Monthly Labor Review • September 2011 3

Visual Essay: Displaced Workers

Characteristics of displaced workers 2007–2009: 

a visual essay

James M. Borbely

I

ndividuals who are displaced from their job often 

face difficulties finding new employment. Since 

1984, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment 

and Training Administration has sponsored surveys of 

displaced workers. These surveys have been conducted biennially in January as a supplement to the Current Population Survey, the nation’s monthly labor force survey. The 

supplemental survey collects information on the number 

and characteristics of people age 20 and over who lost or 

left jobs during the prior 3 years because their plant or 

company closed or moved, there was insufficient work, 

or their position or shift was abolished. Information also 

is gathered about the job they lost and whether they are 

employed, unemployed, or no longer in the labor force at 

the time of the survey. 

This visual essay examines the labor force status of 

workers displaced between January 2007 and December 

2009 (also referred to as the 2007–2009 reference period), and looks at the differences by various characteristics—gender, age, education, industry, occupation, and 

earnings. Some comparisons are made to earlier reference periods. For this analysis, it is important to note that 

the 1981–1983, 1991–1993, 2001–2003 and 2007–2009 

reference periods included recessions, as determined by the 

National Bureau of Economic Research, the official arbiter 

of recessionary periods. 

Much of this analysis focuses on long-tenured displaced workers—individuals who lost or left jobs they 

had held for 3 or more years. Long-tenured workers are 

likely to have acquired firm-specific or other specialized 

skills unique to their jobs. For this reason, these displaced workers are thought to be more likely to have 

lost jobs due to poor overall labor market conditions 

rather than as a result of a job that ended because the 

employee was not a good fit for that particular job or 

employer. Also presented in this essay are data for total 

displaced workers—that is, people who lost or left jobs 

regardless of how long they had held their jobs.

 This essay was prepared by James M. Borbely, an 

economist in the Division of Labor Force Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Phone: (202) 691-6385. Email: 

borbely.james@bls.gov.
Visual Essay: Displaced Workers

4 Monthly Labor Review • September 2011

1. The numbers of both total and long-tenured displaced workers rose sharply during the 2007–2009 survey period

Long-tenured displaced workers

 NOTE: Dates refer to survey reference period. Survey took place in January of the next year (for example, January 2002 

for the 1999–2001 reference period). 

Total displaced workers

16,000

14,000

12,000

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

0

16,000

14,000

12,000

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

0

(In thousands) (In thousands)

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

1999–

2001

2001–

2003

2003–

2005

2005–

2007

2007–

2009

1999–

2001

2001–

2003

2003–

2005

2005–

2007

2007–

2009

• The numbers of total and long-tenured displaced workers have followed a cyclical pattern, increasing 

during periods that include economic downturns and poor labor market conditions and improving during economic recoveries. Both numbers rose sharply during the 2007–2009 period, which included the 

December 2007–June 2009 recession.

• For total displaced workers, the number of workers who lost or left their job was 15.4 million during the 

2007–2009 period, up from 8.3 million for the 2005–2007 period.

• For the 2007–2009 period, 6.9 million long-tenured workers were displaced from their jobs, up from 3.6 

million during the 2005–2007 survey period.
Monthly Labor Review • September 2011 5

 2. About half of long-tenured displaced workers were reemployed in January 2010

NOTE: Data refer to workers who, during 2007–2009, lost or left jobs they had held for 3 years or more.

• Of the 6.9 million long-tenured workers displaced from jobs during the 2007–2009 period, the reemployment rate—the proportion of displaced workers that were employed at the time of the survey—was 

about 49 percent in January 2010.

• Thirty-six percent of long-tenured employees who became displaced workers during the 2007–2009 

period were unemployed at the time of the survey in January 2010.

• The remaining 15 percent of long-tenured displaced workers were not in the labor force in January 

2010; that is, they were neither working nor looking for work.

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

[In percent]

Employed 

48.8

Not in the 

labor force 

15.2

Unemployed 

36.1 
Visual Essay: Displaced Workers

6 Monthly Labor Review • September 2011

 3. The proportion of long-tenured displaced workers who were reemployed was lower in January 2010 than in all

 prior surveys

Percent

reemployed

NOTE: Survey reference period is the 3 previous years (for example, January 1981–December 1983 for the January 1984 

survey). Data refer to workers who lost or left jobs they had held for 3 years or more.

•• At 49 percent, the reemployment rate for long-tenured displaced workers recorded in January 2010 was 

the lowest in the history of the series, which began in 1984. Although the recession ended in June 2009, 

employment continued to trend down and unemployment continued to rise until late 2010.

•• The reemployment rates during expansionary periods are higher; in the mid- to late-1990s, for example, 

about three-quarters of long-tenured displaced workers were reemployed, compared with less than twothirds during the recession-containing periods before and after. 

Percent

reemployed

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Jan

1984

Jan

1994

Jan

1998

Jan

1990

Jan

1992

Jan

1996

Jan

1988

Jan

1986

Jan

2010

Jan

2008

Jan

2006

Jan

2004

Jan

2002

Jan

2000
Monthly Labor Review • September 2011 7

4. More than one-third of long-tenured displaced workers were unemployed in January 2010

NOTE: Survey reference period is the 3 previous years (for example, January 1981–December 1983 for the January 1984 survey). 

