Internet address:  http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:   (202) 691-6392  USDL 00-133

                                         For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                 691-5902  Wednesday, May 10, 2000

                                     
                        MASS LAYOFFS IN MARCH 2000

   In March 2000, there were 986 mass layoff actions by employers as
measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the
month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics.  Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single
establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 106,748.  Although
the number of layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance
were the highest for March since March 1996, this was due in part to a
calendar effect.  This year, 5 weeks of mass layoff activities were reported
in March versus 4 weeks in 1996-1999.  The total number of initial claimants
during January-March of this year, at 433,968, was the highest since data
collection for this program began in April 1995.  (See table 1.)
   
   The monthly data series in this release cover mass layoffs of 50 or more
workers beginning in a given month, regardless of the duration of the layoffs.
Information on the length of the layoff is obtained later and issued in a
quarterly release that reports on mass layoffs lasting more than 30 days
(referred to as "extended mass layoffs") and provides more information on
the industry classification and location of the establishment and on the
demographics of the laid-off workers.  Because monthly figures include short-
term layoffs of 30 days or less, the sum of the figures for the 3 months in
a quarter will be higher than the quarterly figure for mass layoffs of more
than 30 days.  (See table 1.)  See the Technical Note for more detailed
definitions.
   
Industry Distribution
   
   In March 2000, manufacturing industries accounted for 33 percent of all
mass layoff events and 35 percent of all initial claims filed.  Manufacturing
industries that had the highest numbers of initial claimants were food and
kindred products (8,713), primarily in canned and frozen fruits and vege-
tables; and transportation equipment (5,293), mostly in motor vehicles and
car bodies.  (See table 2.)
   
   Services accounted for 19 percent of all layoffs and 23 percent of
initial claimants during the month, mainly in business services (especially
help supply services) and motion pictures.  Layoffs in these two industries,
however, are more likely than those in most other industries to last less than
30 days.  Agriculture accounted for 13 percent of all mass layoff events and
11 percent of initial claimants during the month, largely in agricultural
services (farm labor contractors).  Retail trade accounted for 11 percent of
all layoff events and 11 percent of initial claimants during the month, mostly
in eating and drinking places and general merchandise stores (department
stores).
   
   Compared with March 1999, the largest over-the-year increases in initial
claims occurred in motion pictures (+3,720), agricultural services (+3,320),
and food and kindred products (+3,048).  The largest decreases in initial
claims occurred in business services (-2,708) and general merchandise stores
(-2,502).

                                  - 2 -

Geographic Distribution
   
   In March, the number of initial claims due to mass layoffs was higher in
the West (51,609) than in any other region.  (See table 3.)  Layoffs in
business services, agricultural services, and motion pictures accounted for
47 percent of the claims in the West.  The fewest number of mass-layoff
initial claims continued to be reported in the Northeast region (10,686).
   
   Over-the-year increases in mass layoff-related initial claims were
reported in the Midwest (+8,217), West (+6,325), and South (+1,111), while
the Northeast experienced a moderate decrease (-795).  Among the geographic
divisions, higher levels of initial claims over the year were reported
mainly in the West North Central and Pacific.  Six of the nine divisions
reported over-the-year increases.
   
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia reporting data for
March, California had the largest number of initial claims filed in mass
layoff events (43,357), primarily in business services, motion pictures,
and agricultural services, followed by Pennsylvania (5,546), Illinois (5,110),
and Wisconsin (5,085).  California accounted for 42 percent of all layoff
events and 41 percent of all initial claims for unemployment insurance.
(See table 4.)
   
   From March 1999 to March 2000, California reported the largest over-the-
year increase in initial claims (+3,626), mostly in motion pictures.  New
York had the largest over-the-year decrease in initial claims (-1,891), mostly
in general merchandise stores.
Technical Note
 
 
 
 The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state program that
uses a standardized, automated approach to identifying, describing, and
tracking the effects of major job cutbacks, using data from each state's
unemployment insurance database.  Each month, states report on
establishments which have at least 50 initial claims filed against them
during a consecutive 5-week period.  These establishments then are
contacted by the state agency to determine whether these separations lasted
31 days or longer, and, if so, other information concerning the layoff is
collected.  States report on layoffs lasting more than 1 month on a
quarterly basis.
 
 A given month contains an aggregation of the weekly unemployment
insurance claims filings for the Sunday through Saturday weeks in that
month.  All weeks are included for the particular month, except if the
first day of the month falls on Saturday.  In this case, the week is
included in the prior month's tabulations.  This means that some months
will contain 4 weeks and others 5 weeks, and the number of weeks in a given
month may be different from year to year.  Therefore, analysis of over-the-
month and over-the-year change should take this calendar effect into
consideration.
 
