Technical information:  (202) 691-6392       USDL 02-627
http://www.bls.gov/mls/
                                     
                                             For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                691-5902       Wednesday, November 13, 2002
                                     
                                     
            EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2002
  

   In the third quarter of 2002, 1,309 mass layoff actions were taken by
employers that resulted in the separation of 284,154 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.  For the third
consecutive quarter, both the total number of layoff events and the number
of separations were lower than in the same quarter a year earlier.  (See
table A.)  The decline from third quarter 2001 was most notable in air
transportation and in hotels and motels.  For the first three quarters of
2002, the number of worker separations totaled 1,050,546, down from
1,209,243 during the same period in 2001.
   
   Layoffs due to internal company restructuring accounted for 29 percent
of events and resulted in 89,071 separations, the highest for a third
quarter on record.  The completion of seasonal work accounted for 23 percent 
of all events and 84,499 separations.  Permanent closure of worksites oc-
curred in 21 percent of all events and affected 74,000 workers, down from 
77,725 workers in July-September 2001.  Thirty-eight percent of the employers 
with layoffs in the third quarter indicated that they anticipated some type 
of recall, somewhat higher than a year ago.
   
Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
   
   Extended mass layoff separations occurred in 411 of the 1,197 detailed
industries for which data are available.  Manufacturing industries
accounted for 38 percent of private-sector layoff events and 37 percent of
all separations during July-September 2002.  A year earlier, manufacturing
accounted for 41 percent of private-sector events and 35 percent of
separations.  Layoff activity in this sector was concentrated in computer
and electronic products (19,565, mainly in semiconductors and related
devices), followed by food manufacturing (19,484, largely in fruit and
vegetable canning) and transportation equipment (14,618, mostly in aircraft
manufacturing).  (See table 1.)
   
   Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting accounted for 11 percent of
private-sector layoff events and 15 percent of all separations, with nearly
all the layoff activity concentrated in agriculture and forestry support
activities.  Layoffs in administrative and waste services comprised 9 percent 
of events and 10 percent of separations, mostly in temporary help services.  
Cutbacks in transportation and warehousing accounted for an additional 
6 percent of events and 9 percent of separations, mainly in general long 
distance freight trucking.  Extended mass layoffs in retail trade accounted 
for an additional 4 percent of events and 6 percent of all separations, 
mostly in general merchandise stores.
   
   Layoffs in government establishments accounted for 5 percent of all events
and separations, mostly in educational services.

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Period           | Layoff events|  Separations | Initial claimants
-------------------------|--------------|--------------|-------------------
          1998           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,320    |    208,082   |     247,315
April-June...............|     1,563    |    391,461   |     402,276
July-September...........|     1,234    |    248,054   |     256,803
October-December.........|     1,734    |    379,976   |     325,990
          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(r)............|     2,072    |    481,886   |     401,270
July-September(r)........|     1,815    |    384,403   |     370,942
October-December(r)......|     2,698    |    542,221   |     502,287
          2002           |              |              |
January-March(r).........|     1,748    |    333,609   |     314,966
April-June(r)............|     1,905    |    432,783   |     347,321
July-September(p)........|     1,309    |    284,154   |     193,385
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     p=preliminary.                          r=revised.

Reasons for Extended Layoff
   
   Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 23 percent
of the extended layoff events and resulted in 84,499 separations in the
third quarter.  (See table 2.)  These layoffs were most numerous among
workers in agriculture and forestry support services (largely among farm
labor contractors), in food manufacturing (mainly in fruit and vegetable
canning), and in crop production (mostly in grape vineyards).
   
   Internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change,
financial difficulty, and reorganization) accounted for 29 percent of
layoff events and resulted in 89,071 separations.  These layoffs were
mostly among workers in truck transportation and in computer and electronic
product manufacturing.
   
   Lack of demand for products and services (slack work) accounted for 
19 percent of events and resulted in 39,274 separations during the third
quarter, mostly in transportation equipment and in computer and electronic
product manufacturing.

