Internet address:  http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:   (202) 606-6396   USDL 98-471


                                          For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                 606-5902   Tuesday, December 1, 1998

                                     
                      MASS LAYOFFS IN SEPTEMBER 1998


   In September 1998, there were 638 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 79,700. The
number of layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance
were higher this September than in 1997.  The total of layoff events from
January through September 1998, at 10,785, was about the same as a year
earlier (10,756), while the total number of initial claimants, at
1,203,587, was somewhat higher than in January-September 1997 (1,131,166).
(See table 1.)
   
   The monthly series in this release covers mass layoffs of 50 or more
workers beginning in a given month, regardless of the duration of the
layoffs.  Information on the length of the layoff is obtained later and
issued in a quarterly release that reports on mass layoffs lasting more
than 30 days (referred to as "extended mass layoffs") and provides more
information on the industry classification and location of the
establishment and on the demographics of the laid-off workers.  See the
Technical Note for more detailed definitions.
   
   Because the 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.  For
example, 3,641 layoff events involving 424,018 initial claimants for
unemployment insurance occurred in April, May, and June of 1998 combined.
The second-quarter 1998 figures for mass layoffs lasting more than 30 days,
however, were 1,500 events and 260,837 claimants.  Forty-one percent of all
mass layoffs in the April-June period lasted for more than a month. (See
table 1.)  In all quarters for which data are available, the proportion of
mass layoffs that became "extended" mass layoffs varied from about 31 to 47
percent.
   
Industry Distribution
   
   In September 1998, manufacturing industries accounted for 39 percent of
all mass layoff events and 32 percent of the initial claims filed.
Manufacturing industries that had the highest numbers of initial claimants
were industrial machinery and equipment (3,840), primarily in farm
machinery and equipment; electronic and other electrical equipment (3,769),
mostly in semiconductors and related devices; and food products (3,258),
particularly in canned fruits and vegetables.  (See table 3.)
   
   In nonmanufacturing industries, services accounted for 22 percent of all
mass layoff events and 20 percent of all initial claims filed.  The layoffs
were predominantly in motion pictures (mostly in motion pictures and video
production) and business services (particularly in help supply services).

                                  - 2 -

Layoffs in help supply services and the motion picture industry are more
likely than those in other industries to last less than 30 days.
Transportation and public utilities accounted for 8 percent of layoff
events and 31 percent of initial claimants during the month, primarily in
transportation by air.   Over 90 percent of the initial claims in this
sector were due to labor disputes in the airline industry.  Retail trade
contributed 8 percent of layoff events and 5 percent of initial claimants
during the month, largely in general merchandise stores.
   
   Compared with September 1997, the largest increases in initial claims
occurred in transportation by air (22,311), electronic and other
electrical equipment (2,989), and industrial machinery and equipment
(1,861).  The largest  over-the-year decreases in initial claims occurred
in motion pictures (-3,786) and transportation equipment (-1,516).
   
State Distribution
   
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia reporting data for
September, California had the largest number of initial claims filed in
mass layoff events (24,718), primarily in motion pictures, followed by
Minnesota (10,028) and Michigan (7,042).  These three states accounted for
about 44 percent of all layoff events and 52 percent of all initial
claims.  (See table 2.)
   
   From September 1997 to September 1998, Minnesota reported the largest
over-the-year rise in initial claims (9,795), primarily in transportation
by air, followed by Michigan (6,740).  California had the largest over-the-
year decline in initial claims (-5,696), mostly in motion pictures.
Technical Note
 
 
 
 The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state program that
uses a standardized, automated approach to identifying, describing, and
tracking the effects of major job cutbacks, using data from each state's
unemployment insurance database.  Each month, states report on
establishments which have at least 50 initial claims filed against them
during a consecutive 5-week period.  These establishments then are
contacted by the state agency to determine whether these separations lasted
31 days or longer, and, if so, other information concerning the layoff is
collected.  States report on layoffs lasting more than 1 month on a
quarterly basis.
 
 A given month contains an aggregation of the weekly unemployment
insurance claims filings for the Sunday through Saturday weeks in that
month.  All weeks are included for the particular month, except if the
first day of the month falls on Saturday.  In this case, the week is
included in the prior month's tabulations.  This means that some months
will contain 4 weeks and others 5 weeks, and the number of weeks in a given
month may be different from year to year.  Therefore, analysis of over-the-
month and over-the-year change should take this calendar effect into
consideration.
 
