Technical information:  (202) 691-6392     USDL 05-2194
http://www.bls.gov/mls/

                                           For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                691-5902     Thursday, November 17, 2005
                                     
                                     
            EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2005
                                     
   In the third quarter of 2005, employers took 742 mass layoff actions
that resulted in the separation of 136,280 workers from their jobs for
at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures released by the U.S.
Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Both the total number
of layoff events and the number of separations were sharply lower than
during the July-September 2004 time period and were at their lowest levels
for any third quarter since data collection began in 1995.  (See table A.)
The declines over the year were most notable in administrative and support
services, credit intermediation and related activities, and food manufac-
turing.  Extended mass layoffs that involve the movement of work within
the same company or to a different company, either domestically or outside
the U.S., occurred in 11 percent of the nonseasonal layoff events and 14 per-
cent of worker separations.  (See table B.)  Among employers who anticipated
recalling laid-off workers, 43 percent expected to extend the offer to all
laid-off workers.  This is the lowest proportion for a third quarter since
2002.
   
   The data presented in this release reflect early results of contact
with employers who had potential layoffs in September that could have
been directly or indirectly related to Hurricane Katrina.  In Louisiana,
there were 684 such actions reported in September; in Mississippi, there
were 96.  In the limited amount of time available to contact those employ-
ers, 27 employers in Louisiana confirmed that they had layoffs due to Hur-
ricane Katrina that lasted more than 30 days and resulted in 5,893 workers
losing their jobs.  The number of extended mass layoff events is likely to
rise as more employers are contacted.
    
    --------------------------------------------------------------------  
   |                    Hurricanes Katrina and Rita                     |
   |                                                                    |
   |    The initial job losses associated with Hurricane Katrina,       |
   | which struck the Gulf Coast on August 29, and Hurricane Rita,      |
   | which made landfall on September 24, were reported in the          |
   | September Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) news release issued on      |
   | October 25.  The extended mass layoff statistics provide a more    |
   | complete view of layoff data through employer interviews for       | 
   | mass layoff events that occurred during the July-September period. |
   | Analysis of the hurricane-related job losses that occurred in      |
   | September (the last month of the reference period) is extremely    |
   | limited because very few employer interviews could be conducted    |
   | in the time available before the scheduled release of the third-   |
   | quarter data.                                                      |
   |                                                                    |
   |    BLS is receiving interim reports of extended mass layoffs to    |
   | provide a timely and comprehensive picture of layoffs associated   |
   | with the hurricanes.  The interim reports related to the storms    |
   | will be issued through the regularly scheduled MLS news releases,  |
   | as data become available.                                          |
   |                                                                    |
   |    For additional information on the storms' impacts on MLS        |
   | data, including questions and answers on concepts and defi-        |
   | nitions, data collection, and future publication plans, please     |
   | see http://www.bls.gov/katrina/mlsquestions.htm or call            |
   | (202) 691-6392.                                                    |
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Period          | Layoff events|  Separations | Initial claimants
-------------------------|--------------|--------------|-------------------
          2001           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,546    |    304,171   |      306,535
April-June...............|     1,828    |    430,499   |      358,611
July-September...........|     1,629    |    330,391   |      336,298
October-December.........|     2,372    |    459,771   |      456,068
          2002           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,611    |    299,266   |      292,998
April-June...............|     1,624    |    344,606   |      299,598
July-September...........|     1,186    |    255,152   |      254,955
October-December.........|     1,916    |    373,307   |      370,592
          2003           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,502    |    286,947   |      297,608
April-June...............|     1,799    |    368,273   |      348,966
July-September...........|     1,190    |    236,333   |      227,909
October-December.........|     1,690    |    325,333   |      326,328
          2004           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,339    |    276,503   |      238,392
April-June...............|     1,358    |    278,831   |      254,063
July-September(r)........|       886    |    164,608   |      148,575
October-December.........|     1,427    |    273,967   |      262,049
          2005           |              |              |
January-March(r).........|     1,142    |    187,128   |      185,374
April-June(r)............|     1,203    |    245,422   |      212,671 
July-September(p)........|       742    |    136,280   |      108,647 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  r = revised.
  p = preliminary.

   The completion of seasonal work accounted for 23 percent of all events
and resulted in 35,433 separations during the period--the greatest share
of private nonfarm seasonal separations for a third quarter since the third
quarter of 1997.  Layoffs due to internal company restructuring (bankruptcy,
business ownership change, financial difficulty, and reorganization) repre-
sented 22 percent of events and resulted in 33,793 separations, the lowest
level for a third quarter since 1997.  Permanent closure of worksites oc-
curred in 16 percent of all events and affected 24,818 workers, the fewest
number of separations due to permanent closures for any third quarter since
the data were first collected in 1995.
   
   In the third quarter of 2005, the national unemployment rate was 5.0 per-
cent, not seasonally adjusted; a year earlier it was 5.4 percent.  Private
nonfarm payroll employment, not seasonally adjusted, increased by 1.8 percent
or about 2 million jobs from July-September 2004 to July-September 2005.
   
Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
   
   Extended mass layoff separations occurred in 300 of the 1,105 detailed
industries for which data are available for the third quarter of 2005.
This is the fewest number of industries to have at least one extended mass
layoff event in a third quarter.
   
   Manufacturing industries accounted for 33 percent of private nonfarm
layoff events and separations during July-September 2005.  (See table 1.)
The 45,346 worker separations in manufacturing were the fewest for manu-
facturing for any third quarter.  In the third quarter of 2005, separations
in this sector were concentrated in transportation equipment manufacturing
(8,621), followed by food manufacturing (8,398).

                                  - 3 -

Table B.  Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected
measures, third quarter 2005p
----------------------------------------------------------------------             
                                  |                 |
               Action             |  Layoff events  |   Separations
                                  |                 |                       
----------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------                
                                  |                 |                               
 Total private nonfarm............|        742      |     136,280          
                                  |                 |  
   Total, excluding seasonal      |                 |             
     and vacation events(1).......|        566      |     100,253
                                  |                 |       
     Total events with move-      |                 |
      ment of work(2).............|         60      |      13,910
                                  |                 |
                                  |                 |
      Movement-of-work actions....|         74      |        (3)
       With separations reported..|         56      |       7,420
       With separations unknown...|         18      |        (3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------                                                                

   1 The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers
when the reason for layoff was either seasonal work or vacation
period.
   2 A layoff event can involve more than one movement-of-work action.
   3 Data not available.
   p = preliminary.

   The administrative and waste services sector had 11 percent of events
and separations, mostly in temporary help services and in professional
employer organizations.  Layoffs in the transportation and warehousing
sector comprised 9 percent of events and 11 percent of separations, mostly
among scheduled passenger air transportation and in school and employee bus
transportation.  Retail trade accounted for 7 percent of private nonfarm
layoff events and 8 percent of separations, primarily in supermarkets and
other grocery stores.  Cutbacks in arts, entertainment, and recreation
(mainly in skiing facilities) accounted for 3 percent of events and 8 per-
cent of separations.
   
   Information technology-producing industries (communication equipment,
communications services, computer hardware, and software and computer
services) accounted for 5 percent of layoff events and 5,412 worker sepa-
rations in the third quarter of 2005, the fewest number of separations
in the industry grouping for a third quarter since 1997.  (See table 6.)
In the third quarter of 2004, these industries accounted for 5 percent of
layoff events and 8,652 separations.  Layoffs in the information technology-
producing industries in the third quarter of 2005 were most numerous in
computer hardware with 2,150 separations, followed by software and computer
services.