Recall Expectations
   
   Thirty-eight percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the
third quarter of 2002 indicated they anticipated some type of recall.  This
compares with 36 percent of the employers anticipating a recall a year
earlier.  (See table B.)  Most of the employers not expecting a recall were
in computer and electronic products manufacturing and administrative and
support services.

                                  - 3 -

     Table B.  Summary of employer expectations of a recall from
     extended layoff, third quarter 2001-third quarter 2002
     -------------------------------------------------------------
                          |         Percentage of events
                          |---------------------------------------
     Nature of the recall |  III |   IV  |   I   |  II   |  III
                          | 2001 |  2001 |  2001 | 2002r | 2002p
    ----------------------|------|-------|-------|-------|--------
     Anticipate a recall..| 35.7 |  49.1 |  35.3 |  52.8 |  37.7
                          |      |       |       |       |
           Timeframe      |      |       |       |       |
                          |      |       |       |       |
     Within 6 months......| 74.7 |  80.8 |  77.3 |  82.0 |  77.3
       Within 3 months....| 47.4 |  30.8 |  46.5 |  57.4 |  51.8
                          |      |       |       |       |
           Size           |      |       |       |       |
                          |      |       |       |       |
     At least half........| 76.5 |  87.3 |  84.9 |  91.3 |  82.4
       All workers........| 29.8 |  36.2 |  27.7 |  42.8 |  32.2
     -------------------------------------------------------------
        p=preliminary.                       r=revised.
   
   Among establishments expecting a recall, most employers expected to
recall over one-half of the separated employees and to do so within 
6 months.  Thirty-two percent of the employers expected to extend the 
offer to all laid-off workers.
   
   Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in
which 92 percent of the employers expected a recall), employers expected 
to recall laid-off workers in 20 percent of the events, the smallest
proportion since the program began in 1995.  In layoff events due to
internal company restructuring, employers anticipated a recall in only 
5 percent of the events.

Size of Extended Layoff
   
   Layoff events during the third quarter continued to be concentrated at
the lower end of the extended layoff-size spectrum, with 58 percent
involving fewer than 150 workers.  These events, however, accounted for
only 24 percent of all separations.  (See table C.)  Separations involving
500 or more workers accounted for 40 percent of all separations, up from 
35 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 75 separations in accommodations to a high of 511 in amusement,
gambling, and recreation.

Initial Claimant Characteristics
   
   A total of 193,385 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with extended mass layoffs in the third quarter of 2002.  Of
these claimants, 15 percent were black, 44 percent were women, 18 percent
were Hispanic, and 15 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, 12 percent were black, 
46 percent were women, 11 percent were Hispanic, and 14 percent were 55 
years of age or older.  Thirty-seven percent of the civilian labor force 
were ages 30 to 44.

                                  - 4 -

Table C.  Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff,
July-September 2002(p)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                 |      Layoff events     |       Separations
      Size       |------------------------|------------------------
                 |   Number  |   Percent  |  Number  |   Percent
-----------------|-----------|------------|----------|-------------
                 |           |            |          |
    Total........|   1,309   |    100.0   |  284,154 |    100.0
                 |           |            |          |
50-99............|     476   |     36.4   |   33,403 |     11.8
100-149..........|     288   |     22.0   |   33,498 |     11.8
150-199..........|     151   |     11.5   |   24,833 |      8.7
200-299..........|     171   |     13.1   |   39,920 |     14.0
300-499..........|     107   |      8.2   |   39,820 |     14.0
500-999..........|      79   |      6.0   |   51,078 |     18.0
1,000 or more....|      37   |      2.8   |   61,602 |     21.7
-------------------------------------------------------------------
     p=preliminary.

Geographic Distribution
   
   In the third quarter, the number of separations due to extended mass
layoff events was highest in the West (107,579), followed by the Midwest
(64,504), the South (61,735), and the Northeast (50,336).  (See table 4.)
Extended mass layoffs in the West were mainly in agricultural and forestry
support activities, food manufacturing, and crop production.
   