 The MLS program resumed operations in April 1995 after it had been
terminated in November 1992 due to lack of funding.  Prior to April 1995,
monthly layoff statistics were not available.
 
 Information in this release will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-606-STAT; TDD
phone: 202-606-5897; TDD message referral phone number:  1-800-326-2577.
 
Definitions
 
 Initial claimant.  A person who files any notice of unemployment to
initiate a request either for a determination of entitlement to and
eligibility for compensation, or for a subsequent period of unemployment
within a benefit year or period of eligibility.
 
 Mass layoff event.  Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment
insurance benefits filed against an establishment during a 5-week period,
regardless of duration.
Table 1. Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, July 1996 to
September 1998
 
                                                          Extended mass layoffs         
            Date                                        lasting more than 30 days     
                                  Total mass layoffs                                 Event                          
                                                                                  realization 
                                 Events        Initial       Events     Initial      rate(1)
                                              claimants                claimants
                  
            1996

 July .........................   1,534         192,155     
 August .......................     918          83,166     
 September ....................     513          42,376     

 Third quarter ................   2,965         317,697        1,020      200,423       34.4    

 October ......................   1,289         131,850     
 November .....................   1,433         130,774     
 December .....................   1,824         204,123     

 Fourth quarter ...............   4,546         466,747        1,915      384,161       42.1       

              1997              

 January ......................   2,139         212,860     
 February .....................     755          63,352     
 March ........................     783          84,069     

 First quarter ................   3,677         360,281        1,317      253,424       35.8    

 April ........................   1,269         152,168     
 May ..........................   1,152         101,476     
 June .........................   1,238         121,256    

 Second quarter ...............   3,659         374,900        1,574      319,617       43.0     

 July .........................   1,899         237,410     
 August .......................     973          99,513     
 September ....................     548          59,062     

 Third quarter ................   3,420         395,985        1,077      216,474       31.5     

 October ......................   1,414         139,297     
 November .....................   1,156         100,051     
 December .....................   1,634         172,029     

 Fourth quarter ...............   4,204         411,377        1,677      311,536       39.9     

              1998              

 January ......................   2,360         255,203     
 February .....................     970          81,455     
 March ........................     762          78,210     

 First quarter ................   4,092         414,868        1,289      237,528       31.5     

 April ........................   1,253         132,476     
 May ..........................   1,180         107,952     
 June .........................   1,208         183,590     

 Second quarter ...............   3,641         424,018        1,500      260,837       41.2     

 July .........................   1,862         235,996     
 August .......................     552          48,955     
 September ....................     638          79,700

   1 The event realization rate is the percentage of total mass layoff events lasting more than 30 days.                        
 
Table 2. State distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
September 1997 and September 1998

                                                                       Initial claimants for
                                            Mass layoff events
                                                                       unemployment insurance
                     State

                                          September    September      September     September
                                             1997          1998         1997           1998 

    Total(1) ............................     548           638        59,062        79,700    

 Alabama ................................       -             6            -            668     
 Alaska .................................   ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )
 Arizona ................................       4             3           294           250     
 Arkansas ...............................       6             7           633           783     
 California .............................     258           257        30,414        24,718     
 Colorado ...............................       -             -             -             -
 Connecticut ............................       -         ( 2 )             -         ( 2 )
 Delaware ...............................       -             -             -             -
 District of Columbia ...................       -             -             -             -
 Florida ................................      26            38         1,676         2,679     
 Georgia ................................       8             7           594         1,658     
 Hawaii .................................       4             6           363           938     
 Idaho ..................................   ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )

 Illinois ...............................      18            22         1,733         3,267     
 Indiana ................................       9             4           752           453     
 Iowa ...................................       4             7           549           880     
 Kansas .................................       3             4           175           355     
 Kentucky ...............................       3             4           206           284     
 Louisiana ..............................       7            10         1,073           787     
 Maine ..................................   ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )
 Maryland ...............................       4             4           263           352     
 Massachusetts ..........................       3             9           299         1,442     
 Michigan ...............................       5            17           302         7,042     
 Minnesota ..............................       3             5           233        10,028     
 Mississippi ............................   ( 2 )             5         ( 2 )           375     
 Missouri ...............................      13            13         3,171         1,418     
 
