,584
    Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif. .......|   35 |   28 |   7,902 |   9,612
    Bakersfield, Calif. ..................|   35 |   31 |  11,831 |   6,330
    Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis. .....|   44 |   42 |   6,080 |   5,503
    Detroit, Mich. .......................|   25 |   39 |   2,036 |   4,853
    New York, N.Y. .......................|   38 |   26 |   7,847 |   4,481
    Stockton-Lodi, Calif. ................|   20 |   23 |   3,443 |   4,470
    Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, Calif. ...|   25 |   26 |   5,158 |   4,304
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 p=preliminary.
   
   Over the year, New York reported the greatest decrease in laid-off workers 
(-20,698), followed by Massachusetts (-10,304) and Wisconsin (-9,298).  The 
largest increase occurred in Michigan (+7,059).
   
   Fifty-five percent of events and 56 percent of separations occurred in
metropolitan areas in the fourth quarter of 2003, a decrease from 61 percent 
of events and 57 percent of separations during the fourth quarter of 2002.  
Among the 331 metropolitan areas, Fresno, Calif., reported the highest number 
of separations, 20,713, mainly in agriculture and forestry support activities.  
Next was Chicago, Ill., with 18,363 separations, largely in administrative and 
support services, specialty trade contractors, and heavy and civil engineering 
construction.  Six of the 10 areas reporting the largest number of extended 
mass layoffs in the fourth quarter were in California.  (See table D.)  
Employers located in nonmetropolitan areas separated 43,640 workers in mass 
layoffs, down from 57,936 workers in the fourth 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 em-
ployment.  (See note and table 6.)  A separate index is calculated that
excludes the impact of seasonal work and vacation periods from the
separations data.  (See table 7.)

                                  - 6 -

Table E.  Index of mass layoff activity, fourth quarter 2002-fourth 
quarter 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                   | Fourth quarter| Fourth quarter|   Over-the-year 
       Region      |      2002     |     2003p     |      change
-------------------|---------------|---------------|------------------
Northeast..........|      97.2     |      59.7     |      -37.5  
South..............|      45.0     |      35.5     |       -9.5 
Midwest............|     114.7     |     125.7     |       11.0  
West...............|     174.2     |     211.1     |       36.9  
----------------------------------------------------------------------
  p=preliminary.
   
   Among the four regions, the West, with an index of 211.1 in the fourth
quarter, recorded the highest concentration of mass layoffs relative to the
region's employment followed by the Midwest, 125.7.  (See table E.)  The
Northeast, 59.7, and the South, 35.5, reported indexes well below 100.0,
indicating the relative infrequency of layoffs in those regions.
   
   Over the year, the indexes for the Northeast and South regions recorded
declines of 37.5 and 9.5 points, respectively, while those for the West and
Midwest posted increases of 36.9 and 11.0 points, respectively.
   
   Among the nine geographic divisions, the Pacific posted the highest
index for the fourth quarter, 275.1, primarily due to layoff activity in
agriculture and forestry support activities, crop production, and food
processing.  The next highest indexes were reported in the East North
Central, 135.8, and West North Central, 100.4.  The East South Central
division had the lowest index, 16.2, followed by the West South Central,
23.1, and the South Atlantic divisions, 48.2.
   
   Among the 47 states and the District of Columbia that reported private-
sector extended mass layoffs during the fourth quarter of 2003, 34 states
and the District of Columbia reported indexes below 100.0, indicating a
relatively small share of layoffs.  (See table 6.)  Of the 13 States with
indexes above 100.0, California had the highest index of 308.1--due to the
high concentrations of layoff activity in agriculture and forestry support
activities, crop production, and in food and beverage stores.  Relative 
concentrations of layoffs also were high in Montana (238.7),Washington 
(220.0), and Illinois (213.8).  Maryland, at 1.9, had the lowest relative 
concentration of mass layoffs followed by Tennessee (7.4), New Mexico (10.0), 
and Arizona (10.3).
   
   After the exclusion of layoffs due to seasonal work and vacation, the
Pacific division recorded the highest index, 207.8. This reflected a
concentration of layoffs in food and beverage stores, administrative and
support services, and in agriculture and forestry support activities.  

   At the state level, California reported the highest index, excluding
seasonal and vacation period events, (244.4) for fourth quarter 2003,
followed by Illinois (243.6) and Florida (166.7).  The lowest indexes
occurred in Maryland (4.3), Utah (6.7), the District of Columbia (8.4), 
and Tennessee (16.7).  (See table 7 and chart 2.)
   
                                  - 7 -
     
     Table F.  Selected measures of mass layoff activity, 1996-2003
     ----------------------------------------------------------------
         Period    | Layoff events|  Separations | Initial claimants
     --------------|--------------|--------------|-------------------
     1996..........|     5,697    |  1,184,355   |       957,745
     1997..........|     5,683    |  1,146,115   |     1,041,907
     1998..........|     5,851    |  1,227,573   |     1,232,384
     1999 .........|     5,675    |  1,149,267   |       972,244
     2000..........|     5,620    |  1,170,427   |     1,018,700
     2001(r).......|     8,349    |  1,751,368   |     1,615,522
     2002(r).......|     7,295    |  1,546,976   |     1,375,781
     2003(p).......|     7,245    |  1,452,427   |     1,294,949
     -----------------------------------------------------------------
         p=preliminary.                      r=revised.