 The MLS program resumed operations in April 1995 after it had been
terminated in November 1992 due to lack of funding.  Prior to April 1995,
monthly layoff statistics were not available.
 
 Information in this release will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; 
TDD message referral phone number:  1-800-877-8339.
 
Definitions
 
 Initial claimant.  A person who files any notice of unemployment to
initiate a request either for a determination of entitlement to and
eligibility for compensation, or for a subsequent period of unemployment
within a benefit year or period of eligibility.
 
 Mass layoff event.  Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment
insurance benefits filed against an establishment during a 5-week period,
regardless of duration.
Table 1. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, January 1998 to March 2000
  
                                                         Extended mass layoffs 
                                                       lasting more than 30 days
             Date                                                                                 
                                  Total mass layoffs                                   Event
                                                                                    realization
                                                                                      rate(1)
                                             Initial                   Initial          
                                 Events     claimants       Events    claimants


             1998

 January ....................     2,360      255,203     
 February ...................       970       81,455     
 March ......................       762       78,210     

 First Quarter ..............     4,092      414,868        1,320      247,315         32.3     

 April ......................     1,253      132,476     
 May ........................     1,180      107,952     
 June .......................     1,208      183,590     

 Second Quarter .............     3,641      424,018        1,563      402,276         42.9     

 July .......................     2,220      286,055     
 August .....................       617       53,665     
 September ..................       637       79,629     

 Third Quarter ..............     3,474      419,349        1,234      256,803         35.5     

 October ....................     1,553      160,830     
 November ...................     1,368      144,343     
 December ...................     1,776      207,661     

 Fourth Quarter .............     4,697      512,834        1,736      326,122         37.0     

             1999

 January ....................     2,421      226,995     
 February ...................     1,067       89,800     
 March ......................       880       91,890     

 First Quarter ..............     4,368      408,685        1,509      252,060         34.5     

 April ......................     1,270      136,885     
 May ........................     1,032      102,738     
 June .......................     1,140      130,951     

 Second Quarter .............     3,442      370,574        1,445      242,197         42.0     

 July .......................     1,741      221,334     
 August .....................       698       75,691     
 September ..................       717       75,288     

 Third Quarter ..............     3,156      372,313        1,099      189,366         34.8     

 October ....................     1,098      118,938     
 November ...................     1,336      139,508     
 December ...................     1,509      162,381     

 Fourth Quarter .............     3,943      420,827     (p)1,571   (p)212,196      (p)39.8

             2000

 January ....................     1,934      223,322     
 February(p).................     1,045      103,898     
 March(p)....................       986      106,748     


   1  The event realization rate is the percentage of total mass layoff events lasting more than 30 days.
   p = preliminary.
Table 2. Industry distribution:  Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance

                                                                                                     
                                                                                                        Initial claimants for
                                                                Mass layoff events                      unemployment insurance
                           Industry

                                                        March   January   February    March       March  January   February    March
                                                         1999    2000      2000(p)   2000(p)       1999   2000      2000(p)   2000(p)

      Total(1) .......................................   880     1,934     1,045       986       91,890  223,322   103,898   106,748     

 Total, private ......................................   837     1,878     1,022       958       88,430  218,232   101,817   104,069     

   Agriculture .......................................    99        72       245       131        8,288    5,401    20,938    11,530     
   Nonagriculture ....................................   725     1,769       769       812       79,272  207,602    80,212    90,412     
     Manufacturing ...................................   296       737       260       327       30,608   97,271    29,907    37,624     
       Durable goods .................................   150       420       125       163       17,174   63,521    16,945    19,238     
         Lumber and wood products ....................    23        56        18        33        1,872    9,228     2,198     3,252     
         Furniture and fixtures ......................     6        37        10        13          484    4,536       856     1,060     
         Stone, clay, and glass products .............    11        39         7        10          903    3,378       382       716     
         Primary metal industries ....................    16        23         8         5        1,537    2,870       663       708     
         Fabricated metal products ...................    15        54        21        21        1,462    4,993     1,892     2,453     
         Industrial machinery and equipment ..........    28        45        17        26        3,863    8,281     1,724     3,089     
         Electronic and other electrical equipment ...    23        53        16        17        2,659    7,804     1,366     1,478     
         Transportation equipment ....................    17        75        23        24        3,173   18,923     7,438     5,293     
         Instruments and related products ............     6        17         5         7          621    1,272       426       426     
         Miscellaneous manufacturing industries ......     5        21         -         7          600    2,236         -       763     