   All four regions reported over-the-year decreases in separations, with
the largest decrease occurring in the West (-34,093).  Seven of the nine
geographic divisions reported over-the-year declines in laid-off workers,
with the largest declines in the East North Central, Middle Atlantic, and
Pacific divisions.  Separations rose in the New England and West North
Central divisions.
   
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the largest number of
worker separations occurred in California (77,504), followed by Illinois
(28,695).  These two states accounted for 31 percent of total layoff events
and 37 percent of the separations during the third quarter of 2002.  They
were followed by Texas (17,753), Florida (16,041), and New York (14,766).
(See table 5.)  After excluding the substantial impact of seasonal work,
California still reported the most laid-off workers (33,708), largely due
to layoffs in computer and electronic product manufacturing and in
administrative and support services.
   
   Over the year, California reported the greatest decrease in laid-off
workers (-21,324), followed by New York (-17,488) and Nevada (-13,251).
The largest increases occurred in Kansas (+7,277) and Washington (+4,592).
   
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 third quarter are preliminary and subject to
revision.  This release also includes revised data for previous quarters.
Data are not seasonally adjusted, but survey data suggest that there is a
seasonal pattern to layoffs.  Thus, comparisons between consecutive
quarters should not be used as an indicator of trend.  For additional
information about the program, see the Technical Note.

                     ------------------------------

   The report on Mass Layoffs in October 2002 will be issued on Tuesday,
November 26, 2002.
   
   
   

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, 2001 and 2002

                                                                                                           Initial claimants for  
                                                        Layoff events               Separations            unemployment insurance 
                      Industry                    
                                                     III     II      III       III      II       III        III      II       III  
                                                    2001r   2002r   2002p     2001r    2002r    2002p      2001r    2002r    2002p 


        Total( 1 ) ...............................  1,815   1,905   1,309    384,403  432,783  284,154    370,942  347,321  193,385

Total, private ...................................  1,772   1,767   1,246    372,736  384,271  271,350    360,044  317,394  184,334

  Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting  ....    143     142     131     42,345   39,713   40,198     24,345   23,206   11,727
  Mining .........................................     11      15       9      3,054    2,792    1,342      2,440    2,486    1,282
  Utilities ......................................      3       8   ( 2 )      1,483    1,379    ( 2 )      1,265    1,259    ( 2 )
  Construction ...................................     77     129      61      9,731   20,264    7,759     11,652   22,964    8,426
  Manufacturing ..................................    722     485     475    129,038   87,948   99,791    140,518   84,359   74,457
       Food ......................................     63      73      50     11,491   14,805   19,484     10,716   13,117    7,350
       Beverage and tobacco products .............  ( 2 )       6       5      ( 2 )    1,736      487      ( 2 )    1,020      359
       Textile mills .............................     25      12      18      4,149    2,632    2,950      4,833    2,334    2,883
       Textile product mills .....................      9       -   ( 2 )        763        -    ( 2 )        903        -    ( 2 )
       Apparel ...................................     54      33      31     10,741    4,316    7,109     10,931    5,505    5,405
       Leather and allied products ...............      5   ( 2 )       6        446    ( 2 )      484        521    ( 2 )      440
       Wood products .............................      5      13      12        765    1,269    1,551        996    1,889    1,446
       Paper .....................................     21      17      14      4,226    2,876    1,959      3,696    2,183    1,729
       Printing and related support activities ...      7      17       9      1,870    2,744    1,262        950    2,121      936
       Petroleum and coal products ...............  ( 2 )   ( 2 )   ( 2 )      ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )

       Chemicals  ................................     23      14       9      5,589    1,708    2,440      3,618    1,653      927
       Plastics and rubber products ..............     19      10      16      2,867    2,265    2,434      2,922    1,430    1,705
       Nonmetallic mineral products ..............      8       9       9      1,036    1,496    1,180      1,338    1,828      998
       Primary metals ............................     45      29      29      6,963    4,216    4,540      9,265    5,612    4,631
       Fabricated metal products .................     55      19      22      8,786    2,326    3,535      9,312    2,840    2,219
       Machinery .................................     72      33      39     12,819    6,885    6,448     14,233    5,566    7,304
       Computer and electronic products ..........    168      91     101     30,822   15,897   19,565     32,401   16,062   16,273
       Electrical equipment and appliances .......     35      25      26      7,398    3,541    4,792     10,054    4,371    3,981
       Transportation equipment ..................     63      57      53     12,194   14,936   14,618     16,622   12,476   11,346
       Furniture and related products ............     24      15       9      3,258    2,845    1,333      4,426    2,757    1,475
       Miscellaneous manufacturing ...............     16       8      12      2,375      979    2,537      2,359    1,107    2,399

  Wholesale trade ................................     51      44      34      5,561    6,432    5,280      6,064    5,621    3,568
  Retail trade ...................................     96     105      54     20,009   38,380   15,430     19,574   28,321    8,840
  Transportation and warehousing .................    123     131      77     49,434   25,748   23,644     39,847   23,939   17,822
  Information ....................................     82      96      65     14,867   21,271   12,586     13,416   22,500   10,969
  Finance and insurance ..........................     49      46      47      9,898    8,729    9,012      8,021    7,632    7,016
  Real estate and rental and leasing .............      7       3   ( 2 )      2,960      790    ( 2 )      1,318      788    ( 2 )
  Professional and technical services ............     58      82      55     10,906   26,793    8,374      9,735   14,942    6,476
  Management of companies and enterprises ........      3       4   ( 2 )        700    1,017    ( 2 )        691    1,242    ( 2 )
  Administrative and waste services ..............    126     143     118     25,234   27,392   28,221     30,667   31,989   22,446
  Educational services ...........................      3       7       7        212      918      754        200      830      646
  Health care and social assistance ..............     30     129      37      3,444   16,728    4,017      2,660   14,536    2,918
  Arts, entertainment, and recreation ............     20      49      22      5,841   24,924    6,685      2,965    4,902    1,898
  Accommodation and food services ................    143      95      31     34,024   24,824    3,705     39,451   19,416    2,831
  Other services, except public administration ...     16      53      12      2,410    8,149    1,929      1,974    6,382    1,254

  Unclassified ...................................      9       1       -      1,585       80        -      3,241       80        -

Government .......................................     43     138      63     11,667   48,512   12,804     10,898   29,927    9,051
       Federal ...................................     14      17       8      3,955    5,610    1,879      3,551    6,158    1,440
       State .....................................      6      13      13      1,021    4,489    2,770      1,253    4,518    2,471
       Local .....................................     23     108      42      6,691   38,413    8,155      6,094   19,251    5,140
          

    1 For the third quarter of 2002, 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:  Beginning with data for January 2002, the 2002 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is
the basis for the assignment and tabulation of economic data by industry. NAICS is the product of a cooperative effort on the part
of the statistical agencies of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Due to differences in NAICS and SIC structures, data by
industry for 2002 will not be comparable to the SIC-based data for earlier years. However, the quarterly historical industry series
from second quarter 1995 to fourth quarter 2001 are available on both SIC and NAICS bases. Dash represents zero. 
    
   
   

Table 2. Reason for separation: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment
insurance, selected quarters, 2001 and 2002

                                                                                                      Initial claimants for    
                                         Layoff events                     Separations                unemployment insurance   
       Reason for separation     
                                     III       II        III         III       II        III          III       II        III  
                                    2001r     2002r     2002p       2001r     2002r     2002p        2001r     2002r     2002p 


   Total, all reasons( 1 ) ......   1,815     1,905     1,309      384,403   432,783   284,154      370,942   347,321   193,385