Review of 2003
   
   For all of 2003, employers reported 7,245 extended mass layoff actions,
affecting 1,452,427 workers.  These totals were down from 7,295 events and
1,546,976 separations in 2002.  Compared to their peak levels in 2001, the
number of events was down by 13 percent and the number of separations was
down by 17 percent.  (See table F.)  The annual average national unemploy-
ment rate increased from 5.8 percent in 2002 to 6.0 percent in 2003, while 
nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 0.3 percent, or 409,000 jobs.
   
   Thirteen percent of extended events in 2003 were permanent closures,
accounting for 210,884 worker separations.  When compared to 2002, the
number of permanent closures declined by 22 percent, resulting in 92,787
fewer separations.  Since 2001, when permanent closures were at their
highest, the number of closures was down by 26 percent and the number of
associated separations was down by 44 percent.  During 2003, permanent
closures were most numerous in the manufacturing sector, primarily in
computer and electronic products.  Import competition was most often cited
as the reason for closures in manufacturing during 2003, accounting for 
19 percent of the total.
   
   In 2003, employers expected a recall in only 47 percent of the mass
layoff actions, about the same as a year earlier.  In 5 of the past 8 years, 
a recall had been expected in about 60 percent of all layoff events.
Employers in agriculture (81 percent), in construction (72 percent), in
arts, entertainment, and recreation (70 percent) and in mining (70 percent), 
were more likely to have some type of recall than were those in other indus-
tries.  Employers in the finance and insurance sector had the lowest percent-
age of recall expectation (3 percent), followed by those in information 
(10 percent).  Manufacturing industries accounted for 37 percent of events 
and 35 percent of separations for which the employer did not expect to have 
a recall.  These occurred primarily in computer and electronic products, 
transportation equipment, and primary metals.
   
   In the private sector, manufacturing had the largest share of extended
events and separations in 2003.  Manufacturing accounted for 31 percent of
all mass layoff events and 27 percent of all separations, the smallest
shares on record.  Since reaching a peak in 2001, the number of manufac-
turing events has declined by 37 percent and the number of separations 
declined by 41 percent.  In 2003, within manufacturing, separations were 
most numerous in food manufacturing (76,071, largely in fruit and vegetable 
processing), transportation equipment (50,744 mostly in aircraft manufac-
turing) and computer and electronic products (42,155, mainly in semicon-
ductors and related devices).  Compared to 2002, 17 of the 21 manufacturing 
subgroups had declines in the number of separations with the largest occur-
ring in computer and electronic products (-39,295) and apparel (-11,815).  
Textile mills had the largest increase (+3,048).
   
   In 2003, seasonal work continued to be the most cited reason for layoff,
accounting for 32 percent of all layoff events and 36 percent of all
separations, unchanged from 2002.  The layoffs in 2003 occurred primarily
in establishments engaged in agriculture and forestry support activities,
crop production, and food manufacturing.
    
                                  - 8 -

   Layoff activity due to internal company restructuring occurred largely
among general merchandise stores, air transportation, and computer and
electronic products.  Employers cited this reason in 1,417 events (20
percent of the total), resulting in the separation of 304,546 workers 
(21 percent of the total).
   
   Overseas relocation resulted in 13,013 workers being separated from
their jobs in extended mass layoffs in 2003.  Nearly all separations caused
by out-of-country moves were from the manufacturing sector.  Employers
cited Mexico as the destination for relocation in 43 percent of these
events.
   
   The West reported more laid-off workers in 2003 than any other region,
564,248.  Layoffs in the West were mainly in food production (agriculture
and forestry support activities, crop production, and food manufacturing)
and were primarily attributed to seasonal factors.  The Northeast region
continued to report the lowest annual number of separations (232,838).
Compared to 2002, each of the four geographic regions reported a decrease
in laid-off workers, the first time that all four regions had an over-the-
year decrease.  The largest decline occurred in the South (-47,424).
   
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, California continued
to report the largest number of separated workers in 2003 (428,067).  After
California were Illinois (132,251), Florida (105,928), and New York (90,116).  
These four states accounted for 46 percent of events and 52 percent of 
separations for the year.  Total separations reported by California, Florida, 
and New York for 2003 were each the highest in the program's history.  Arizona 
(-26,314) had the largest over-the-year decline in the number of separations; 
California recorded the largest over-the-year increase (+70,520).
   
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
establishment filing initial claims for unemployment insurance during a
consecutive 5-week period.  Approximately 30 days after a mass layoff is
triggered at an establishment, the employer is contacted for additional
information.  Data for the fourth quarter are preliminary and subject to
revision.  This release also includes revised data for previous quarters.
Data are not seasonally adjusted, but survey data suggest that there is a
seasonal pattern to layoffs.  Thus, comparisons between consecutive
quarters should not be used as an indicator of trend.
   
   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 establish-
ments that employ at least 50 workers.  It facilitates relative area-to-area 
comparisons by discounting the absolute size of the area.  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.
   
   For additional information about the program, see the Technical Note.
   
                       _____________________________
   
   The report on Mass Layoffs in January 2004 is scheduled to be released
on Wednesday, February 25, 2004.
                                    