Reasons for Extended Layoff
   
   Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 23 percent
of the extended layoff events and resulted in 35,433 separations in the
third quarter.  (See table 2.)  Seasonal layoffs were most numerous among
workers in amusement, gambling, and recreation (skiing facilities), and in
transit and ground passenger transportation (school and employee bus
transportation).
   
   Contract completion accounted for 21 percent of events and resulted in
21,347 separations during the third quarter.  These layoffs were primarily
in administrative and support services, followed by specialty trade
contractors.
   
   Internal company restructuring (due to bankruptcy, business ownership
change, financial difficulty, and reorganization) accounted for 22 percent
of layoff events and resulted in 33,793 separations.  These layoffs were
mostly among workers in food and beverage stores, credit intermediation and
related activities, and in food manufacturing.  Over half of both the inter-
nal company restructuring layoff events and separations were due to reorga-
nization within the company.
   
                                  - 4 -

Table C.  Movement-of-work actions by type of separation where the
number of separations is known by employers, third quarter 2005p
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                          |                    |    
          Action          |  Layoff events (1) |    Separations
                          |                    |                
--------------------------------------------------------------------         
                          |                    |
With separations reported.|         56         |        7,420  
                          |                    |             
        By location       |                    |             
                          |                    |             
  Out of country..........|         19         |        2,577          
    Within company........|         15         |        2,137          
    Different company.....|          4         |          440        
                          |                    |             
  Domestic relocations....|         37         |        4,843          
    Within company........|         27         |        2,585          
    Different company.....|         10         |        2,258        
                          |                    |             
        By company        |                    |
                          |                    |             
  Within company..........|         42         |        4,722            
    Domestic..............|         27         |        2,585           
    Out of country........|         15         |        2,137    
                          |                    |             
  Different company.......|         14         |        2,698     
    Domestic..............|         10         |        2,258     
    Out of country........|          4         |          440     
--------------------------------------------------------------------           
   1 Only actions for which separations associated with the movement
of work were reported are shown.
   p = preliminary.
   
   Extended mass layoffs that resulted from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
are coded as weather-related.  At this time, most employers with layoff
events potentially due to Katrina and Rita have not yet been contacted
because of the large number of potential events and the limited time
available to complete the contacts before this release.  In Louisiana,
interviews were completed with employers for only a limited number of
the 684 potential events reported in September.  Employers in Louisiana
confirmed during these limited contacts that there were 27 layoff events
attributable to the hurricanes and for which 5,893 workers were laid off
for more than 30 days.  Among the 5,893 laid-off workers, 63 percent, or
3,709 workers, were separated from their jobs in retail trade and in ad-
ministrative and waste services.
   
Movement of Work
   
   Between July and September of 2005, 60 extended mass layoff events in-
volved the movement of work; this was about 11 percent of total extended
mass layoff events, excluding those for seasonal and vacation reasons.
(See table B.)  These movements of work were to other U.S. locations or to
locations outside of the U.S., and they occurred either within the same
company or to other companies.  The extended mass layoff events involving
movement of work were associated with the separation of 13,910 workers,
about 14 percent of all separations resulting from nonseasonal/nonvacation
mass layoff events.  A year earlier, there were 84 layoff events and 17,400
separations associated with the movement of work.  (See table 10.)
   
   Among the 60 extended mass layoff events with reported relocation of work,
52 percent were permanent closures of worksites, which affected 6,000 workers.
In comparison, for the 742 total layoff events reported for the third quarter
of 2005, only 16 percent involved the permanent closure of worksites.

                                  - 5 -

Table D.  Summary of employer expectations of a recall from
extended layoff, third quarter 2004-third quarter 2005
---------------------------------------------------------------
                     |          Percentage of events
 Nature of the recall|-----------------------------------------
                     |  III  |   IV  |   I   |   II   |  III
                     |  2004 |  2004 | 2005r |  2005r | 2005p
---------------------|-------|-------|-------|--------|--------
                     |       |       |       |        |
Anticipate a recall..|  41.1 |  64.2 |  51.5 |  61.8  |  43.9
                     |       |       |       |        |
      Timeframe      |       |       |       |        |
                     |       |       |       |        |
Within 6 months......|  84.1 |  84.8 |  85.5 |  89.4  |  86.8
  Within 3 months....|  66.8 |  33.1 |  53.4 |  59.5  |  63.2
                     |       |       |       |        |
        Size         |       |       |       |        |
                     |       |       |       |        |
At least half........|  86.0 |  92.9 |  92.5 |  92.9  |  86.5
  All workers........|  46.7 |  49.8 |  43.2 |  51.1  |  42.9
---------------------------------------------------------------
  r = revised.
  p = preliminary.

   Of the layoffs involving the movement of work, 58 percent of the events
and 43 percent of the laid-off workers were from manufacturing industries
during the third quarter of 2005.  (See table 7.)  Among all private nonfarm
extended layoffs, manufacturing accounted for 33 percent of the events and
separations.
   
   Internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change,
financial difficulty, and reorganization) accounted for 68 percent of layoff
events associated with work relocation and resulted in 7,881 separations dur-
ing the third quarter.  (See table 8.)  Most of these were due to reorgani-
zation within the company.  Only 22 percent of the layoff events in the total
private nonfarm economy were because of internal company restructuring.
   
   Among the regions, the Midwest accounted for the largest proportion of
workers in extended mass layoffs associated with the movement of work (51
percent) in the third quarter of 2005, followed by the South (24 percent),
the West (18 percent), and the Northeast (7 percent).
   
   As noted in table B, the 60 extended layoff events for the third quar-
ter of 2005 discussed above involve 74 identifiable relocations of work.
An identifiable relocation of work occurs when the employer provides
sufficient information on the new location of work and/or the number of
workers affected by the movement.  Some extended mass layoff events involve
more than one relocation-of-work action.  For example, an extended mass
layoff event at an establishment may involve job loss due to movement of
work to both another domestic location of the company and a location out
of the country.  This would be counted as two movement-of-work actions.
Of the 74 relocations, employers were able to provide information on the
specific separations (7,420 workers) associated with the movement-of-work
component of the layoff in 56 actions, or 76 percent of the total actions
for the third quarter of 2005.  Thus, a range of 7,420 (separations in
movement-of-work actions where the employer was able to provide specific
detail) to 13,910 (total separations in all layoff events that included
movement of work) is established for separations due to the movement of
work in the third quarter.  (See table 10.)
   
                                  - 6 -

Table E.  Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff,
July-September 2005p
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                 |      Layoff events     |       Separations
      Size       |------------------------|------------------------
                 |   Number  |   Percent  |  Number  |   Percent
-----------------|-----------|------------|----------|-------------
    Total........|     742   |    100.0   |  136,280 |    100.0
                 |           |            |          |
50-99............|     308   |     41.5   |   22,002 |     16.1
100-149..........|     172   |     23.2   |   20,469 |     15.0
150-199..........|      82   |     11.1   |   13,604 |     10.0
200-299..........|      92   |     12.4   |   21,504 |     15.8
300-499..........|      50   |      6.7   |   18,869 |     13.8
500-999..........|      19   |      2.6   |   12,804 |      9.4
1,000 or more....|      19   |      2.6   |   27,028 |     19.8
-------------------------------------------------------------------
  p = preliminary.

   In the 56 actions where employers were able to provide more complete
separations information, 75 percent of relocations (42 out of 56) occurred
among establishments within the same company.  (See table C.)  In 64 percent
of these relocations, the work activities were reassigned to places elsewhere
in the U.S.
   
   Almost 34 percent of the movement-of-work relocations involved out-of-
country moves (19 out of 56).  The separation of 2,577 workers was associated
with out-of-country relocations, about 3 percent of all nonseasonal/nonvaca-
tion extended mass layoff separations.  Domestic relocation of work--both
within the company and to other companies--affected 4,843 workers.  (See
table 11.)
   
