Technical information: (202) 691-6392

http://www.bls.gov/mls/

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 03-742

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Thursday, November 20, 2003

EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2003

In the third quarter of 2003, 1,375 mass layoff actions were taken by employers that resulted in the

separation of 268,020 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 lower than in July-September 2002 and were the lowest for a third quarter

since 2000. (See table A.) The decline from third quarter 2002 was most notable in computer and

electronic product manufacturing, truck transportation, and general merchandise stores.

The completion of seasonal work accounted for 22 percent of all events and 74,805 separations during

the period—the lowest level for a third quarter since 1998. Layoffs due to internal company restructuring

represented 22 percent of events and resulted in 57,727 separations, both lower than a year earlier.

Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 14 percent of all events and affected 46,646 workers. A year

earlier, such closures occurred in 21 percent of all events and affected 80,152 workers. Forty percent of the

employers anticipating a recall expected to extend the offer to all laid-off workers, the highest proportion for

a third quarter since 2000.

Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs

Extended mass layoff separations occurred in 441 of the 1,197 detailed industries for which data are

available. Manufacturing industries accounted for 35 percent of private-sector layoff events and 34 percent

of separations during July-September 2003. The 82,030 worker separations in manufacturing were lower

than in the third quarter of 2002. Layoff activity in this sector was concentrated in food manufacturing

(18,422, largely in the highly seasonal fruit and vegetable canning industry), followed by transportation

equipment (9,955), computer and electronic product manufacturing (7,175), and textile mills (7,005).

(See table 1.)

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting accounted for 10 percent of private-sector layoff events and

14 percent of separations, with nearly all layoff activity concentrated in agriculture and forestry support

activities. Layoffs in administrative and waste services comprised 10 percent of events and 13 percent of

separations, almost entirely in temporary help services. Cutbacks in retail trade accounted for 5 percent of

events and 7 percent of separations, mainly in supermarkets and other grocery stores. The transportation

and warehousing sector accounted for an additional 6 percent of events and separations during the quarter,

primarily from school and employee bus transportation.

Layoffs in government establishments accounted for 9 percent of all events and separations, the highest

third quarter share of events and separations since the mass layoff series began in second quarter 1995.

Layoffs in the government sector were primarily concentrated in elementary and secondary schools.
2

 1999

January-March ........... 1,509 277,780 252,122

April-June .................. 1,444 294,968 242,464

July-September .......... 1,097 241,725 189,973

October-December .... 1,625 334,794 287,685

 2000

January-March ........... 1,330 254,646 221,368

April-June .................. 1,271 258,608 231,471

July-September .......... 1,014 230,103 189,250

October-December .... 2,005 427,070 376,611

 2001

January-March ........... 1,765 342,954 340,210

April-June .................. 2,072 481,886 401,269

July-September .......... 1,815 384,403 371,541

October-December .... 2,697 542,125 502,502

 2002

January-March ........... 1,750 334,017 316,489

April-June .................. 1,905 432,869 353,017

July-September .......... 1,383 310,351 284,629

October-December ... 2,257 469,672 421,570

 2003

January-March .......... 1,700 334,464 333,197

April-June ................. 2,131 457,434 415,316

July-September .......... 1,375 268,020 181,793

Table A. Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity

 p=preliminary. r=revised.

Period Layoff events Separations Initial claimants

r

 r

r

r

p

Reasons for Extended Layoff

Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 22 percent of the extended layoff events

and resulted in 74,805 separations in the third quarter. (See table 2.) This marked the lowest level of

seasonal separations for a third quarter since 1998. Seasonal layoffs were most numerous among workers in

agriculture and forestry support activities (largely among farm labor contractors and crew leaders), food

manufacturing (mainly in fruit and vegetable canning), and in crop production (mostly in grape vineyards and

in strawberry farming).

Internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change, financial difficulty, and reorgannization) accounted for 22 percent of layoff events and resulted in 57,727 separations. These layoffs were

mostly among workers in textile mills, in credit intermediation and related activities, and in food and beverage

stores. In the third quarter of 2002, layoff events for these reasons represented 29 percent of events and

involved 98,292 workers.