    --------------------------------------------------------------------  
   |    NOTE:  The fourth quarter of 2003 marks the final release of    |
   | extended mass layoff data for the total economy.  Due to budget    |
   | constraints in the Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program, beginning |
   | with data for the first quarter of 2004, the scope of quarterly ex-|
   | tended mass layoffs and plant closings has been redefined to cover |
   | only the private nonfarm economy.  Quarterly information on layoff |
   | events in agriculture and government will no longer be collected.  |
   | However, the monthly reporting of the MLS program, which is based  |
   | only on administrative data, will be unaffected and will continue  |
   | to cover the total economy.                                        |
    --------------------------------------------------------------------  
   
Technical Note
  

  The  Mass  Layoff  Statistics (MLS) program is  a  federal-state  program
which  uses  a standardized, automated approach to identifying, describing,
and  tracking  the  effects of major job cutbacks,  using  data  from  each
state's  unemployment  insurance database.  Establishments  which  have  at
least  50  initial  claims filed against them during a  consecutive  5-week
period  are  contacted  by  the state agency  to  determine  whether  these
separations  are of at least 31 days duration, and, if so,  information  is
obtained on the total number of persons separated and the reasons for these
separations.    Establishments  are  identified   according   to   industry
classification  and  location,  and unemployment  insurance  claimants  are
identified by such demographic factors as age, race, sex, ethnic group, and
place  of  residence.  The program yields information  on  an  individual's
entire  spell  of  unemployment,  to the point  when  regular  unemployment
insurance benefits are exhausted.

  The  MLS  program  was resumed in April 1995; it had been  terminated  in
November  1992 due to lack of funding.  However, due to changes in concepts
and  definitions,  data  from the resumed program  are  not  comparable  to
earlier data.

  Information   in   this   release  will  be  made  available  to  sensory
impaired  individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message
referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.

Definitions

  Establishment.   A  unit  at   a  single   physical  location   at  which
predominantly one type of economic activity is conducted.

  Extended layoff event.  Fifty  or  more  initial  claims for unemployment
insurance  benefits from an establishment during a 5-week period,  with  at
least 50 workers separated for more than 30 days.

  Initial  claimant.  A person  who  files  any  notice of unemployment  to
initiate  a  request  either  for a determination  of  entitlement  to  and
eligibility  for  compensation, or for a subsequent period of  unemployment
within a benefit year or period of eligibility.

  Layoff. The separation of persons  from  an  employer  as part of a  mass
layoff  event.  (See below.) Such layoffs involve both persons  subject  to
recall and those who are terminated by the establishment.

                                  - 2 -

  Mass layoff.  Fifty or more  initial  claims for  unemployment  insurance
benefits  from  an establishment beginning in a given month, regardless  of
duration.

  Worksite  closure.  The  full  closure  of  either multi-unit or  single-
unit  establishments  or the partial closure of a multi-unit  establishment
where  entire  worksites affected by layoffs are closed or  planned  to  be
closed.


Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment
insurance, selected quarters, 2002 and 2003

                                                                                                           Initial claimants for   
                                                        Layoff events               Separations            unemployment insurance  
                      Industry                    
                                                     IV      III     IV        IV       III      IV         IV       III      IV   
                                                    2002r   2003r   2003p     2002r    2003r    2003p      2002r    2003r    2003p 


        Total( 1 ) ...............................  2,257   1,458   1,956    469,739  300,901  359,085    421,646  269,323  272,807

Total, private ...................................  2,201   1,327   1,902    450,793  272,834  348,985    409,869  245,468  265,098

  Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting  ....    285     137     310     77,486   37,394   72,338     39,277   19,859   36,084
  Mining .........................................     24       4      19      3,055      626    2,256      2,961      392    2,006
  Utilities ......................................      6   ( 2 )       5      1,454    ( 2 )      841        895    ( 2 )      705
  Construction ...................................    462     106     452     68,133   13,898   63,382     72,730   17,394   55,554
  Manufacturing ..................................    735     456     503    142,565   86,128   83,438    151,215   84,691   74,829
       Food ......................................    124      59     117     31,729   19,251   26,167     25,422   12,974   18,345
       Beverage and tobacco products .............      5   ( 2 )      15        965    ( 2 )    2,133        859    ( 2 )    1,871
       Textile mills .............................     24      20      18      4,121    7,294    2,790      5,124    7,369    2,219
       Textile product mills .....................     11       6       8      3,479    1,260      921      3,650      914      877
       Apparel ...................................     32      28      25      5,395    4,466    3,444      5,026    4,026    2,430
       Leather and allied products ...............      8   ( 2 )       3        860    ( 2 )      423      1,006    ( 2 )      242
       Wood products .............................     38      17      22      5,763    1,656    2,159      5,964    1,967    2,254
       Paper .....................................     19      12       9      3,133    1,798      952      2,708    1,202      766
       Printing and related support activities ...      8       9      10      1,439    1,023    1,641      1,103      900    1,551
       Petroleum and coal products ...............     18   ( 2 )      14      2,942    ( 2 )    2,280      3,151    ( 2 )    1,942

       Chemicals  ................................     12      13       9      1,802    1,451    1,300      1,470    1,560    1,038
       Plastics and rubber products ..............     20      18      21      2,858    2,177    2,214      3,147    2,398    2,147
       Nonmetallic mineral products ..............     43      11      51      7,437    1,454    7,429      6,523    1,603    6,200
       Primary metals ............................     38      32      21      7,048    5,416    3,718      8,873    5,571    4,116
       Fabricated metal products .................     35      29      30      5,215    4,213    3,561      5,139    3,972    3,151
       Machinery .................................     55      30      21     12,163    6,020    3,700     12,190    6,234    4,540
       Computer and electronic products ..........     93      56      30     17,073    7,959    5,667     20,207    8,166    4,216
       Electrical equipment and appliances .......     28      15      12      8,295    2,834    2,992     13,398    2,693    2,420
       Transportation equipment ..................     79      62      43     13,347   10,978    5,959     18,411   16,901   11,191
       Furniture and related products ............     24      18      12      4,293    3,736    1,848      4,882    3,382    1,483
       Miscellaneous manufacturing ...............     21      16      12      3,208    2,630    2,140      2,962    2,358    1,830