Recall Expectations
   
   Forty-four percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the
third quarter of 2005 indicated they anticipated some type of recall.
This compares with 41 percent of the employers anticipating a recall a year
earlier and is the highest such proportion for a third quarter since 2000.
(See table D.)  The third quarter typically has the lowest recall expecta-
tions for any quarter of the year.  Most employers not expecting a recall
during the third quarter were from administrative and support services and
transportation equipment manufacturing.
   
   Among establishments expecting a recall, most employers expected to re-
call over one-half of the separated employees and to do so within 6 months.
Forty-three 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 91 percent of the employers expected a recall), employers expected
to recall laid-off workers in 29 percent of the events.  A year earlier,
26 percent of employers expected a recall in nonseasonal and nonvacation
events.  In layoff events due to internal company restructuring, employers
anticipated a recall in only 4 percent of the events.
   
                                  - 7 -

Table F.  Mass layoff events and separations, selected metropolitan areas
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           |     Events    |    Separations
            Metropolitan area              |---------------|------------------
                                           |  III  |  III  |  III    |  III
                                           |  2004 | 2005p |  2004   | 2005p
-------------------------------------------|-------|------ |---------|--------
Total, nonmetropolitan areas...............|  105  |  103  |  15,940 | 19,638
                                           |       |       |         |
Total, 367 metropolitan areas..............|  507  |  457  |  85,331 | 80,005
                                           |       |       |         |
   New York-Northern New Jersey-Long       |       |       |         |        
     Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ................|   76  |   72  |  12,804 | 11,188
   Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-   |       |       |         |
     Wis. .................................|   43  |   39  |   8,457 |  7,631
   Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington,       |       |       |         |       
     Minn.-Wis. ...........................|    5  |   10  |     640 |  4,415                                   
   Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif.|   36  |   27  |   7,109 |  3,769                                  
   Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich. ..........|   20  |   17  |   2,295 |  3,273
   New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, La. .......|  (1)  |   23  |    (1)  |  3,074
   Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif.|    8  |    4  |   4,710 |  2,441
   Rockford, Ill. .........................|  (1)  |    3  |    (1)  |  1,877                                      
   Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio-Ky.-Ind. ...|  (1)  |    7  |    (1)  |  1,769
   St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. ....................|    3  |    5  |     429 |  1,742 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1 = Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE:  The geographic boundaries of the metropolitan areas shown in
this table are defined in Office of Management and Budget Bulletin 04-03,
February 18, 2004.

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 65 percent
involving fewer than 150 workers.  These events, however, accounted for
only 31 percent of all separations.  (See table E.)  Separations involving
500 or more workers, while comprising 5 percent of the events,  accounted
for 29 percent of all separations, up from 27 percent in July-September
2004.  The average size of layoffs (as measured by separations per layoff
event) differed widely by industry, ranging from a low of 77 separations in
miscellaneous store retailers to a high of 1,257 in amusements, gambling,
and recreation.
   
Initial Claimant Characteristics
   
   A total of 108,647 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with extended mass layoffs in the third quarter of 2005.  Of
these claimants, 18 percent were black, 12 percent were Hispanic, 45 per-
cent were women, 36 percent were 30 to 44 years of age, and 18 percent
were 55 years of age or older.  (See table 3.)  Among persons in the
civilian labor force for the same period, 11 percent were black, 13 per-
cent were Hispanic, 46 percent were women, 35 percent were age 30 to 44,
and 16 percent were 55 years of age or older.
   
Geographic Distribution
   
   In the third quarter, the number of separations due to extended mass
layoff events was highest in the Midwest (43,440), followed by the South
(39,403), the West (26,856), and the Northeast (26,581).  (See table 4.)
Extended mass layoffs in the Midwest were mainly in amusements, gambling,
and recreation and in food production.
   
   All four regions reported over-the-year decreases in separations, with
the largest decrease occurring in the West (-12,127), followed by the
Northeast (-7,302), the Midwest (-5,976), and the South (-2,923).  Five of
the nine geographic divisions reported over-the-year declines in laid-off
workers, with the largest declines occurring in the Pacific (-17,047) and
South Atlantic (-8,988) divisions.  The Mountain division reported the
largest increase in separations (+4,920), followed closely by the West
South Central division (+4,691).

                                  - 8 -

   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the largest number of
worker separations occurred in Illinois (17,068), followed by California
(15,363), Florida (14,573), and New York (11,095).  These four states ac-
counted for 42 percent of total layoff events and 43 percent of the sep-
arations during the third quarter of 2005.  They were followed by Louisiana
(7,124), Ohio (6,621), Michigan (6,205), and Pennsylvania (6,065).  (See
table 5.)  After excluding the substantial impact of seasonal work, Illinois
reported the most laid-off workers (13,250), largely due to layoffs in admin-
istrative and support services.
   
   Over the year, California reported the greatest decrease in workers laid
off for all reasons during the third quarter (-17,416), followed by Florida
(-7,551) and New York (-5,617).  The largest increases occurred in Louisiana
(+5,586), Minnesota (+4,495), and Colorado (+4,061).
   
   Sixty-two percent of events and 59 percent of separations (80,005) oc-
curred in metropolitan areas in the third quarter of 2005, compared with
57 percent of events and 52 percent of separations (85,331) during the
third quarter of 2004.  Among the 367 metropolitan areas, New York-Nor-
thern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., reported the highest number
of separations, 11,188, in the third quarter of 2005.  Next were Chicago-
Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis., with 7,631 separations, and Minneapolis-
St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis., with 4,415 separations.  (See table F.)
Employers located in nonmetropolitan areas separated 19,638 workers in mass
layoffs, up from 15,940 workers in the third quarter of 2004.
   
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 2005 is scheduled to be released
on Wednesday, November 23, 2005.





                                  - 9 -

Technical Note
 

   The  Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federal-state program 
which identifies, describes, and tracks the effects of major job cutbacks, 
using data from each state's unemployment insurance database.  Establish-
ments 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, gender, 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.

Definitions
   
   Establishment.  A unit at a single physical location at which predomi-
nantly 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.
   
   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 complete 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.

                                  - 10 -

Movement of work concepts and questions
   
   Because of the employer interview component, the BLS decided to use 
the MLS program as a vehicle for collecting additional information on
offshoring and outsourcing associated with job loss, by adding questions
that address movement of work.  The term "moving work" means that the
company experiencing the layoff has reassigned work activities that were
performed at a worksite by the company's employees (1) to another work-
site within the company; (2) to another company under formal arrangements 
at the same worksite; or (3) to another company under formal arrangements 
at another worksite.  The type of work activities subject to movement can
include accounting, customer service, cleaning, warehousing, etc.
   
   "Overseas relocation" is the movement of work from within the U.S. to
locations outside of the U.S. "Overseas relocation" can occur within the
same company and involve movement of work to a different location of that
company outside of the U.S., or to a different company altogether.

   "Domestic relocation" is the movement of work to other locations inside 
the U.S., either within the same company or to a different company.
  
   "Overseas relocation" and "domestic relocation" are no longer used in the
same way as they were in earlier extended mass layoff news releases.  There-
fore, the data presented in this news release are not comparable to those 
that were presented in earlier news releases.
   
   Questions on movement of work and location are asked for all identified
layoff events when the reason for separation is other than "seasonal work"
or "vacation period."  Seasonal and vacation layoff events were excluded
because movement of work appears unlikely.
   
   Questions on movement of work are asked after the analyst verifies that 
a layoff in fact occurred and lasted more than 30 days, and obtained the
total number of workers separated from jobs, the date the layoff began, and
the economic reason for the layoff.  If the reason for layoff is other than
seasonal or vacation, the employer was asked the following:
  
   (1) "Did this layoff include your company moving work from this lo-
cation(s) to a different geographic location(s) within your company?"
  