Automation ......................   ( 2 )         3         3        ( 2 )       298       406        ( 2 )       570       238
Bankruptcy ......................      62        51        52       17,171    15,232    21,947       11,632    10,972    14,598
Business ownership change .......      56        41        41       11,907     7,079    10,918       11,519     5,630     5,801
Contract cancellation ...........      48        38        52        8,805     5,227    12,665        8,496     5,581     6,345
Contract completed ..............     123       242       147       19,568    45,505    23,695       22,125    54,031    25,070
Domestic relocation .............      25        25        25        4,564     4,936     4,396        4,071     3,710     2,566
Energy-related ..................       5     ( 2 )     ( 2 )          944     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        1,692     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Financial difficulty ............     183       124       114       45,805    37,380    22,288       36,973    28,002    16,394
Import competition ..............      27        16        16        5,433     4,427     2,880        5,402     3,502     2,088
Labor dispute ...................       8         6         4        2,887       992       814        2,602     1,043       808
Material shortage ...............       4         4         -          450       949         -          421       718         -
Model changeover ................   ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Natural disaster ................   ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -        ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -        ( 2 )     ( 2 )         -

Non-natural disaster ............       9         4     ( 2 )        2,185       399     ( 2 )        1,713       408     ( 2 )
Overseas relocation .............      21        13        19        4,297     4,212     4,691        3,098     2,096     2,846
Plant or machine repair .........       8         7         7          785     1,526       825          943     1,466       632
Product line discontinued .......       6        10        10          732       969     1,548          557       997       936
Reorganization within company ...     184       193       170       37,563    34,015    33,918       35,743    34,988    25,766
Seasonal work ...................     303       659       299       76,331   177,013    84,499       54,583   112,549    35,937
Slack work ......................     530       278       252       97,137    50,019    39,274      122,626    52,602    35,040
Vacation period .................      54        84        15       11,535    22,753     3,594        8,166    11,924     2,067
Weather-related .................       -         8     ( 2 )            -       895     ( 2 )            -       895     ( 2 )
Other ...........................     103        48        39       25,794    10,959     6,791       25,905     8,044     7,235
Not reported ....................      52        46        39       10,134     6,928     8,348       10,741     6,812     8,328


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    p = preliminary. 
    r = revised.
    NOTE:  Dash represents zero. 
   
   
   

Table 3. State and selected claimant characteristics: Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment
insurance, second and third quarters, 2002

                                                                                         Percent of total                        
                                                  Total                                   
                                                 initial                             Hispanic                       Persons age 55
                           Layoff events        claimants             Black           origin            Women          and over   
           State         
                            II      III        II       III         II     III       II     III       II     III       II     III 
                           2002r   2002p      2002r    2002p       2002r  2002p     2002r  2002p     2002r  2002p     2002r  2002p

    Total( 1 )  .........  1,905   1,309     347,321  193,385      18.4   14.8      18.1   18.2      51.2   43.7      16.0   15.5

Alabama .................     29   ( 2 )       4,511    ( 2 )      53.2   41.1       7.7     .5      60.9   23.2      16.4   33.0
Alaska ..................      5       -         635        -       4.4      -       1.9      -      55.4      -      16.9      -
Arizona .................     50      28       9,180    3,974       1.9    4.7      60.5   45.8      48.1   39.4      14.3   12.8
Arkansas ................      9       3         736      191      50.4   22.5       1.4    7.9      66.2   54.5      11.7   12.6
California ..............    343     302      59,105   36,640       6.6    5.7      43.5   42.7      45.9   44.5      13.2   14.0
Colorado ................     20      21       2,547    2,578       5.8    7.2      17.1   12.8      60.1   41.6      11.4   12.6
Connecticut .............     30      12       4,754    1,470      10.9   13.5       8.2    7.8      62.9   49.1      15.4   16.3
Delaware ................  ( 2 )       -       ( 2 )        -      23.9      -       1.6      -      48.4      -      12.5      -
District of Columbia ....  ( 2 )   ( 2 )       ( 2 )    ( 2 )      57.8   56.0       1.9     .6      78.5   68.0      15.6    9.1
Florida .................    183      99      29,656   12,735      28.8   22.2      23.3   13.5      49.9   46.4      18.2   19.8
Georgia .................     16      15       3,106    2,400      60.4   48.6        .4    6.3      66.9   49.9      13.3    9.3
Hawaii ..................      5   ( 2 )         445    ( 2 )        .2     .9      12.4    8.7      54.2   13.7      34.4   15.1
Idaho ...................      6   ( 2 )         573    ( 2 )       1.4      -      18.3   40.9      60.7   65.2      15.2   25.8