  Wholesale trade ................................     35      44      38      7,394    7,216    8,586      5,215    6,065    4,499
  Retail trade ...................................     89      72      72     28,666   20,999   23,008     24,539   31,469   19,522
  Transportation and warehousing .................     61      75      42     19,759   14,563    7,793     17,435   13,296    6,860
  Information ....................................     64      49      44     15,387   12,024   11,473     15,239   11,342   11,136
  Finance and insurance ..........................     47      55      44      9,217   10,664    6,376      8,963    9,478    5,764
  Real estate and rental and leasing .............  ( 2 )       6       5      ( 2 )    1,280      889      ( 2 )    1,254      362
  Professional and technical services ............     56      51      40     11,692    8,561    7,400     11,166    8,065    5,068
  Management of companies and enterprises ........  ( 2 )   ( 2 )       5      ( 2 )    ( 2 )    1,316      ( 2 )    ( 2 )      685
  Administrative and waste services ..............    176     128     182     34,330   38,519   30,275     35,426   23,748   24,573
  Educational services ...........................  ( 2 )      15       -      ( 2 )    1,564        -      ( 2 )    1,635        -
  Health care and social assistance ..............     33      48      32      5,507    5,696    3,691      4,949    4,361    3,548
  Arts, entertainment, and recreation ............     33      30      34      7,942    5,386   11,274      4,580    4,657    3,579
  Accommodation and food services ................     64      30      58     12,991    5,983   11,842     10,162    5,412    8,346
  Other services, except public administration ...     18      15      16      2,712    1,495    2,562      2,368    1,418    1,901

  Unclassified ...................................      3       2       1        629      335      245        536      335       77

Government .......................................     56     131      54     18,946   28,067   10,100     11,777   23,855    7,709
       Federal ...................................     10      10      10      4,104    2,977    1,266      2,352    3,168    1,673
       State .....................................     19      24      16      7,613    5,341    3,989      5,198    4,818    2,639
       Local .....................................     27      97      28      7,229   19,749    4,845      4,227   15,869    3,397
          


    1 For the fourth 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      
                                      IV        III       IV          IV        III       IV           IV        III       IV   
                                     2002r     2003r     2003p       2002r     2003r     2003p        2002r     2003r     2003p 


   Total, all reasons( 1 ) .......   2,257     1,458     1,956      469,739   300,901   359,085      421,646   269,323   272,807

Automation .......................   ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Bankruptcy .......................      46        40        23       15,535    15,527     4,049       11,864    11,843     2,366
Business ownership change ........      33        32        19        8,480     6,421     5,220        6,126     4,734     1,633
Contract cancellation ............      44        24        24        8,416    19,404     4,306        7,060     2,955     2,012
Contract completed ...............     194       201       198       35,783    31,257    31,326       41,288    36,976    31,729
Domestic relocation ..............      18        28        17        5,546     4,582     2,930        3,478     4,175     3,161
Environment-related ..............       -         -     ( 2 )            -         -     ( 2 )            -         -     ( 2 )
Financial difficulty .............     111        95        68       22,145    13,972    12,919       21,081    13,805     7,728
Import competition ...............      19        29        29        3,293     7,081     5,295        3,022     5,216     5,487
Labor dispute ....................      11         8         7        2,300     5,393    10,032        2,245    13,052     7,307
Material shortage ................       4     ( 2 )         -          379     ( 2 )         -          509     ( 2 )         -

Model changeover .................   ( 2 )         5     ( 2 )        ( 2 )       340     ( 2 )        ( 2 )       374     ( 2 )
Natural disaster .................   ( 2 )     ( 2 )         3        ( 2 )     ( 2 )       741        ( 2 )     ( 2 )       429
Overseas relocation ..............      21        14         7        3,407     3,684       735        2,976     3,256       642
Plant or machine repair ..........       5         5         6          877       618       815          981       674       598
Product line discontinued ........       9         5         5        1,025       795       503        1,060       811       484
Reorganization within company ....     185       151       159       36,813    27,000    26,903       38,962    32,763    23,290
Seasonal work ....................   1,015       308       984      226,347    79,722   198,054      167,818    49,888   124,834
Slack work .......................     319       214       174       51,379    30,737    21,241       66,309    36,635    27,566
Vacation period ..................   ( 2 )        28         8        ( 2 )     5,412     1,187        ( 2 )     4,411     1,039
Weather-related ..................      19         3        28        2,242       423     3,535        2,635       440     3,321
Other ............................      59        62        35       11,614    10,326     4,331       11,091     8,778     4,996
Not reported .....................     139       202       157       32,516    37,904    24,403       31,967    38,187    23,855


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    p = preliminary. 
    r = revised.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero. 