   (2) "Did this layoff include your company moving work that was performed
in-house by your employees to a different company, through contractual ar-
rangements?"
  
   A "yes" response to either question is followed by:
  
   "Is the location inside or outside of the U.S.?" and "How many of the
layoffs were a result of this relocation?"
  
   Layoff actions are classified as "overseas relocation" if the employer
responds "yes" to questions 1 and/or 2, and indicates that the location(s)
was outside of the U.S.  Domestic relocation is determined if the employer
responds "yes" to questions 1 and/or 2 and indicates that the location(s)
was within the U.S.
  
   After asking the movement of work questions, the employer interview
continues and responses are obtained for questions on recall expectations
and open/closed status of the worksite.

                                  - 11 - 
Reliability of the data
   
   The identification of establishments and layoff events in the MLS 
program and associated characteristics of claimants is based on admin-
istrative data on covered establishments and unemployment insurance claims, 
and, therefore, is not subject to issues associated with sampling error.
Nonsampling errors such as typographical errors may occur but are not
likely to be significant.  While the MLS establishments and layoff events
are not subject to sampling error, and all such employers are asked the
employer interview questions, the employer responses are subject to non-
sampling error.  Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including
the inability to obtain information for all respondents, inability or
unwillingness of respondents to provide correct information, and errors
made in the collection or processing of the data.  For the third quarter
of 2005, outright refusal to participate in the employer interview accounted 
for 3.1 percent of all private nonfarm events.  Although included in the 
total number of instances involving the movement of work, for the third
quarter, employers in 18 relocations were unable to provide the number of 
separations specifically associated with the movement of work, 5 of which 
involved out-of-country moves.
 
Other information
   
   Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.

    
 
 

Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

                                                                                                            Initial claimants for  
                                                        Layoff events               Separations            unemployment insurance  
                     Industry                                                                                                      
                                                     III     II      III       III       II      III        III       II      III  
                                                    2004r   2005r   2005p     2004r    2005r    2005p      2004r    2005r    2005p 


      Total, private nonfarm(1) ..................    886   1,203     742    164,608  245,422  136,280    148,575  212,671  108,647

    Mining .......................................      -       -       4          -        -    1,305          -        -      929
    Utilities ....................................      -       5   ( 2 )          -      771    ( 2 )          -      683    ( 2 )
    Construction .................................     83     110      78     10,962   15,094    8,746     12,969   17,719    9,049
    Manufacturing ................................    304     269     244     51,695   44,075   45,346     49,999   47,866   39,581
         Food ....................................     54      60      41     12,587    9,495    8,398     11,970   10,272    6,080
         Beverage and tobacco products ...........  ( 2 )   ( 2 )   ( 2 )      ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
         Textile mills ...........................      7   ( 2 )      12      1,206    ( 2 )    1,443      1,385    ( 2 )    1,962
         Textile product mills ...................      7       3       5        812      243      520      1,241      275      726
         Apparel .................................     19      13      12      2,925    1,573    1,215      2,463    1,635    1,300
         Leather and allied products .............  ( 2 )       -   ( 2 )      ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )      ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )
         Wood products ...........................      5       6       9        450      690    2,568        608      780    2,571
         Paper ...................................      6       5       7      1,079      389      788        875      446      697
         Printing and related support activities .      8      11       4      1,260    1,682      459      1,298    1,754      339
         Petroleum and coal products .............      -       -       -          -        -        -          -        -        -

         Chemicals  ..............................      9   ( 2 )       8      1,134    ( 2 )    1,521      1,112    ( 2 )    1,418
         Plastics and rubber products ............     25      11       6      3,602    1,161      700      3,222    1,765      618
         Nonmetallic mineral products ............     12       9      10      2,503    1,236    1,154      2,240    1,363    1,192
         Primary metals ..........................     10      11       5      1,085    1,885    1,436      1,076    1,940      624
         Fabricated metal products ...............     31      18      23      4,135    2,942    2,376      4,127    2,611    2,504
         Machinery ...............................     11      19      23      2,199    2,415    5,255      1,386    2,836    4,192
         Computer and electronic products ........     19      24      16      2,967    3,533    3,023      2,854    3,715    1,800
         Electrical equipment and appliances .....      9      13       7      2,219    2,633    2,916      3,325    4,083    2,886
         Transportation equipment ................     50      45      38      8,403   11,266    8,621      8,235   11,619    7,695
         Furniture and related products ..........     11      13       6      1,688    1,770    1,378      1,353    1,840    1,474
         Miscellaneous manufacturing .............      7       3       9      1,102      213    1,106        880      269    1,106

    Wholesale trade ..............................     24      19      29      3,222    3,726    3,701      2,786    3,180    2,838
    Retail trade .................................     62      42      49     14,978    9,521   11,357     13,268    9,114    9,111
    Transportation and warehousing ...............     66     132      69     10,128   30,966   14,554      9,051   28,807   11,157
    Information ..................................     27      32      20      6,717    6,694    2,507      5,742    6,831    2,370
    Finance and insurance ........................     36      27      16     11,516    4,935    3,897      8,188    5,518    3,632
    Real estate and rental and leasing ...........      3       6   ( 2 )        844      983    ( 2 )        852    1,031    ( 2 )
    Professional and technical services ..........     26      64      28      5,792   27,253    4,378      4,682   16,009    4,456
    Management of companies and enterprises ......      4       4   ( 2 )        547      499    ( 2 )        449      405    ( 2 )
    Administrative and waste services ............    112     107      82     26,174   18,067   15,003     23,685   19,111   12,441
    Educational services .........................      8       7       7        693      573      906        792      774      739
    Health care and social assistance ............     60     167      39      9,894   22,871    4,292      6,326   18,603    3,389
    Arts, entertainment, and recreation ..........     20      34      21      2,605   20,476   10,443      2,794    3,741    2,430
    Accommodation and food services ..............     42     117      42      7,801   30,156    8,084      6,089   25,132    4,693
    Other services, except public administration .      9      61       9      1,040    8,762    1,076        903    8,147      902

    Unclassified .................................      -       -       1          -        -      138          -        -      138


    1 For the third quarter of 2005, data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia. Due to
budget constraints in the MLS program, beginning with data for the first quarter of 2004, the scope of quarterly extended mass
layoffs and plant closings has been redefined to cover only the private nonfarm economy. Quarterly information on layoff events in
agriculture and government are no longer being collected. However, the monthly reporting of the MLS program in the release, Mass
Layoffs, which is based only on administrative data, will be unaffected and will continue to cover the total economy.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.