       Nondurable goods ..............................   146       317       135       164       13,434   33,750    12,962    18,386     
         Food and kindred products ...................    61        99        73        73        5,665   10,287     6,490     8,713     
         Tobacco products ............................     3     ( 2 )     ( 2 )         5          792    ( 2 )     ( 2 )     1,168     
         Textile mill products .......................    19        46         9        11        2,013    7,157     1,502     1,498     
         Apparel and other textile products ..........    31        82        21        33        2,668    7,946     2,342     2,561     
         Paper and allied products ...................     7        19         5        12          706    1,814       317       823     
         Printing and publishing .....................    10        12         6         9          718      829       490       808     
         Chemicals and allied products ...............     4         7         7         6          259      752       508     1,461     
         Petroleum and coal products .................     -     ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )            -    ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
         Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products ..     8        33         8        11          451    3,066       599     1,076     
         Leather and leather products ................     3        13     ( 2 )     ( 2 )          162    1,315     ( 2 )     ( 2 )

     Nonmanufacturing ................................   429     1,032       509       485       48,664  110,331    50,305    52,788     
       Mining ........................................    19        25         8         5        1,660    2,034       726       338     
       Construction ..................................    79       283       156        86        5,845   22,277    12,045     6,003     
       Transportation and public utilities ...........    34       129        31        44        3,397   11,228     2,957     5,414     
       Wholesale and retail trade ....................   118       204       114       138       14,867   24,006    10,081    14,755     
          Wholesale trade ............................    18        41        26        29        1,292    5,775     2,054     3,346     
          Retail trade ...............................   100       163        88       109       13,575   18,231     8,027    11,409     
       Finance, insurance, and real estate ...........    15        26        25        21          929    2,193     1,510     2,032     
       Services ......................................   164       365       175       191       21,966   48,593    22,986    24,246     

   Not identified ....................................    13        37         8        15          870    5,229       667     2,127     

 Government ..........................................    43        56        23        28        3,460    5,090     2,081     2,679     
   Federal ...........................................     4        16         4         4          524    1,561       242       606     
   State .............................................    18         8        12        12        1,385      633     1,120     1,112     
   Local .............................................    21        32         7        12        1,551    2,896       719       961     


   1  Data were reported by all states and the District of Columbia.                           
   2  Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.  
   p = preliminary.
   NOTE:  Dash represents zero.
Table 3. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance by census region and division
                                                                                          
                                           Mass layoff events                           Initial claimants for
                                                                                       unemployment insurance
  Census region and division

                                   March   January   February    March      March      January      February      March
                                    1999     2000     2000(p)   2000(p)      1999        2000        2000(p)     2000(p)

         United States(1) ......    880     1,934     1,045       986       91,890     223,322      103,898      106,748     

 Northeast .....................    103       397       100        99       11,481      39,178        8,920       10,686     

     New England ...............     18        78        14        20        1,766       8,146        1,665        2,834     
     Middle Atlantic ...........     85       319        86        79        9,715      31,032        7,255        7,852     

 South .........................    171       369       135       179       16,865      43,938       12,418       17,976     

     South Atlantic ............     72       185        58        91        7,146      25,391        5,754        9,419     
     East South Central ........     27        70        28        27        2,855       8,156        2,433        2,459     
     West South Central ........     72       114        49        61        6,864      10,391        4,231        6,098     

 Midwest .......................    154       601       127       199       18,260      73,753       12,971       26,477     

     East North Central ........    120       470       101       144       14,675      60,165       10,046       17,973     
     West North Central ........     34       131        26        55        3,585      13,588        2,925        8,504     

 West ..........................    452       567       683       509       45,284      66,453       69,589       51,609     

     Mountain ..................     31        75        34        45        2,499       6,378        3,237        4,052     
     Pacific ...................    421       492       649       464       42,785      60,075       66,352       47,557     


      1 See footnote 1, table 2.                                                                                      
      p = preliminary.
      NOTE:  The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the various census divisions are:
 New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic:
 New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia,
 Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky,
 Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; East North Central:
 Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, 
 Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
 Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii,  Oregon, and Washington.
Table 4. State distribution:  Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance

                                                                                            Initial claimants for                
                                              Mass layoff events                            unemployment insurance
                                                                                           
              State              
                                March      January      February       March       March      January     Februray       March
                                 1999        2000        2000(p)      2000(p)       1999        2000       2000(p)      2000(p)