Table 3. State and selected claimant characteristics: Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment
insurance, third and fourth quarters, 2003

                                                 Total                                   Percent of total                        
                                                initial                             Hispanic                        Persons age 55
                           Layoff events       claimants             Black           origin            Women          and over   
           State         
                            III     IV         III      IV         III    IV        III    IV        III    IV        III    IV 
                           2003r   2003p      2003r    2003p      2003r  2003p     2003r  2003p     2003r  2003p     2003r  2003p

    Total( 1 )  .........  1,458   1,956     269,323  272,807      14.6    9.9      22.4   26.2      44.9   34.7      15.1   14.2

Alabama .................      7       4       1,658      494      44.1   39.1       4.8    1.6      38.8   34.8      17.2   26.7
Alaska ..................      3      10         377    1,400        .3    3.5      19.9   22.6      31.0   27.2      19.4   12.8
Arizona .................     21       5       2,278      635       2.0    6.6      58.1   40.0      32.7   43.6      15.5   14.2
Arkansas ................      4   ( 2 )         524    ( 2 )      16.0   50.6        .6    7.0      59.4   39.1      19.1    8.2
California ..............    427     538      90,000   75,108       8.0    5.0      43.8   60.8      48.6   44.0      11.7   11.4
Colorado ................     12      21       1,678    2,391       9.7    3.9      19.5   32.9      50.7   26.8      15.2   16.1
Connecticut .............     12      16       1,142    1,460      15.0    9.7      14.4    4.9      40.8   27.6      23.0   15.5
Delaware ................      -       -           -        -         -      -         -      -         -      -         -      -
District of Columbia ....  ( 2 )       5       ( 2 )      382      23.8   19.1        .3   12.6      70.1   51.3      13.7   12.3
Florida .................    112     100      16,481   10,975      20.0   15.7      29.8   25.9      46.8   45.5      18.3   16.4
Georgia .................     14      21       2,618    2,766      64.9   55.1        .5    1.8      48.5   48.7      13.5   13.6
Hawaii ..................      3       6       1,332      591       3.1    1.0      35.1   29.4      18.9   36.0      15.5   12.2
Idaho ...................     12      11       1,914    2,611        .3     .3      22.6   27.8      39.3   48.2      18.7   20.1

Illinois ................    113     192      21,076   26,857      21.8   14.4      10.7   16.9      45.1   26.0      13.9   12.4
Indiana .................     21      50       5,484   11,095      17.6   11.7       3.0    3.0      30.2   24.8      16.6   14.7
Iowa ....................      6      29         764    3,474       1.8    1.1        .3    4.2      50.7   15.9      15.1   16.0
Kansas ..................     10      10       2,098    1,305      19.8    5.4       3.0    8.4      52.4   20.5      16.5   15.4
Kentucky ................     14      10       1,298    1,185       7.5    5.9        .6     .3      56.0   58.6      21.0   12.0
Louisiana ...............      9      14         789    1,304      34.3   51.1       2.8    1.5      34.5   32.0      13.3   18.0
Maine ...................      4       9         262    1,096       1.1    1.6         -    1.5      70.2   29.2      24.0   15.9
Maryland ................      7   ( 2 )         637    ( 2 )      43.6   30.2         -    1.4      46.3   19.4      22.3   59.0
Massachusetts ...........     43      21       6,945    3,603       7.0    5.6       4.4    2.9      49.7   37.1      17.2   19.9
Michigan ................     49     104      11,570   16,456      28.6   12.3       2.7    9.1      35.9   35.1      13.6   12.9
Minnesota ...............     15      90       2,040    9,846       9.6    1.5       2.8   10.8      46.2   14.5      14.6   14.7
Mississippi .............      9       4         771      228      80.7   78.1        .3     .4      52.5   46.1       9.2   19.3
Missouri ................     15      19       3,610    2,140      19.6   12.1        .4     .7      51.4   37.9      27.1   22.4

Montana .................      4       7         231      975        .4     .2       4.3    3.1      72.7   12.5      19.5   13.5
Nebraska ................  ( 2 )       7       ( 2 )      937        .5    1.1        .7   11.3       9.0   15.0      16.0   17.6
Nevada ..................      5       4         587      825      14.1    6.9      18.6   20.7      45.1   25.0      32.0   23.9
New Hampshire ...........      4       -         319        -        .9      -      16.0      -      48.3      -      16.3      -
New Jersey ..............     56      54       8,322    8,775      28.9   14.8      14.3   12.8      58.0   39.5      23.3   23.8
New Mexico ..............      4       3         543      163       2.2     .6      37.8   84.0      39.4   49.1       6.1    6.7
New York ................    101      82      15,292    9,858      12.2    6.7       7.2    6.9      47.1   28.4      15.3   16.1
North Carolina ..........     28      35       7,735    4,681      31.5   52.6       5.5    5.7      50.9   56.8      26.1   17.9
North Dakota ............  ( 2 )       6       ( 2 )      950         -     .9       1.1    3.7       4.5   13.6      25.0   15.7
Ohio ....................     51     121       7,894   15,159       9.5   10.4       1.6    3.8      33.2   21.3      13.2   11.4
Oklahoma ................      7       5         683      471       7.2   10.0       3.8    3.8      60.9   35.7      17.3   18.0
Oregon ..................     22      31       4,271    5,619       2.0    1.0      12.6   24.2      38.8   37.7      18.4   14.3
Pennsylvania ............     66      70      13,740   12,052       9.6    8.2       2.0    2.5      34.8   37.9      17.4   20.0