Table 2. Reason for layoff: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

                                                                                                        Initial claimants for    
                                           Layoff events                    Separations                unemployment insurance    
         Reason for layoff                                                                                                       
                                      III       II        III         III       II        III          III       II        III   
                                     2004r     2005r     2005p       2004r     2005r     2005p        2004r     2005r     2005p  


   Total, private nonfarm(1) .....     886     1,203       742      164,608   245,422   136,280      148,575   212,671   108,647

Automation .......................   ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Bankruptcy .......................      19        18        15        3,688     4,159     4,960        2,764     2,889     3,317
Business ownership change ........      38        20        26       13,084     6,140     4,951        7,012     4,396     4,189
Contract cancellation ............      26        18        16        4,301     2,207     3,038        3,577     2,124     2,453
Contract completed ...............     164       207       159       29,340    32,668    21,347       32,485    36,819    21,098
Energy-related ...................       -         -     ( 2 )            -         -     ( 2 )            -         -     ( 2 )
Financial difficulty .............      44        35        31        9,090     5,392     5,868        6,282     4,679     4,858
Import competition ...............      14        10        13        3,240     1,577     2,649        2,995     1,011     2,402
Labor dispute ....................   ( 2 )         5        10        ( 2 )       965     6,271        ( 2 )       870     4,495
Material shortage ................   ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )

Model changeover .................   ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Natural disaster .................   ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )
Non-natural disaster .............   ( 2 )         -         -        ( 2 )         -         -        ( 2 )         -         -
Plant or machine repair ..........       4     ( 2 )         3          633     ( 2 )       280          496     ( 2 )       193
Product line discontinued ........       9         8        10        1,551     2,600     1,240        1,384     1,670     1,117
Reorganization within company ....     122       105        93       27,587    16,781    18,014       24,098    17,097    13,741
Seasonal work ....................     177       484       168       29,774   123,834    35,433       25,797    84,524    20,783
Slack work .......................     118       127       105       14,501    18,297    16,151       19,334    27,239    17,814
Vacation period ..................      14        84         8        1,512    13,893       594        1,378    12,801       591
Weather-related ..................      13     ( 2 )        27        1,864     ( 2 )     5,893        1,869     ( 2 )     4,522
Other ............................      35        22        22        9,438     3,657     4,273        4,448     3,501     1,981
Not reported .....................      79        54        28       13,396    12,297     4,105       12,973    11,943     4,105


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.





Table 3. State and selected claimant characteristics: Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 
private nonfarm sector, second and third quarters, 2005

                                                          Total                                      Percent of 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  
                                  2005r   2005p      2005r    2005p      2005r  2005p     2005r  2005p     2005r  2005p     2005r  2005p 

    Total, private nonfarm(1) ..  1,203     742     212,671  108,647      17.9   18.2      13.1   12.1      55.2   44.7      20.9   18.2

Alabama ........................      3       3         343      331      53.1   60.4       2.6    2.4      84.0   44.1      21.6   22.7
Alaska .........................      9       3       1,264      280       3.8    2.1      19.1   21.8      41.5   29.6      22.7   20.0
Arizona ........................      9   ( 2 )       1,513    ( 2 )       2.9     .7      56.3   55.6      54.0    7.1      16.9   24.2
Arkansas .......................      6   ( 2 )       1,000    ( 2 )      58.5   65.4        .7      -      71.5   88.5      20.4   23.1
California .....................    134      82      21,573    9,845       9.6   10.7      33.0   32.1      57.4   50.9      18.7   18.1
Colorado .......................     12       5       1,500      478       4.6    4.0      25.3   13.0      58.4   37.7      19.5   24.9
Connecticut ....................     13       9       2,704      863      10.5   11.4       6.4   10.9      68.8   59.9      23.6   21.4
Delaware .......................  ( 2 )       -       ( 2 )        -      15.3      -       1.7      -      21.0      -      14.6      -
District of Columbia ...........      -   ( 2 )           -    ( 2 )         -   29.1         -   25.6         -   48.8         -   20.9
Florida ........................    112      74      16,197   10,872      19.2   16.1      33.7   30.2      48.0   48.5      20.6   17.9
Georgia ........................     26      13       3,992    1,740      58.3   51.1       1.3     .3      64.5   60.6      17.4   15.5
Hawaii .........................      5   ( 2 )         466    ( 2 )       1.1    3.1      15.2   12.4      49.8   47.3      16.5   26.5
Idaho ..........................      8       7         762    1,048        .7     .5      11.3   29.1      55.2   60.1      22.2   25.2

Illinois .......................    104      75      23,571   11,109      24.8   23.1       9.9   11.4      57.4   40.7      19.5   16.0
Indiana ........................     24      10       5,276    1,386      14.2    6.1       2.1    1.9      50.3   40.7      21.7   18.5
Iowa ...........................      7       3         888    1,692       1.5    1.5        .9     .6      85.2   39.5      28.3   10.5
Kansas .........................     13   ( 2 )       2,225    ( 2 )      13.8    5.0       2.1    5.0      51.4   54.6      26.2   12.8
Kentucky .......................     18      15       1,818    1,529      12.8   13.2        .3     .3      45.6   47.8      19.9   16.4
Louisiana ......................     23      34       3,268    6,469      56.9   56.5       1.6    4.0      57.7   54.6      18.6   13.7
Maine ..........................      6       3         862      291       1.2    1.4        .3      -      44.7   75.6      15.4   19.2
Maryland .......................  ( 2 )   ( 2 )       ( 2 )    ( 2 )      48.4   36.6       5.3     .4      80.5   35.3      34.2   21.0
Massachusetts ..................     16      19       3,392    2,558      13.0    7.8       3.5    2.3      58.5   50.6      21.8   21.7
Michigan .......................     73      38      13,772    6,176      15.7   16.4       3.6    2.6      54.6   33.6      18.2   14.8
Minnesota ......................     23      18       4,075    3,742      10.2    3.6       6.0    1.8      42.8   19.4      19.7   16.8
Mississippi ....................     11   ( 2 )       1,391    ( 2 )      64.1   77.4        .9    4.2      63.1   42.9      16.1   20.3
Missouri .......................     26       8       4,443      992      28.3   37.4        .4    1.2      73.1   64.1      25.9   23.9

Montana ........................      7   ( 2 )         555    ( 2 )        .2     .4       3.8    1.8      69.2   14.3      23.6   26.8
Nebraska .......................      8   ( 2 )         983    ( 2 )      12.0    1.7       5.6   25.6      52.5   22.3      23.3    9.1
Nevada .........................      3   ( 2 )         320    ( 2 )      28.8    5.9      18.1   17.0      68.4   40.4      29.1   26.6
New Hampshire ..................      5   ( 2 )         591    ( 2 )        .7    1.1        .8      -      58.0   56.7      27.7   34.4
New Jersey .....................     54      29      13,403    3,711      19.2   24.9      11.2   11.3      69.8   50.8      34.6   29.3
New Mexico .....................      4   ( 2 )         538    ( 2 )       1.1    4.3      42.4   17.4      37.5   23.9      15.4   10.9
New York .......................     93      80      17,225   11,645      10.2   15.3       7.5   11.0      40.6   48.0      19.6   18.5
North Carolina .................      9      20         932    4,084      30.9   33.3       6.8    3.8      61.3   50.0      22.3   19.8
North Dakota ...................  ( 2 )       -       ( 2 )        -         -      -        .7      -      11.6      -      13.0      -
Ohio ...........................     76      36      10,700    6,103      17.5   12.6       2.4    1.5      56.2   42.7      17.5   14.3
Oklahoma .......................  ( 2 )   ( 2 )       ( 2 )    ( 2 )      13.0   19.1       3.1    2.5      27.2   26.3      18.5   12.6
Oregon .........................     19       5       3,681      920       2.3     .5      13.7   31.8      70.3   55.4      28.8   22.2
Pennsylvania ...................     72      64      14,945    8,602      11.6    5.9       3.4    2.4      55.1   40.6      25.3   22.0

Rhode Island ...................      3   ( 2 )         303    ( 2 )       2.6    1.7       6.9    6.7      62.4   95.0      31.7   25.0
South Carolina .................     11       4       2,015      764      79.0   45.3        .1     .3      79.1   50.4       3.0    1.3
South Dakota ...................  ( 2 )       -       ( 2 )        -       2.2      -       1.1      -      80.2      -      38.5      -
Tennessee ......................      7      12       1,007    2,017      22.2   13.3         -      -      55.8   50.5      23.8   30.3
Texas ..........................     43      21       9,917    2,905      20.4   16.4      42.6   39.7      45.9   34.7      14.2   15.7
Utah ...........................     10   ( 2 )         884    ( 2 )       1.5    4.3      19.3   26.9      64.6   60.7      12.3    5.6
Vermont ........................      7       -       1,413        -        .7      -        .2      -      44.5      -      18.5      -
Virginia .......................     12      10       2,367    1,034      62.9   44.0       1.2    1.8      72.0   46.5      14.2   18.2
Washington .....................     29       8       4,605      832       5.3    7.0      13.6    5.3      47.5   35.3      18.5   23.3
West Virginia ..................      4       3         479      401        .6     .2         -      -      25.9    9.7      16.3   12.0
Wisconsin ......................     38      10       7,143    1,369       7.8    7.3       4.7    2.6      57.0   25.6      25.9   17.7
Wyoming ........................  ( 2 )       -       ( 2 )        -         -      -         -      -      30.0      -       3.8      -

Puerto Rico ....................     26       6       6,946    1,458     ( 3 )  ( 3 )     ( 3 )  ( 3 )      58.7   62.8       7.5    7.5


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    3 Data are not available.       
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.