Illinois ................    162     109      35,133   16,792      24.0   25.9       8.7   11.5      53.0   44.1      15.2   12.3
Indiana .................     41      26       5,965    4,721      23.8    6.4       3.5    2.5      66.5   30.9      19.0   15.0
Iowa ....................      7       5         615      476        .7     .8       1.0     .2      40.2   33.8      17.6   14.9
Kansas ..................     17      15       2,360    4,678      15.4   14.6       2.2    3.3      57.9   35.2      15.6   15.3
Kentucky ................     21      21       2,241    2,608       6.3    3.5        .1     .8      53.1   51.8      17.7   18.9
Louisiana ...............     38      12       4,936    1,078      58.4   49.4       2.7    2.6      68.2   54.5      13.0    9.6
Maine ...................     14   ( 2 )       1,517    ( 2 )        .4      -        .2      -      45.4   21.1      10.5   13.6
Maryland ................     14       6       1,757      838      58.5   37.0       1.0    1.7      66.6   33.2      15.3   27.3
Massachusetts ...........     51      42       9,945    6,298       9.0    5.5       3.1    2.1      61.0   48.5      17.7   17.9
Michigan ................     28      11       4,969    1,425      19.7   22.6       5.1    1.8      50.4   57.3      15.7   16.2
Minnesota ...............     31      22       6,225    2,718       6.7    3.5       2.3    2.0      57.2   41.1      16.8   14.8
Mississippi .............      8       6         796      692      66.8   74.0       1.0     .1      65.2   51.3       8.8   12.3
Missouri ................     54      24       8,330    3,835      27.6   21.3       1.8    1.4      67.8   56.1      22.7   15.8

Montana .................      6       -         432        -        .7      -       3.2      -      56.0      -      13.2      -
Nebraska ................  ( 2 )       4       ( 2 )      421       6.1   12.4       2.5    2.9      44.3   39.2      18.2   15.4
Nevada ..................      5      10         614      921      28.5    7.8      19.5   21.2      70.4   28.7      14.7   22.1
New Hampshire ...........  ( 2 )       -       ( 2 )        -       2.1      -         -      -      21.0      -       8.6      -
New Jersey ..............     85      56      17,638    6,617      21.6   22.1      13.0   15.9      63.9   53.8      26.2   20.3
New Mexico ..............      7   ( 2 )         704    ( 2 )       1.0     .8      39.3   54.9      50.6   35.4      12.1   19.2
New York ................     69      86      12,158   13,405      13.2   16.6       6.5    8.6      47.6   49.6      15.5   17.5
North Carolina ..........     37      31       6,230    5,062      50.2   29.2       3.2    1.8      54.7   46.2      13.8   16.2
North Dakota ............      8       -       1,348        -        .7      -       2.9      -      39.8      -      14.4      -
Ohio ....................     62      50      10,873    7,330      16.7   13.5       1.6    1.6      43.9   30.0      15.1   18.5
Oklahoma ................      7       4       1,190      597      17.1   18.4       2.3   13.2      55.9   29.3      16.3   13.6
Oregon ..................     34      25       5,727    2,884       3.0    2.9      11.9    9.3      47.4   41.3      18.6   14.9
Pennsylvania ............    105      59      25,206   11,568      10.5    6.9       2.6    3.1      48.7   36.3      20.4   18.2