Rhode Island ............      4       7         415      614       5.3    2.9      13.0   27.9      60.7   30.6      19.8   22.0
South Carolina ..........      8       4       1,061      406      60.9   32.5        .8      -      57.8   56.4       1.9     .5
South Dakota ............  ( 2 )   ( 2 )       ( 2 )    ( 2 )       3.9      -         -      -      72.4   55.4         -   14.9
Tennessee ...............     21       5       2,932      473      17.8   16.3         -      -      53.5   47.6      21.0   35.7
Texas ...................     41      39      10,542    7,708      16.3   17.2      37.5   38.1      36.5   28.7      11.7   12.1
Utah ....................  ( 2 )       4       ( 2 )      630        .6     .8      11.1    9.4       3.1   16.7      22.2   11.1
Vermont .................      -   ( 2 )           -    ( 2 )         -    1.2         -      -         -   10.8         -    9.6
Virginia ................     12      22       2,361    4,131      36.0   23.2       1.1    1.3      59.4   44.7      16.9   15.8
Washington ..............     30      56       6,235    7,092       4.5    2.3      21.3   41.8      38.0   38.5      18.6   14.9
West Virginia ...........      3       5         172      492         -    1.0         -      -      29.1   25.8      14.0   14.2
Wisconsin ...............     41      93       7,520   12,737      11.2    3.6       4.0   13.8      31.3   22.5      15.5   15.1
Wyoming .................      -   ( 2 )           -    ( 2 )         -     .8         -      -         -   40.7         -   34.7

Puerto Rico .............     18       7       3,003      987     ( 3 )  ( 3 )     ( 3 )  ( 3 )      53.5   43.2       7.2    7.2


    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  
                                   IV        III       IV          IV        III       IV           IV       III      IV   
                                  2002r     2003r     2003p       2002r     2003r     2003p        2002r    2003r    2003p 

        United States( 1 ) ....   2,257     1,458     1,956      469,739   300,901   359,085      421,646  269,323  272,807

Northeast .....................     406       290       260       86,282    43,408    40,785       89,342   46,437   37,541

    New England ...............     115        67        54       24,728    11,844     9,203       19,355    9,083    6,856
    Middle Atlantic ...........     291       223       206       61,554    31,564    31,582       69,987   37,354   30,685

South .........................     397       298       277       71,931    52,486    43,368       78,269   50,627   36,078

    South Atlantic ............     226       186       194       41,803    35,024    31,620       41,589   31,430   23,972
    East South Central ........      65        51        23       12,117     8,599     3,200        8,743    6,659    2,380
    West South Central ........     106        61        60       18,011     8,863     8,548       27,937   12,538    9,726

Midwest .......................     750       325       722      136,131    60,512   116,116      138,552   62,651  101,030

    East North Central ........     562       275       560      103,343    51,555    90,530      106,819   53,544   82,304
    West North Central ........     188        50       162       32,788     8,957    25,586       31,733    9,107   18,726

West ..........................     704       545       697      175,395   144,495   158,816      115,483  109,608   98,158

    Mountain ..................      88        60        56       24,251     9,850    12,017       15,343    7,393    8,348
    Pacific ...................     616       485       641      151,144   134,645   146,799      100,140  102,215   89,810


    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         
                               IV        III       IV          IV        III       IV           IV        III       IV   
                              2002r     2003r     2003p       2002r     2003r     2003p        2002r     2003r     2003p 

    Total( 1 )  .........     2,257     1,458     1,956      469,739   300,901   359,085      421,646   269,323   272,807

Alabama .................         8         7         4          790     1,258       513        1,420     1,658       494
Alaska ..................        10         3        10        1,146       377     1,400        1,146       377     1,400
Arizona .................        21        21         5        5,263     3,824       680        3,189     2,278       635
Arkansas ................         7         4     ( 2 )        1,525     1,179     ( 2 )        4,114       524     ( 2 )
California ..............       488       427       538      123,479   120,621   125,775       78,397    90,000    75,108
Colorado ................        33        12        21        7,755     2,217     4,439        5,630     1,678     2,391
Connecticut .............        17        12        16        2,963     1,632     2,806        2,977     1,142     1,460
Delaware ................         -         -         -            -         -         -            -         -         -
District of Columbia ....         3     ( 2 )         5          409     ( 2 )       382          409     ( 2 )       382
Florida .................       105       112       100       17,066    18,504    15,309       16,207    16,481    10,975
Georgia .................        28        14        21        6,515     2,662     3,361        7,120     2,618     2,766
Hawaii ..................        10         3         6        2,468     1,559       776        1,901     1,332       591
Idaho ...................         7        12        11        1,982     1,675     2,097        1,256     1,914     2,611

Illinois ................       213       113       192       45,739    26,804    39,238       39,022    21,076    26,857
Indiana .................        74        21        50       13,945     4,934     7,687       17,064     5,484    11,095
Iowa ....................        22         6        29        2,881       960     4,174        4,322       764     3,474
Kansas ..................        13        10        10        3,459     2,080     1,881        3,215     2,098     1,305
Kentucky ................        28        14        10        4,682     2,075     1,722        3,584     1,298     1,185
Louisiana ...............        22         9        14        2,983     1,139     1,982        2,761       789     1,304
Maine ...................        13         4         9        4,659       348     1,864        2,759       262     1,096
Maryland ................         7         7     ( 2 )        1,316     1,440     ( 2 )        1,207       637     ( 2 )
Massachusetts ...........        65        43        21       14,127     9,161     3,823       10,976     6,945     3,603
Michigan ................        54        49       104        6,048     6,967    13,107        8,621    11,570    16,456
Minnesota ...............        93        15        90       14,813     1,811    12,690       13,387     2,040     9,846
Mississippi .............        14         9         4        2,211     1,770       374        1,354       771       228
Missouri ................        43        15        19        8,841     3,188     4,604        8,451     3,610     2,140