Table 4. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, 
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

                                                                                                    Initial claimants for   
                                        Layoff events                    Separations               unemployment insurance   
   Census region and division                                                                                               

                                   III       II        III          III       II       III          III       II      III   
                                  2004r     2005r     2005p        2004r    2005r     2005p        2004r    2005r    2005p  

        United States(1) ......     886     1,203       742      164,608   245,422   136,280      148,575  212,671  108,647

Northeast .....................     235       269       206       33,883    56,760    26,581       38,254   54,838   27,820

    New England ...............      38        50        33        4,873    10,471     4,157        6,168    9,265    3,862
    Middle Atlantic ...........     197       219       173       29,010    46,289    22,424       32,086   45,573   23,958

South .........................     245       290       216       42,326    50,498    39,403       39,923   46,779   33,012

    South Atlantic ............     169       178       127       31,692    30,861    22,704       28,562   27,873   19,219
    East South Central ........      36        39        31        5,139     7,152     6,513        4,138    4,559    4,089
    West South Central ........      40        73        58        5,495    12,485    10,186        7,223   14,347    9,704

Midwest .......................     258       394       202       49,416    75,783    43,440       42,422   73,313   32,831

    East North Central ........     220       315       169       41,397    63,403    34,246       36,086   60,462   26,143
    West North Central ........      38        79        33        8,019    12,380     9,194        6,336   12,851    6,688

West ..........................     148       250       118       38,983    62,381    26,856       27,976   37,741   14,984

    Mountain ..................      15        54        18        2,640    25,463     7,560        2,326    6,152    2,881
    Pacific ...................     133       196       100       36,343    36,918    19,296       25,650   31,589   12,103


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    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,
private nonfarm sector, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

                                                                                                        Initial claimants for    
                                           Layoff events                    Separations                unemployment insurance    
           State                                                                                                                 
                                      III       II        III         III       II        III          III       II        III   
                                     2004r     2005r     2005p       2004r     2005r     2005p        2004r     2005r     2005p  

    Total, private nonfarm(1) ..       886     1,203       742      164,608   245,422   136,280      148,575   212,671   108,647

Alabama ........................         3         3         3          350       232       444          431       343       331
Alaska .........................         3         9         3          370     1,264       354          370     1,264       280
Arizona ........................         4         9     ( 2 )          548     3,412     ( 2 )          606     1,513     ( 2 )
Arkansas .......................         -         6     ( 2 )            -     1,266     ( 2 )            -     1,000     ( 2 )
California .....................       107       134        82       32,779    25,863    15,363       21,375    21,573     9,845
Colorado .......................     ( 2 )        12         5        ( 2 )    14,811     4,691        ( 2 )     1,500       478
Connecticut ....................         7        13         9        1,625     3,022     1,355        1,374     2,704       863
Delaware .......................         -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -
District of Columbia ...........     ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )        ( 2 )         -     ( 2 )
Florida ........................       115       112        74       22,124    20,309    14,573       20,327    16,197    10,872
Georgia ........................        13        26        13        2,267     3,298     1,002        1,847     3,992     1,740
Hawaii .........................     ( 2 )         5     ( 2 )        ( 2 )       478     ( 2 )        ( 2 )       466     ( 2 )
Idaho ..........................         7         8         7        1,120       925     1,185        1,070       762     1,048

Illinois .......................        77       104        75       16,086    27,990    17,068       13,810    23,571    11,109
Indiana ........................        22        24        10        6,921     5,419     2,614        4,572     5,276     1,386
Iowa ...........................         9         7         3          908     1,125     1,510        1,445       888     1,692
Kansas .........................         5        13     ( 2 )        1,659     2,566     ( 2 )          808     2,225     ( 2 )
Kentucky .......................        17        18        15        2,345     1,853     2,576        1,674     1,818     1,529
Louisiana ......................        12        23        34        1,538     3,654     7,124        1,173     3,268     6,469
Maine ..........................     ( 2 )         6         3        ( 2 )     2,020       207        ( 2 )       862       291
Maryland .......................     ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Massachusetts ..................        22        16        19        2,364     3,111     2,445        3,832     3,392     2,558
Michigan .......................        56        73        38        8,545    12,049     6,205        7,516    13,772     6,176
Minnesota ......................         7        23        18          856     3,190     5,351          775     4,075     3,742
Mississippi ....................         4        11     ( 2 )          593     3,769     ( 2 )          589     1,391     ( 2 )
Missouri .......................        12        26         8        2,345     4,467     1,876        2,386     4,443       992

Montana ........................         -         7     ( 2 )            -     1,276     ( 2 )            -       555     ( 2 )
Nebraska .......................         5         8     ( 2 )        2,251       791     ( 2 )          922       983     ( 2 )
Nevada .........................         -         3     ( 2 )            -       320     ( 2 )            -       320     ( 2 )
New Hampshire ..................         4         5     ( 2 )          434       588     ( 2 )          434       591     ( 2 )
New Jersey .....................        34        54        29        4,266    19,035     5,264        4,824    13,403     3,711
New Mexico .....................     ( 2 )         4     ( 2 )        ( 2 )       538     ( 2 )        ( 2 )       538     ( 2 )
New York .......................        97        93        80       16,712    18,594    11,095       14,402    17,225    11,645
North Carolina .................        15         9        20        2,196       754     3,702        1,936       932     4,084
North Dakota ...................         -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -
Ohio ...........................        48        76        36        7,527    10,470     6,621        6,848    10,700     6,103
Oklahoma .......................     ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     ( 2 )     ( 2 )
Oregon .........................         8        19         5        1,722     4,432     1,515        1,397     3,681       920
Pennsylvania ...................        66        72        64        8,032     8,660     6,065       12,860    14,945     8,602

Rhode Island ...................         4         3     ( 2 )          395       317     ( 2 )          389       303     ( 2 )
South Carolina .................        10        11         4        1,527     1,798       390        1,224     2,015       764
South Dakota ...................         -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -
Tennessee ......................        12         7        12        1,851     1,298     3,293        1,444     1,007     2,017
Texas ..........................        26        43        21        3,609     6,702     2,581        5,704     9,917     2,905
Utah ...........................     ( 2 )        10     ( 2 )        ( 2 )     3,381     ( 2 )        ( 2 )       884     ( 2 )
Vermont ........................         -         7         -            -     1,413         -            -     1,413         -
Virginia .......................        11        12        10        2,843     2,383     1,234        2,487     2,367     1,034
Washington .....................        13        29         8        1,260     4,881     1,861        2,309     4,605       832
West Virginia ..................     ( 2 )         4         3        ( 2 )       463     1,067        ( 2 )       479       401
Wisconsin ......................        17        38        10        2,318     7,475     1,738        3,340     7,143     1,369
Wyoming ........................         -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -            -     ( 2 )         -

Puerto Rico ....................        14        26         6        1,350     3,655       480        3,709     6,946     1,458


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.