    Total(1) ................    880        1,934        1,045          986       91,890      223,322      103,898      106,748     

 Alabama ....................      6            9            8            3          468          929          777          394     
 Alaska .....................      -            3        ( 2 )        ( 2 )            -          212        ( 2 )        ( 2 )          
 Arizona ....................      7           11            4           18          487          743          381        1,901     
 Arkansas ...................      3           10        ( 2 )            4          182          874        ( 2 )          291     
 California .................    389          426          627          418       39,731       54,083       60,111       43,357     
 Colorado ...................      4            8            3            5          324          755          286          503     
 Connecticut ................  ( 2 )           10            -        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        1,031            -        ( 2 )                                 
 Delaware ...................  ( 2 )            3            -            -        ( 2 )        1,710            -            -
 District of Columbia .......      -            3            -        ( 2 )            -          253            -        ( 2 )
 Florida ....................     26           42           15           28        1,636        3,193        1,038        2,453     
 Georgia ....................      5            9           10           14          462          871        1,390        1,010     
 Hawaii .....................      5           12        ( 2 )            4          483        1,086        ( 2 )          341     
 Idaho ......................      8           10           11            9          714          904        1,192          524     

 Illinois ...................     30           70           22           37        5,705       14,210        2,330        5,110     
 Indiana ....................     10           31           15            9        1,100        2,750        1,467          984     
 Iowa .......................      7           46            6            6          894        5,832          555          696     
 Kansas .....................  ( 2 )           14            4            5        ( 2 )          989          301        2,720     
 Kentucky ...................      9           23           10           13        1,637        2,725          836        1,280     
 Louisiana ..................     10           21            5           12          658        1,558          242          774     
 Maine ......................      3            5        ( 2 )            4          338          618        ( 2 )          954     
 Maryland ...................  ( 2 )           17            4            3        ( 2 )        1,156          254          199     
 Massachusetts ..............      9           36            7            6          832        3,789          580          903     
 Michigan ...................     22          128           20           24        2,021       13,643        1,805        3,690     
 Minnesota ..................      4           21        ( 2 )           13          339        2,399        ( 2 )        1,394     
 Mississippi ................      3           10            6            6          178        1,659          468          431     
 Missouri ...................     19           37           14           28        1,975        3,281        1,888        3,459     

 Montana ....................  ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )
 Nebraska ...................      -           12            -        ( 2 )            -          988            -        ( 2 )
 Nevada .....................      8           35           10           11          735        3,263          923          974     
 New Hampshire ..............      -            7           -         ( 2 )            -          790            -        ( 2 )
 New Jersey .................     24           73           25           22        2,422        7,270        2,489        1,955     
 New Mexico .................  ( 2 )            7        ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )          441        ( 2 )            -
 New York ...................      8           37            9            5        2,242        3,570          671          351     
 North Carolina .............     14           14           10           13        1,751        2,818          882        1,889     
 North Dakota ...............      -        ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )
 Ohio .......................     23          118           18           28        2,156       16,153        1,604        3,104     
 Oklahoma ...................      4            7            6            5          409          536          652          801     
 Oregon .....................     16           39           12           29        1,480        3,816        1,029        2,908     
 Pennsylvania ...............     53          209           52           52        5,051       20,192        4,095        5,546     

 Rhode Island ...............      3           18            5            4          194        1,728          928          341     
 South Carolina .............     14           38            8           20        1,757        5,526        1,203        1,992     
 South Dakota ...............      3            -            -            -          322            -            -            -
 Tennessee ..................      9           28            4            5          572        2,843          352          354     
 Texas ......................     55           76           37           40        5,615        7,423        3,216        4,232     
 Utah .......................      -            3            4        ( 2 )            -          205          320        ( 2 )
 Vermont ....................  ( 2 )        ( 2 )            -            3        ( 2 )        ( 2 )            -          280     
 Virginia ...................      9           55            7           11          939        9,568          504        1,617     
 Washington .................     11           12            7           12        1,091          878        4,994          889     
 West Virginia ..............  ( 2 )            4            4        ( 2 )        ( 2 )          296          483        ( 2 )
 Wisconsin ..................     35          123           26           46        3,693       13,409        2,840        5,085     
 Wyoming ....................  ( 2 )            -            -            -        ( 2 )            -            -            -

 Puerto Rico ................      5           14           13            8          682        1,055        1,105          668     


      1  See footnote 1, table 2.                                              
      2  Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.  
      p = preliminary.
      NOTE:  Dash represents zero.