Montana .................        10         4         7        2,139       307     1,615        1,604       231       975
Nebraska ................         9     ( 2 )         7        1,367     ( 2 )     1,193          931     ( 2 )       937
Nevada ..................         7         5         4        3,955     1,168     1,029        2,214       587       825
New Hampshire ...........         8         4         -        1,074       319         -        1,066       319         -
New Jersey ..............        68        56        54       11,767     7,936     9,653       11,736     8,322     8,775
New Mexico ..............         4         4         3          827       416       167          593       543       163
New York ................       145       101        82       34,426    16,627    13,728       32,790    15,292     9,858
North Carolina ..........        28        28        35        6,353     7,868     5,855        5,550     7,735     4,681
North Dakota ............         8     ( 2 )         6        1,427     ( 2 )       970        1,427     ( 2 )       950
Ohio ....................       106        51       121       14,229     5,395    16,414       18,908     7,894    15,159
Oklahoma ................         7         7         5          902       549       435        1,105       683       471
Oregon ..................        42        22        31        7,983     2,582     4,377        7,983     4,271     5,619
Pennsylvania ............        78        66        70       15,361     7,001     8,201       25,461    13,740    12,052

Rhode Island ............        10         4         7        1,155       384       627        1,214       415       614
South Carolina ..........        20         8         4        4,171     1,129       589        5,217     1,061       406
South Dakota ............         -     ( 2 )     ( 2 )            -     ( 2 )     ( 2 )            -     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Tennessee ...............        15        21         5        4,434     3,496       591        2,385     2,932       473
Texas ...................        70        41        39       12,601     5,996     5,531       19,957    10,542     7,708
Utah ....................         5     ( 2 )         4        1,350     ( 2 )     1,190          744     ( 2 )       630
Vermont .................     ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )
Virginia ................        27        12        22        4,484     2,874     5,423        4,690     2,361     4,131
Washington ..............        66        30        56       16,068     9,506    14,471       10,713     6,235     7,092
West Virginia ...........         8         3         5        1,489       182       498        1,189       172       492
Wisconsin ...............       115        41        93       23,382     7,455    14,084       23,204     7,520    12,737
Wyoming .................     ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )

Puerto Rico .............         3        18         7          769     2,231       594          664     3,003       987


    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, fourth quarter 2002 and 2003

                                   Share of                         Share of                   Index of mass-layoff
                                separations( 2 )          establishment employment( 3 )          separations( 4 )
                         
          State                IV              IV              III             III              IV             IV   
                              2002            2003p           2001            2002             2002           2003p 

    Total( 1 )  .........   1.00000         1.00000         1.00000         1.00000           100.0           100.0

Alabama .................    .00175          .00147          .01306          .01296            13.4            11.3
Alaska ..................    .00254          .00401          .00186          .00188           136.9           212.9
Arizona .................    .01152          .00195          .01863          .01889            61.8            10.3
Arkansas ................    .00338          .00172          .00808          .00821            41.8            20.9
California ..............    .26016          .35272          .11484          .11449           226.5           308.1
Colorado ................    .01316          .01272          .01548          .01502            85.0            84.7
Connecticut .............    .00657          .00804          .01292          .01294            50.9            62.2
Delaware ................         -               -          .00351          .00352               -               -
District of Columbia ....    .00091          .00082          .00434          .00452            20.9            18.2
Florida .................    .03702          .04351          .05690          .05751            65.1            75.7
Georgia .................    .01445          .00963          .03031          .02995            47.7            32.2
Hawaii ..................    .00547          .00222          .00381          .00385           143.7            57.7
Idaho ...................    .00440          .00601          .00342          .00346           128.5           173.8

Illinois ................    .09432          .10828          .05105          .05065           184.8           213.8
Indiana .................    .02833          .01773          .02380          .02395           119.0            74.0
Iowa ....................    .00639          .01181          .01027          .01029            62.3           114.7
Kansas ..................    .00767          .00539          .00953          .00945            80.5            57.1
Kentucky ................    .00891          .00493          .01287          .01287            69.2            38.3
Louisiana ...............    .00613          .00521          .01251          .01249            49.0            41.7
Maine ...................    .01034          .00534          .00399          .00400           258.9           133.7
Maryland ................    .00270          .00036          .01815          .01839            14.9             1.9
Massachusetts ...........    .03031          .01049          .02659          .02624           114.0            40.0
Michigan ................    .01290          .03593          .03765          .03786            34.3            94.9
Minnesota ...............    .03243          .03610          .02105          .02114           154.0           170.8
Mississippi .............    .00468          .00107          .00787          .00787            59.4            13.6
Missouri ................    .01880          .01251          .02001          .02021            94.0            61.9

Montana .................    .00386          .00463          .00190          .00194           202.7           238.7
Nebraska ................    .00303          .00342          .00652          .00645            46.5            53.0
Nevada ..................    .00877          .00295          .00928          .00934            94.6            31.6
New Hampshire ...........    .00238               -          .00413          .00416            57.6               -
New Jersey ..............    .02479          .02692          .03049          .03063            81.3            87.9
New Mexico ..............    .00161          .00048          .00465          .00477            34.7            10.0
New York ................    .07504          .03934          .06382          .06383           117.6            61.6
North Carolina ..........    .01409          .01643          .02856          .02824            49.4            58.2
North Dakota ............    .00317          .00278          .00188          .00192           168.6           144.9
Ohio ....................    .03108          .04405          .04468          .04461            69.6            98.7
Oklahoma ................    .00200          .00125          .01019          .00997            19.6            12.5
Oregon ..................    .01771          .01226          .01091          .01094           162.3           112.0
Pennsylvania ............    .03371          .02312          .04571          .04603            73.7            50.2