    
 
Table 6. Information technology-producing industries: Extended mass layoff events and separations, private nonfarm sector, 1998-2005

                                                             Information technology-producing industries(1)                      
       Year              Total extended                                                                                              
                          mass layoffs            Computer              Software and          Communications        Communications   
                                                 hardware(2)        computer services(3)       equipment(4)          services(5)     

                      Layoff                 Layoff                 Layoff                 Layoff                 Layoff             
                      events   Separations   events  Separations    events    Separations  events   Separations   events  Separations

        1998                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,115      178,251       29        5,212         8         1,550        7          725        9        1,685
Second quarter ....    1,333      336,536       37        8,455         5           357        7        1,317        5          650
Third quarter .....    1,028      201,186       63       11,066         5         1,175       12        3,031        5        1,051
Fourth quarter ....    1,383      275,272       37       11,336         5           974        7        1,898        6          764

    Total .........    4,859      991,245      166       36,069        23         4,056       33        6,971       25        4,150

        1999                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,262      230,711       35        4,363        10         1,796       10        1,600        6        1,002
Second quarter ....    1,194      246,251       28        3,891         7         1,731        8        1,097    ( 6 )        ( 6 )
Third quarter .....      898      184,429       22       11,546         7         1,141        5          840    ( 6 )        ( 6 )
Fourth quarter ....    1,202      240,060       18        2,757         5           526        4          807        6        1,430

    Total .........    4,556      901,451      103       22,557        29         5,194       27        4,344       18        3,930

        2000                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,081      202,500       22        5,195        14         2,717        9        1,402        4          771
Second quarter ....    1,055      205,861       18        8,862        22         9,114        7          805        7          977
Third quarter .....      817      174,628       10        1,678        12         1,422        4        1,465        6        1,280
Fourth quarter ....    1,638      332,973       16        3,070        22         3,521        5          946        7        1,020

    Total .........    4,591      915,962       66       18,805        70        16,774       25        4,618       24        4,048

        2001                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,546      304,171       91       20,991        44         7,963       22        4,441       24        5,312
Second quarter ....    1,828      430,499      161       38,986        87        12,943       36       12,109       28        6,386
Third quarter .....    1,629      330,391      142       24,813        55         6,820       39        8,200       36        7,134
Fourth quarter ....    2,372      459,771      109       17,797        56         8,290       43       10,124       48       11,252

    Total .........    7,375    1,524,832      503      102,587       242        36,016      140       34,874      136       30,084

        2002                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,611      299,266       84       18,574        39         4,442       32        8,192       42        6,664
Second quarter ....    1,624      344,606       69       11,764        49         5,454       27        4,870       53        8,538
Third quarter .....    1,186      255,152       76       15,017        42         5,415       34        6,529       42        7,945
Fourth quarter ....    1,916      373,307       74       14,298        32         7,071       19        3,645       39        8,987

    Total .........    6,337    1,272,331      303       59,653       162        22,382      112       23,236      176       32,134

        2003                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,502      286,947       71       11,900        33         5,689       23        4,402       41        6,591
Second quarter ....    1,799      368,273       54        9,221        27         4,124       21        3,098       29        5,891
Third quarter .....    1,190      236,333       46        6,488        26         4,433        9        1,289       15        2,604
Fourth quarter ....    1,690      325,333       25        5,080        14         1,984        9        1,619       28        6,635

    Total .........    6,181    1,216,886      196       32,689       100        16,230       62       10,408      113       21,721

        2004                                                                                                                       

First quarter .....    1,339      276,503       27        3,222        16         2,992        8          894       23        4,197
Second quarter ....    1,358      278,831       18        2,959        21         3,576        -            -       22        5,295
Third quarter .....      886   (r)164,608       13        2,288        15         1,617        4          430       13        4,317
Fourth quarter ....    1,427      273,967       18        3,055        10         1,547        4          563       23        3,457

    Total .........    5,010   (r)993,909       76       11,524        62         9,732       16        1,887       81       17,266

        2005                                                                                                                       

First quarter ..... (r)1,142   (r)187,128       13        1,526        13         2,679        4          439       17     (r)3,569
Second quarter .... (r)1,203   (r)245,422    (r)20     (r)2,855     (r)17      (r)2,106        4          842       11     (r)1,904
Third quarter(p) ..      742      136,280       18        2,150         8         1,150    ( 6 )        ( 6 )       10        1,037


    1 Information technology-producing industries are defined in Digital Economy 2003, Economics and Statistics Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce.
    2 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
semiconductor machinery manufacturing; office machinery manufacturing; electronic computer manufacturing; computer storage
device manufacturing; computer terminal manufacturing; other computer peripheral equipment mfg.; electron tube manufacturing;
bare printed circuit board manufacturing; semiconductors and related device mfg.; electronic capacitor manufacturing;
electronic resistor manufacturing; electronic coils, transformers, and inductors; electronic connector manufacturing;
printed circuit assembly manufacturing; other electronic component manufacturing; industrial process variable instruments;
electricity and signal testing instruments; analytical laboratory instrument mfg.; computer and software merchant wholesalers;
and computer and software stores.
    3 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
software publishers; internet service providers; web search portals; data processing and related services; computer and
software merchant wholesalers; computer and software stores; custom computer programming services; computer systems design
services; computer facilities management services; other computer related services; office equipment rental and leasing;
and computer and office machine repair.
    4 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
telephone apparatus manufacturing; audio and video equipment manufacturing; broadcast and wireless communications equip.;
fiber optic cable manufacturing; software reproducing; and magnetic and optical recording media mfg.
    5 The industries included in this grouping, based on the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), are:
wired telecommunications carriers; cellular and other wireless carriers; telecommunications resellers; cable and other
program distribution; satellite telecommunications; other telecommunications; and communication equipment repair.
    6 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.





Table 7. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

                                                               Layoff events                           Separations            
                     Industry                                                                                                 


                                                       III          II           III          III          II           III   
                                                      2004         2005r        2005p        2004         2005r        2005p  


         Total, private nonfarm(1) ..............       84           73           60        17,400        11,922       13,910

    Mining ......................................        -            -            -             -             -            -
    Utilities ...................................        -        ( 2 )            -             -         ( 2 )            -
    Construction ................................        -        ( 2 )            -             -         ( 2 )            -
    Manufacturing ...............................       58           44           35        11,575         6,149        5,959
         Food ...................................        4            4            4           924           480          838
         Beverage and tobacco products ..........    ( 2 )            -            -         ( 2 )             -            -
         Textile mills ..........................        -            -        ( 2 )             -             -        ( 2 )
         Textile product mills ..................    ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )         ( 2 )             -        ( 2 )
         Apparel ................................        4            3            3           613           236          347
         Leather and allied products ............        -            -            -             -             -            -
         Wood products ..........................    ( 2 )            -            -         ( 2 )             -            -
         Paper ..................................        4            -        ( 2 )           761             -        ( 2 )
         Printing and related support activities     ( 2 )        ( 2 )            -         ( 2 )         ( 2 )            -
         Petroleum and coal products ............        -            -            -             -             -            -