 Montana ................................       -         ( 2 )             -         ( 2 )
 Nebraska ...............................       -             -             -             -
 Nevada .................................       4             4           356           268     
 New Hampshire ..........................       -             -             -             -
 New Jersey .............................      12            17         1,037         1,503     
 New Mexico .............................   ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )
 New York ...............................      16            20         1,284         1,988     
 North Carolina .........................       6             3           911           297     
 North Dakota ...........................       -             -             -             -
 Ohio ...................................      12            15         1,085         1,482     
 Oklahoma ...............................   ( 2 )             3         ( 2 )           280     
 Oregon .................................       7            13           996         1,248     
 Pennsylvania ...........................      43            43         3,061         3,627     

 Rhode Island ...........................   ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )
 South Carolina .........................       8            17         1,210         1,741     
 South Dakota ...........................       -             -             -             -
 Tennessee ..............................   ( 2 )             7         ( 2 )         2,392     
 Texas ..................................      27            24         2,547         2,131     
 Utah ...................................   ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )
 Vermont ................................   ( 2 )             -         ( 2 )             -
 Virginia ...............................       5             4         1,467           334     
 Washington .............................       6             9           664         1,609     
 West Virginia ..........................   ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )
 Wisconsin ..............................      10            19           852         1,557     
 Wyoming ................................       -             -             -             -

 Puerto Rico ............................       9             6           745           478    


    1  Data were reported by all states and the District of Columbia.                          
    2  Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.                                      
    NOTE:  Data for total mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance        
have been revised for September 1997 due to the inclusion of new data for Louisiana and Oklahoma. 
Dash represents zero.
Table 3. Industry distribution: Mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
September 1997 and September 1998
                                                                                                            Initial claimants for
                                                                              Mass layoff events            unemployment insurance
                                                                                                            
                           Industry
                                                                           September       September     September        September
                                                                              1997            1998           1997            1998

      Total(1) .........................................................      548             638          59,062          79,700     

 Total, private ........................................................      515             614          56,406          77,663     

   Agriculture .........................................................       67              47           4,031           2,530     
   Nonagriculture ......................................................      440             560          51,420          74,653     
     Manufacturing .....................................................      182             247          18,963          25,126     
       Durable goods ...................................................       76             139           9,702          14,218     
         Lumber and wood products ......................................        5               5             347             321     
         Furniture and fixtures ........................................        4               4             388             220     
         Stone, clay, and glass products ...............................        8               5             550             626     
         Primary metal industries ......................................        8              13             671           1,036     
         Fabricated metal products .....................................        7              10             545             702     
         Industrial machinery and equipment ............................       10              29           1,979           3,840     
         Electronic and other electrical equipment .....................        8              34             780           3,769     
         Transportation equipment ......................................       17              19           3,804           2,288     
         Instruments and related products ..............................        3              12             159             849     
         Miscellaneous manufacturing industries ........................        6               8             479             567     

       Nondurable goods ................................................      106             108           9,261          10,908     
         Food and kindred products .....................................       36              33           2,896           3,258     
         Tobacco products ..............................................    ( 2 )           ( 2 )           ( 2 )           ( 2 )
         Textile mill products .........................................        9              13           1,691           1,593     
         Apparel and other textile products ............................       34              27           2,487           2,305     
         Paper and allied products .....................................        8              13             535           1,310     
         Printing and publishing .......................................        5               6             402             515     
         Chemicals and allied products .................................    ( 2 )           ( 2 )           ( 2 )           ( 2 )
         Petroleum and coal products ...................................        -               -               -               -
         Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products ....................        9               6             527             606     
         Leather and leather products ..................................     ( 2 )          ( 2 )           ( 2 )           ( 2 )

     Nonmanufacturing ..................................................      258             313          32,457          49,527     
       Mining ..........................................................    ( 2 )               7           ( 2 )             848     
       Construction ....................................................       39              35           2,584           2,046     
       Transportation and public utilities .............................       16              53           1,446          25,047     
       Wholesale and retail trade ......................................       54              68           5,218           4,985     
          Wholesale trade ..............................................    ( 2 )              17           ( 2 )           1,065     
          Retail trade .................................................       45              51           4,623           3,920     
       Finance, insurance, and real estate .............................       14              12           1,015             938     
       Services ........................................................      133             138          22,033          15,663     
   
   Not identified ......................................................        8               7             955             480     
 
 Government ............................................................       33              24           2,656           2,037     
   Federal .............................................................        5               4             723             470     
   State ...............................................................       13               7             954             501     
   Local ...............................................................       15              13             979           1,066     

    1     Data were reported by all states and the District of Columbia.      
    2     Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.          
    NOTE: Data for total mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance 
have been revised for September 1997 due to the inclusion of new data for Louisiana and Oklahoma.  Dash represents zero.