Data refer to workers who lost or left jobs they had held for 3 years or more.

• Thirty-six percent of long-tenured displaced workers who lost jobs during 2007–2009 were unemployed in 

January 2010. This was twice as high as during the previous survey period and was the high for the series, 

which began in 1984. 

• The proportion of long-tenured displaced workers who are unemployed when surveyed rises during periods 

of poor labor market conditions. The share unemployed was particularly high in January 2010, January 1992, 

and January 1984; reference periods for these surveys included recessions.

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Jan

1984

Jan

1994

Jan

1998

Jan

1990

Jan

1992

Jan

1996

Jan

1988

Jan

1986

Jan

2010

Jan

2008

Jan

2006

Jan

2004

Jan

2002

Jan

2000

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Percent

unemployed

Percent

unemployed

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0
Visual Essay: Displaced Workers

8 Monthly Labor Review • September 2011

55. Among long-tenured displaced workers, women were less likely to be in the labor force in January 2008 and 

 January 2010 than were men

NOTE: Data refer to long-tenured workers who lost jobs during 2005–2007 and 2007–2009, respectively. Long-tenured 

workers are workers who lost or left jobs they had held for 3 years or more.

• The reemployment rate for long-tenured displaced men fell from 70 percent in January 2008 to 49 percent in January 2010, and the reemployment rate for women fell from 64 percent to 49 percent over the 

same period.

• In January 2010, 20 percent of women who had been displaced from jobs they had held for 3 years or 

more were not in the labor force, compared with 12 percent of their male counterparts. 

• For both men and women, the share of long-tenured displaced workers who were unemployed increased 

considerably from January 2008 to January 2010; the proportion that left the labor force was little changed.

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Percent Percent

Men 

Jan 2008

Women 

Jan 2008

Men 

Jan 2010

Women 

Jan 2010

11.2

69.9

18.8

49.0

31.4

39.1

11.9

48.5

19.6 20.1

63.5

16.5

Reemployed Unemployed Not in labor force

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

11.2 11.9

19.6 20.1

39.1 16.5

18.8

31.4

48.5

63.5

49.0

69.9
Monthly Labor Review • September 2011 9

.6. About half of White and Hispanic long-tenured displaced workers were reemployed in January 2010

NOTE: Data refer to workers who, during 2007–2009, lost or left jobs they had held for 3 years or more. Persons 

whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

•• The share of long-tenured displaced workers who lost or left jobs during 2007–2009 and were 

reemployed in January 2010 was highest for Whites and Hispanics—50 percent and 49 percent, 

respectively.

•• The proportion of Black and Asian long-tenured displaced workers that was unemployed in January 

2010 was larger than the proportion among White and Hispanic long-tenured displaced workers.

•• Long-tenured displaced workers from the major race and ethnicity groups were about equally likely 

to leave the labor force after losing a job during the 2007–2009 period.

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Percent Percent

White Black Asian Hispanic

Reemployed Unemployed Not in labor force

14.8

50.3

35.0

42.9

38.0

41.2

15.9

48.7

14.3 13.4

37.8

47.8

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Visual Essay: Displaced Workers

10 Monthly Labor Review • September 2011

 7. The proportion of long-tenured displaced workers who were reemployed in January 2010 varied by age 

NOTE: Data refer to workers who, during 2007–2009, lost or left jobs they had held for 3 years.

Percent Percent

•• The share of long-tenured displaced workers who lost jobs during 2007–2009 and were reemployed in January 

2010 was highest for 25- to 34-year-olds (57 percent) and lowest for those age 55 and over (35 percent). 

•• Older (age 55 and over) and younger (ages 20–24) long-tenured workers were more likely to leave the labor 

force after displacement than were displaced workers in other age groups.

20–24 years 25–34 years 35–44 years 55 years and over

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

45–54 years

15.4

54.8

29.8

56.5

36.4 32.2

11.3

51.7

9.76 11.9

53.3

37.1

26.6

38.2

35.2

Reemployed Unemployed Not in labor force

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Monthly Labor Review • September 2011 11

8. Long-tenured displaced workers with more education were more likely to be reemployed in January 2010

NOTE: Data refer to workers age 25 and over who, during 2007–2009, lost or left jobs they had held for 3 years or more.

Percent Percent

•• The likelihood that long-tenured displaced workers were reemployed at the time of the survey increased 

with educational attainment, and the likelihood that they were unemployed or not in the labor force decreased.