Rhode Island ............      4       3         330      230       6.7    3.5      25.5   29.6      47.0   46.1      23.9   20.4
South Carolina ..........      7       7       1,008      942      44.4   54.0        .1     .1      57.3   59.9       6.0    2.0
South Dakota ............  ( 2 )       -       ( 2 )        -         -      -         -      -      66.8      -      20.2      -
Tennessee ...............     17      19       2,941    1,373      24.2   29.1         -      -      56.2   42.8      14.3   21.0
Texas ...................    108      77      34,320   21,218      22.4   18.2      33.9   36.0      40.6   41.7      10.2   12.1
Utah ....................     10   ( 2 )       1,071    ( 2 )       1.7    1.1      14.4    7.1      56.7   23.3       9.3   26.1
Vermont .................     11   ( 2 )       1,066    ( 2 )        .4    2.2        .1    1.2      44.9   25.1      18.3   14.3
Virginia ................     27      20       5,208    2,711      41.9   33.3        .9     .7      58.7   60.7      19.5   19.5
Washington ..............     55      41      10,023    6,197       4.7    4.4      15.1   22.4      40.5   43.3      17.0   15.0
West Virginia ...........      7       5         785      516        .4     .2         -      -      18.3   24.0      16.2   15.9
Wisconsin ...............     39      18       5,836    3,035       9.5    5.2       3.1    4.0      51.7   44.4      19.2   16.8
Wyoming .................      -       -           -        -         -      -         -      -         -      -         -      -

Puerto Rico .............     17      12       3,378    2,742     ( 3 )  ( 3 )     ( 3 )  ( 3 )      45.1   51.7       7.6    7.3


    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, 2001 and 2002

                                                                                                      Initial claimants for   
                                         Layoff events                     Separations                unemployment insurance  
    Census region and division   
                                     III       II        III         III       II        III          III      II       III  
                                    2001r     2002r     2002p       2001r     2002r     2002p        2001r    2002r    2002p 

        United States( 1 ) ......   1,815     1,905     1,309      384,403   432,783   284,154      370,942  347,321  193,385

Northeast .......................     374       371       262       70,465    71,340    50,336       77,081   72,847   40,412

    New England .................      86       112        61       14,014    24,327    15,329       14,175   17,845    8,822
    Middle Atlantic .............     288       259       201       56,451    47,013    35,007       62,906   55,002   31,590

South ...........................     425       533       329       86,569   105,577    61,735       91,799  100,935   53,321

    South Atlantic ..............     252       296       185       41,118    59,060    32,682       47,477   49,264   25,379
    East South Central ..........      73        75        48       14,685    13,902     8,204       12,289   10,489    4,858
    West South Central ..........     100       162        96       30,766    32,615    20,849       32,033   41,182   23,084

Midwest .........................     355       455       284       85,697    99,134    64,504       74,381   82,483   45,431

    East North Central ..........     279       332       214       67,808    74,519    46,031       57,994   62,776   33,303
    West North Central ..........      76       123        70       17,889    24,615    18,473       16,387   19,707   12,128

West ............................     661       546       434      141,672   156,732   107,579      127,681   91,056   54,221

    Mountain ....................     101       104        64       27,845    55,897    14,199       29,252   15,121    8,281
    Pacific .....................     560       442       370      113,827   100,835    93,380       98,429   75,935   45,940


    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, 2001 and 2002

                                                                                                 Initial claimants for    
                                    Layoff events                    Separations                 unemployment insurance   
           State         
                               III       II        III         III       II        III          III       II        III  
                              2001r     2002r     2002p       2001r     2002r     2002p        2001r     2002r     2002p 

    Total( 1 )  .........     1,815     1,905     1,309      384,403   432,783   284,154      370,942   347,321   193,385

Alabama .................        24        29     ( 2 )        4,599     5,154     ( 2 )        3,684     4,511     ( 2 )
Alaska ..................         -         5         -            -       635         -            -       635         -
Arizona .................        26        50        28        4,290    26,095     8,295        3,895     9,180     3,974
Arkansas ................         5         9         3        1,222     1,206       542        1,389       736       191
California ..............       465       343       302       98,828    80,590    77,504       82,650    59,105    36,640
Colorado ................        20        20        21        4,780    21,872     3,111        4,451     2,547     2,578
Connecticut .............         7        30        12        1,828     6,512     3,590        1,149     4,754     1,470
Delaware ................         3     ( 2 )         -          455     ( 2 )         -          445     ( 2 )         -
District of Columbia ....     ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Florida .................       144       183        99       22,952    37,564    16,041       27,686    29,656    12,735
Georgia .................        19        16        15        2,686     3,518     3,101        2,660     3,106     2,400
Hawaii ..................        22         5     ( 2 )        3,185       475     ( 2 )        5,587       445     ( 2 )
Idaho ...................         6         6     ( 2 )        1,249     1,543     ( 2 )          851       573     ( 2 )