         Chemicals  .............................    ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )         ( 2 )             -        ( 2 )
         Plastics and rubber products ...........        7            3        ( 2 )         1,235           476        ( 2 )
         Nonmetallic mineral products ...........        3        ( 2 )            -           467         ( 2 )            -
         Primary metals .........................        -        ( 2 )            -             -         ( 2 )            -
         Fabricated metal products ..............        4            6            5           755           975          534
         Machinery ..............................    ( 2 )        ( 2 )            3         ( 2 )         ( 2 )          441
         Computer and electronic products .......        6            6            5         1,331         1,004          994
         Electrical equipment and appliances ....        4            3        ( 2 )         1,660           715        ( 2 )
         Transportation equipment ...............        7           10            7         1,793         1,174        1,665
         Furniture and related products .........    ( 2 )            4            -         ( 2 )           586            -
         Miscellaneous manufacturing ............        3            -            -           540             -            -

    Wholesale trade .............................        5        ( 2 )            5           704         ( 2 )          744
    Retail trade ................................       11            5            4         2,290         1,150        1,078
    Transportation and warehousing ..............        -            3            4             -           689        4,489
    Information .................................    ( 2 )        ( 2 )        ( 2 )         ( 2 )         ( 2 )        ( 2 )
    Finance and insurance .......................        5            9            6           735         1,461          695
    Real estate and rental and leasing ..........        -            -            -             -             -            -
    Professional and technical services .........    ( 2 )            4        ( 2 )         ( 2 )           971        ( 2 )
    Management of companies and enterprises .....        -            -            -             -             -            -
    Administrative and waste services ...........        -        ( 2 )        ( 2 )             -         ( 2 )        ( 2 )
    Educational services ........................        -            -            -             -             -            -
    Health care and social assistance ...........    ( 2 )            -        ( 2 )         ( 2 )             -        ( 2 )
    Arts, entertainment, and recreation .........        -            -            -             -             -            -
    Accommodation and food services .............        -            -            -             -             -            -
    Other services, except public administration         -            -        ( 2 )             -             -        ( 2 )

    Unclassified ................................        -            -            -             -             -            -
                                                                                                                             

    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.





Table 8. Reason for layoff: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work, 
selected quarters, 2004 and 2005


                                              Layoff events                                  Separations               
         Reason for layoff                                                                                             

                                       III         II          III              III              II              III   
                                       2004       2005r       2005p             2004            2005r           2005p  


   Total, private nonfarm(1) .....      84          73          60            17,400           11,922          13,910


Automation .......................       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Bankruptcy .......................       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Business ownership change ........       9           3       ( 2 )             1,391              615           ( 2 )
Contract cancellation ............   ( 2 )       ( 2 )       ( 2 )             ( 2 )            ( 2 )           ( 2 )
Contract completed ...............       -           -       ( 2 )                 -                -           ( 2 )
Energy-related ...................       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Environment-related ..............       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Financial difficulty .............       5           6           5               882              924             666
Import competition ...............       4           6           6             1,296              457             925
Labor dispute ....................       -           -       ( 2 )                 -                -           ( 2 )
Material shortage ................       -           -       ( 2 )                 -                -           ( 2 )
Model changeover .................       -           -           -                 -                -               -

Natural disaster .................       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Non-natural disaster .............       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Plant or machine repair ..........       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Product line discontinued ........   ( 2 )           3           5             ( 2 )              331             481
Reorganization within company ....      44          46          34            10,491            7,855           7,001
Seasonal work ....................   ( 3 )       ( 3 )       ( 3 )             ( 3 )            ( 3 )           ( 3 )
Slack work .......................       4           3       ( 2 )               887              645           ( 2 )
Vacation period ..................   ( 3 )       ( 3 )       ( 3 )             ( 3 )            ( 3 )           ( 3 )
Weather-related ..................       -           -           -                 -                -               -
Other ............................      13           3       ( 2 )             2,102              661           ( 2 )
Not reported .....................       -       ( 2 )           -                 -            ( 2 )               -

    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    3 The questions on movement of work were not asked of employers when the reason for layoff was either seasonal
work or vacation period.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.





Table 9. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events and separations associated with the movement of work,
selected quarters, 2004 and 2005


                                       Layoff events                             Separations              
 Census region and division                                                                               
                               III          II          III           III           II             III   
                              2004         2005r       2005p         2004          2005r           2005p  


        United States(1) ..     84           73          60         17,400         11,922         13,910

Northeast .................     11           18           6          2,366          3,499            923

    New England ...........      3            7       ( 2 )            932            976          ( 2 )
    Middle Atlantic .......      8           11       ( 2 )          1,434          2,523          ( 2 )

South .....................     19           19          20          3,116          2,669          3,373

    South Atlantic ........     11           13          10          1,853          1,644          1,274
    East South Central ....      8        ( 2 )       ( 2 )          1,263          ( 2 )          ( 2 )
    West South Central ....      -        ( 2 )       ( 2 )              -          ( 2 )          ( 2 )

Midwest ...................     40           17          15          9,224          2,929          7,076

    East North Central ....     36           14       ( 2 )          8,043          2,566          ( 2 )
    West North Central ....      4            3       ( 2 )          1,181            363          ( 2 )

West ......................     14           19          19          2,694          2,825          2,538

    Mountain ..............  ( 2 )            3       ( 2 )          ( 2 )            375          ( 2 )
    Pacific ...............  ( 2 )           16       ( 2 )          ( 2 )          2,450          ( 2 )


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the census divisions are:
New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massa chusetts, 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.
Dash represents zero.





Table 10. Extended mass layoff events and separations, selected measures, selected quarters, 2004 and 2005


                                                    Layoff events                              Separations               
         Action                                                                                                          

                                          III          II            III          III              II             III   
                                          2004        2005r          2005p        2004            2005r           2005p  


Total, private nonfarm (1) .........    (r)886        1,203            742    (r)164,608         245,422         136,280 

  Total, excluding seasonal                                              
    and vacation events (2) ........    (r)695          635            566    (r)133,322         107,695         100,253 
    
    Total, movement of work (3).....        84           73             60        17,400          11,922          13,910
                                                                                    
      Movement of work actions .....       103           98             74         ( 4 )           ( 4 )           ( 4 )
        With separations reported ..        88           74             56        13,999           9,527           7,420
        With separations unknown ...        15           24             18         ( 4 )           ( 4 )           ( 4 )


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 The question on movement of work were not asked of employers when the reason for layoff
was either seasonal work or vacation period.
    3 Movement of work can involve more than one action.
    4 Data are not available.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.




 
Table 11. Movement of work actions by type of separation where number of separations is known by employers,
selected quarters, 2004 and 2005

                                           Layoff events(1)                       Separations          
         Actions                                                                                       
                                     III         II         III           III       II          III   
                                     2004       2005r       2005p         2004     2005r        2005p  

With separations reported(2) ..        88         74         56          13,999     9,527       7,420

          By location                                                                                

  Out-of-country relocations ..        18         28         19           3,618     2,815       2,577
      Within company ..........        13         19         15           3,222     1,938       2,137
      Different company .......         5          9          4             396       877         440

  Domestic relocations ........        68         42         37           9,081     6,018       4,843
      Within company ..........        63         35         27           8,831     5,330       2,585
      Different company .......         5          7         10             250       688       2,258

  Unable to assign place of                                                                          
     relocation ...............         2          4          -           1,300       694           -

           By company                                                                                

  Within company ..............        78         58         42          13,353     7,962       4,722
      Domestic ................        63         35         27           8,831     5,330       2,585
      Out of country ..........        13         19         15           3,222     1,938       2,137
      Unable to assign ........         2          4          -           1,300       694           -

  Different company ...........        10         16         14             646     1,565       2,698
      Domestic ................         5          7         10             250       688       2,258
      Out of country ..........         5          9          4             396       877         440
      Unable to assign ........         -          -          -               -         -           -


    1 Only actions for which separations associated with the movement of work were reported are shown.
    2 See footnote 1, table 1.
    r = revised.
    p = preliminary.
    Note: Dash represents zero.