•• Among long-tenured displaced workers with less than a high school diploma, 39 percent were reemployed 

in January 2010, compared with 56 percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Less than a high 

school diploma

Some college or 

associate’s degree

High school diploma Bachelor’s degree 

or higher

17.3 15.8 15.5 13.1

39.2

43.6

50.8

33.7

31.2

55.7

40.4

43.8

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Reemployed Unemployed Not in labor force
Visual Essay: Displaced Workers

12 Monthly Labor Review • September 2011

(in thousands)

Manufacturing

Wholesale and retail trade

Construction

Professional and business services

Financial activities

Education and health

Leisure and hospitality

Transportation and utilities

Government

Other services

Information

Mining

Agriculture

9. The largest number of long-tenured displaced workers lost jobs in the manufacturing industry

0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800

NOTE: Data refer to workers who, during 2007–2009, lost or left jobs they had held for 3 years or more.

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Long-tenured displaced workers

•• During the 2007–2009 period, more long-tenured workers were displaced from manufacturing jobs than from 

jobs in any other major industry sector. The 1.6 million factory workers displaced from jobs they had held for 

at least 3 years accounted for 23 percent of all long-tenured displaced workers.

•• Nearly a million long-tenured displaced workers had held jobs in wholesale and retail trade (14 percent of total 

displaced workers), and more than 900,000 displaced workers had lost or left jobs in the construction industry 

(accounting for 13 percent of the total).
Monthly Labor Review • September 2011 13

10. Among all displaced workers, reemployment rates in January 2010 varied by industry

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

NOTE: Data refer to workers who lost or left jobs during 2007–2009, regardless of how long they had held their jobs.

•• Among all displaced workers, regardless of how long they had held their jobs, workers who had been displaced from jobs in mining and in education and health services were the most likely to be reemployed in 

January 2010; their reemployment rates were 61 percent and 58 percent, respectively. However, most reemployed workers who had been displaced from mining jobs found jobs in other industries.

•• Displaced workers who had held jobs in information and manufacturing were the least likely to be reemployed, with reemployment rates of 43 and 42 percent, respectively. They were least likely to find employment in the industry from which they had been displaced; only 9 percent of workers displaced from information sector jobs and 14 percent of workers displaced from manufacturing jobs found reemployment in those 

sectors.

•• Workers displaced from jobs in education and health services were the most likely to be reemployed in the 

same industry as the job they lost; 39 percent of displaced education and health services workers were reemployed in the same industry. 

Mining

Education and health services

Financial activities

Other services

Professional and business services

Leisure and hospitality

Construction

Wholesale and retail trade

Transportation and utilities

Information

Manufacturing

Reemployed in same industry Reemployed in other industries

27.8

24.6

17.7

21.9

38.8

13.5

9.2

19.1

18.9

24.5

21.4

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Percent reemployed

32.7

29.0

36.1

33.2

19.4

29.6

34.2

27.1

28.0

23.9

28.7
Visual Essay: Displaced Workers

14 Monthly Labor Review • September 2011

• Among all displaced workers, regardless of how long they had held their jobs, those who had lost or left jobs 

in management, professional, and related occupations were the most likely to be reemployed; in January 2010, 

their reemployment rate was 60 percent. 

• Forty-one percent of those displaced from management, professional, and related occupations were reemployed 

in the same broad occupational category, while 18 percent found jobs in different occupational categories.

• With a reemployment rate of 40 percent, workers displaced from production, transportation, and material 

moving occupations were the least likely to be reemployed. Moreover, only 1 in 5 of workers displaced from 

these occupations were reemployed in that occupational category.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Management, professional, and related 

occupations

Service occupations

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 

occupations

Sales and office occupations

Production, transportation, and material 

moving occupations

11. Workers displaced from management, professional, and related occupations were the most likely to be 

 reemployed in January 2010

NOTE: Data refer to workers who lost or left jobs during 2007–2009, regardless of how long they had held their jobs.

18.4

20.4

21.5

19.4

18.4

Reemployed in same occupation Reemployed in other occupations

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Percent reemployed

41.2

19.9

24.7

28.1

30.6
Monthly Labor Review • September 2011 15

12. More than half of reemployed full-time long-tenured displaced workers had earnings in January 2010 less than

 the earnings of the job they lost

NOTE: This distribution includes only persons who reported earnings on their lost job. Data refer to workers who lost 

or left jobs they had held for 3 years or more. Survey reference period is the 3 previous years (for example, January 1999–

December 2001 for the January 2002 survey). The years selected for this chart are those which include a recession during 

either the reference period or the survey year, or both.

e STEM occupations with the highest location quotients in Huntsville, AL, were related to math, engineer

• Of long-tenured workers who were displaced from full-time wage and salary jobs and who were reemployed 

in such jobs in January 2010, 45 percent had earnings that were as much or more than those on their lost job, 

down from 55 percent in the January 2008 survey.

• Thirty-six percent of long-tenured workers who were displaced from full-time wage and salary jobs during 

the 2007–2009 reference period and who were reemployed in January 2010 suffered earnings losses of 20 

percent or more, up from 25 percent in the prior survey.

Jan

2002

Jan 

2004

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Percent Percent

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Jan

2008

Jan 

2010

23.1

31.3

16.5

34.2

26.4 28.8

16.7

35.8

16.3 21.3

19.7

33.9

29.1 25.2

22.7 19.1

Equal or above, but within 20 percent 20 percent or more below

20 percent or more above Below, but within 20 percent

Earnings

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.