Illinois ................       127       162       109       41,015    45,891    28,695       29,316    35,133    16,792
Indiana .................        33        41        26        7,014    12,060     5,524        7,165     5,965     4,721
Iowa ....................        15         7         5        2,701       693       556        2,752       615       476
Kansas ..................         6        17        15          804     3,654     8,081          714     2,360     4,678
Kentucky ................        18        21        21        4,536     2,953     3,876        3,822     2,241     2,608
Louisiana ...............        15        38        12        2,416     7,298     1,761        2,621     4,936     1,078
Maine ...................         8        14     ( 2 )        1,160     2,176     ( 2 )          814     1,517     ( 2 )
Maryland ................         5        14         6          829     2,317     1,495          469     1,757       838
Massachusetts ...........        59        51        42        9,256    14,054    10,011       10,534     9,945     6,298
Michigan ................        42        28        11        6,407     5,100     3,427        7,944     4,969     1,425
Minnesota ...............        22        31        22        7,113     8,765     4,336        6,456     6,225     2,718
Mississippi .............         7         8         6        1,789     1,310     1,057        1,017       796       692
Missouri ................        30        54        24        6,469     9,303     4,741        5,624     8,330     3,835

Montana .................     ( 2 )         6         -        ( 2 )     1,015         -        ( 2 )       432         -
Nebraska ................     ( 2 )     ( 2 )         4        ( 2 )     ( 2 )       759        ( 2 )     ( 2 )       421
Nevada ..................        34         5        10       14,237       703       986       16,535       614       921
New Hampshire ...........         7     ( 2 )         -        1,270     ( 2 )         -        1,163     ( 2 )         -
New Jersey ..............        53        85        56        9,516    17,297     8,382       10,347    17,638     6,617
New Mexico ..............         5         7     ( 2 )        1,275     1,257     ( 2 )        1,275       704     ( 2 )
New York ................       139        69        86       32,254    12,225    14,766       26,393    12,158    13,405
North Carolina ..........        45        37        31        9,221     8,112     7,453        8,505     6,230     5,062
North Dakota ............     ( 2 )         8         -        ( 2 )     1,575         -        ( 2 )     1,348         -
Ohio ....................        44        62        50        6,843     6,789     5,711        7,273    10,873     7,330
Oklahoma ................        11         7         4        1,371       962       793        3,456     1,190       597
Oregon ..................        30        34        25        4,491     6,239     3,742        4,445     5,727     2,884
Pennsylvania ............        96       105        59       14,681    17,491    11,859       26,166    25,206    11,568

Rhode Island ............         4         4         3          387       261       344          361       330       230
South Carolina ..........        13         7         7        1,332       490       797        2,881     1,008       942
South Dakota ............         -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -
Tennessee ...............        24        17        19        3,761     4,485     3,052        3,766     2,941     1,373
Texas ...................        69       108        77       25,757    23,149    17,753       24,567    34,320    21,218
Utah ....................         8        10     ( 2 )        1,854     3,412     ( 2 )        1,712     1,071     ( 2 )
Vermont .................     ( 2 )        11     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     1,066     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     1,066     ( 2 )
Virginia ................        18        27        20        2,256     5,128     2,926        3,638     5,208     2,711
Washington ..............        43        55        41        7,323    12,896    11,915        5,747    10,023     6,197
West Virginia ...........         3         7         5          432       812       694          238       785       516
Wisconsin ...............        33        39        18        6,529     4,679     2,674        6,296     5,836     3,035
Wyoming .................         -         -         -            -         -         -            -         -         -

Puerto Rico .............        17        17        12        4,987     2,760     2,616        3,641     3,378     2,742


    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.