Rhode Island ............    .00256          .00180          .00342          .00342            75.0            52.6
South Carolina ..........    .00925          .00169          .01335          .01332            69.3            12.7
South Dakota ............         -               -          .00223          .00225               -               -
Tennessee ...............    .00984          .00169          .02253          .02281            43.6             7.4
Texas ...................    .02751          .01550          .07199          .07180            38.2            21.6
Utah ....................    .00299          .00341          .00727          .00719            41.2            47.4
Vermont .................    .00166          .00024          .00176          .00174            94.7            13.6
Virginia ................    .00928          .01554          .02549          .02543            36.4            61.1
Washington ..............    .03542          .04147          .01912          .01885           185.3           220.0
West Virginia ...........    .00300          .00119          .00422          .00427            71.2            27.9
Wisconsin ...............    .04982          .03759          .02229          .02233           223.5           168.4
Wyoming .................    .00217          .00229          .00112          .00116           194.2           198.3
                                                       
                         
     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.
     NOTE: Dash represents zero.                                    
                         
                         
                         
                         

Table 7. State distribution: Index of mass-layoff separations (excluding seasonal work and vacation periods),
private sector, fourth quarter 2002 and 2003

				   Share of                        Share of                   Index of mass-layoff                                    
				separations( 2 )          establishment employment( 3 )         separations( 4 )
	   State
			       IV             IV               III             III             IV              IV   
			      2002           2003p            2001            2002            2002            2003p  

    Total( 1 )  .........   1.00000         1.00000         1.00000         1.00000           100.0           100.0

Alabama .................    .00337          .00331          .01306          .01296            25.8            25.5
Alaska ..................         -               -          .00186          .00188               -               -
Arizona .................    .01446          .00439          .01863          .01889            77.6            23.2
Arkansas ................    .00504          .00387          .00808          .00821            62.4            47.1
California ..............    .14499          .27978          .11484          .11449           126.2           244.4
Colorado ................    .01782          .01600          .01548          .01502           115.2           106.6
Connecticut .............    .00557          .00659          .01292          .01294            43.1            51.0
Delaware ................         -               -          .00351          .00352               -               -
District of Columbia ....    .00047          .00038          .00434          .00452            10.8             8.4
Florida .................    .06924          .09587          .05690          .05751           121.7           166.7
Georgia .................    .02733          .01576          .03031          .02995            90.2            52.6
Hawaii ..................    .01026          .00445          .00381          .00385           269.4           115.5
Idaho ...................    .00291          .00170          .00342          .00346            84.9            49.3

Illinois ................    .09166          .12338          .05105          .05065           179.6           243.6
Indiana .................    .03383          .02080          .02380          .02395           142.2            86.9
Iowa ....................    .00449          .00555          .01027          .01029            43.7            53.9
Kansas ..................    .01474          .01213          .00953          .00945           154.7           128.4
Kentucky ................    .01229          .01111          .01287          .01287            95.5            86.3
Louisiana ...............    .00949          .00774          .01251          .01249            75.9            62.0
Maine ...................    .00867          .00344          .00399          .00400           217.1            86.2
Maryland ................    .00476          .00080          .01815          .01839            26.2             4.3
Massachusetts ...........    .03557          .00778          .02659          .02624           133.8            29.7
Michigan ................    .01758          .05487          .03765          .03786            46.7           144.9
Minnesota ...............    .01213          .00622          .02105          .02114            57.6            29.4
Mississippi .............    .00899          .00241          .00787          .00787           114.2            30.6
Missouri ................    .01612          .00367          .02001          .02021            80.6            18.2

Montana .................    .00218               -          .00190          .00194           114.7               -
Nebraska ................    .00181               -          .00652          .00645            27.8               -
Nevada ..................    .01685          .00664          .00928          .00934           181.7            71.1
New Hampshire ...........    .00252               -          .00413          .00416            60.9               -
New Jersey ..............    .03501          .03779          .03049          .03063           114.8           123.4
New Mexico ..............    .00049          .00108          .00465          .00477            10.4            22.6
New York ................    .07150          .03092          .06382          .06383           112.0            48.4
North Carolina ..........    .02373          .02971          .02856          .02824            83.1           105.2
North Dakota ............    .00149          .00066          .00188          .00192            79.2            34.3
Ohio ....................    .03341          .05488          .04468          .04461            74.8           123.0
Oklahoma ................    .00346          .00281          .01019          .00997            33.9            28.1
Oregon ..................    .02406          .01059          .01091          .01094           220.5            96.8
Pennsylvania ............    .05223          .04295          .04571          .04603           114.3            93.3

Rhode Island ............    .00418          .00109          .00342          .00342           122.5            31.9
South Carolina ..........    .01614          .00259          .01335          .01332           120.9            19.4
South Dakota ............         -               -          .00223          .00225               -               -
Tennessee ...............    .01889          .00381          .02253          .02281            83.8            16.7
Texas ...................    .04257          .03183          .07199          .07180            59.1            44.3
Utah ....................    .00170          .00048          .00727          .00719            23.4             6.7
Vermont .................    .00320               -          .00176          .00174           181.9               -
Virginia ................    .01218          .01474          .02549          .02543            47.8            58.0
Washington ..............    .02374          .01694          .01912          .01885           124.2            89.9
West Virginia ...........    .00468          .00191          .00422          .00427           111.0            44.7
Wisconsin ...............    .03218          .01658          .02229          .02233           144.4            74.3
Wyoming .................         -               -          .00112          .00116               -               -
			 
						       
     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.
     NOTE: Dash represents zero.