Contract completion accounted for 14 percent of events and resulted in 27,193 separations during the

third quarter and were the largest third-quarter shares since 2000. These layoffs were primarily concentrated

among administrative and support services.
3

Table B. Summary of employer expectations of a recall from

extended layoff, third quarter 2002-third quarter 2003

 Anticipate a recall ..... 36.4 55.8 38.4 46.6 38.3

 Timeframe

 Within 6 months ........ 77.5 78.8 74.5 85.6 84.4

 Within 3 months...... 51.3 32.6 45.6 55.7 54.4

 Size

 At least half................ 82.5 86.7 80.1 86.9 84.6

 All workers............. 32.6 37.3 29.4 46.5 39.7

 Percentage of events

 p=preliminary. r=revised.

Nature of the recall III

2002

IV

2002

I

2003

II

2003

III

2003p

Out-of-country moves (overseas relocation) have resulted in 12,128 workers being separated from their

jobs in extended mass layoffs so far this year, compared with 13,668 workers during the first three quarters

of 2002. Company moves to Mexico have accounted for 41 percent of the workers thus far in 2003

compared with 45 percent a year earlier.

Recall Expectations

Thirty-eight percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the third quarter of 2003 indicated they

anticipated some type of recall. This compares with 36 percent of the employers anticipating a recall a year

earlier. (See table B.) Most of the employers not expecting a recall were in administrative and support

services, computer and electronic product manufacturing, and credit intermediation and related activities.

Among establishments expecting a recall, most employers expected to recall over one-half of the separated employees and to do so within 6 months. Forty percent of the employers expected to extend the offer

to all laid-off workers, the highest proportion for a third quarter since 2000.

Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in which 93 percent of the employers

expected a recall), employers expected to recall laid-off workers in 22 percent of the events. In layoff

events due to internal company restructuring, employers anticipated a recall in only 10 percent of the events.

Size of Extended Layoff

Layoff events during the third quarter continued to be concentrated at the lower end of the extended

layoff-size spectrum, with 65 percent involving fewer than 150 workers. These events, however, accounted

for only 29 percent of all separations. (See table C.) Separations involving 500 or more workers accounted

for 34 percent of all separations, down from 39 percent a year earlier. The average size of layoffs (as measured by separations per layoff event) differed widely by industry, ranging from a low of 68 separations in

membership associations and organizations to a high of 821 in warehousing and storage industries.

r
4

 Layoff events

 Number Percent Number

Size

 Total........... 1,375 100.0 268,020 100.0

50-99............... 603 43.9 42,339 15.8

100-149........... 294 21.4 34,217 12.8

150-199........... 142 10.3 23,892 8.9

200-299........... 146 10.6 34,334 12.8

300-499........... 112 8.1 41,148 15.4

500-999........... 52 3.8 32,973 12.3

1,000 or more... 26 1.9 59,117 22.0

Table C. Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff,

 July-September 2003

p=preliminary.

 Percent

 Separations

p

Initial Claimant Characteristics

A total of 181,793 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were associated with extended mass

layoffs in the third quarter of 2003. Of these claimants, 16 percent were black, 20 percent were Hispanic,

46 percent were women, and 16 percent were 55 years of age or older. (See table 3.) Thirty-nine percent

of claimants were 30 to 44 years of age. Among the civilian labor force for the same period, 11 percent

were black, 13 percent were Hispanic, 46 percent were women, and 15 percent were 55 years of age or

older. Thirty-six percent of the civilian labor force were ages 30 to 44.

Geographic Distribution

In the third quarter, the number of separations due to extended mass layoff events was highest in the

West (127,734), followed by the Midwest (56,038), the South (47,294), and the Northeast (36,954).

(See table 4.) Extended mass layoffs in the West were mainly in administration and support services and

in agricultural and forestry support activities.

Three of the four regions reported over-the-year decreases in separations, with the largest decrease

occurring in the Northeast (-24,012), followed by the South (-22,814). The West had the only over-theyear increase (+15,153). Six of the nine geographic divisions reported over-the-year declines in laid-off

workers, with the largest declines in the Middle Atlantic (-19,903), West South Central (-12,436), and

West North Central (-11,008) divisions. The largest increase in separations occurred in the Pacific

(+23,736) division.

Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the largest number of worker separations occurred in

California (105,816), followed by Illinois (26,884). These two states accounted for 38 percent of total layoff

events and 50 percent of the separations during the third quarter of 2003. They were followed by Florida

(14,247), New York (11,782), and Washington (9,506). (See table 5.) After excluding the substantial

impact of seasonal work, California still reported the most laid-off workers (62,964), largely due to layoffs in

administrative and support services, educational services, and motion picture and sound recording industries.
5

Table D. Mass layoff events and separations, selected metropolitan areas

 Metropolitan area

Events Separations

III

2002

III

2002

1

p=preliminary.

Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.

III

2003 p p

III

2003

Over the year, New York reported the greatest decrease in laid-off workers (-12,899), followed by

Texas (-11,757) and Florida (-8,086). The largest increase occurred in California (+26,418).

Fifty-eight percent of events and 56 percent of separations occurred in metropolitan areas in the third

quarter of 2003, a decrease from 70 percent of events and 67 percent of separations during the third quarter

of 2002. Among the 331 metropolitan areas, Chicago, Ill., reported the highest number of separations,

14,682, mainly in administration and support services, amusement, gambling and recreation, and specialty

trade contractors, closely followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif., with 11,152 separations, largely in

administrative and support services and in food and beverage stores. The next-highest areas were Fresno,

Calif. (7,170), Ventura, Calif. (5,569), and Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, Calif. (5,095). (See table D.) Eight

of the 10 areas reporting the largest number of extended mass layoffs in the third quarter were in California.

Employers located in nonmetropolitan areas separated 25,731 workers in mass layoffs, down from 34,637

workers in the third quarter of 2002.

Relative Impacts of Mass Layoffs

The index of mass layoff activity describes a geographic area’s share of national mass layoffs relative

to its share of national employment in establishments with at least 50 workers. This allows for geographic

comparisons that account for differences in each area’s share of employment. An index at or near 100.0

indicates the area’s share of mass layoffs is in line with its share of employment. An index below 100.0

indicates the area has relatively few layoffs, and, conversely, an index over 100.0 indicates an area with a

relatively high level of layoffs (See table 6.) A separate index is calculated that excludes the impact of

seasonal work and vacation periods from the separation data. (See table 7.)

Among the four regions, the West, with an index of 226.4 in the third quarter, recorded the highest

concentration of mass layoffs relative to the region’s employment, due in part to the impact of the seasonal

Total, nonmetopolitan areas................... 188 170 34,637

Total, 331 metropolitan areas................ 970 795 209,233 150,754

Chicago, Ill ...................................... 62 65 15,875 14,682

Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif........ 37 42 11,305 11,152

Fresno, Calif .................................... 22 17 6,228 7,170

Ventura, Calif................................... 24 27 5,550 5,569

Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, Calif......... 15 14 1,880 5,095

Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif ....... 25 16 5,468 4,544

New York, NY ............................... 54 30 10,019 4,055

Modesto, Calif................................. 4 4 8,810 3,938

Bakersfield, Calif.............................. 17 11 7,805 3,756

Stockton-Lodi, Calif ........................ (1) 5 2,935

25,731

(1)
6

Northeast ................... 101.7 71.3 -30.4

South ......................... 65.3 51.0 -14.3

Midwest ..................... 86.0 83.6 -2.4

West .......................... 171.8 226.4 54.6

Table E. Index of mass layoff activity, third quarter 2002-third quarter 2003

Region Third quarter

2002

Third quarter

2003

 Over-the-year

change

p=preliminary.

agriculture sector. (See table E.) The Midwest, 83.6, the Northeast, 71.3, and the South, 51.0, all reported

indexes well below 100.0, indicating the relative infrequency of layoffs in those regions.

Over the year, three of the four regions recorded declines, with the largest decrease occurring in the

Northeast (-30.4). The West posted the only over-the-year increase (+54.6).

Among the nine geographic divisions, the Pacific posted the highest index for the quarter, 300.0, primarily

due to layoff activity in administrative and support services, agriculture and forestry support activities, and

food manufacturing. The next highest indexes were reported in East North Central, 101.1, and New

England, 82.3. The West South Central division had the lowest index, 31.5, followed by the West North

Central, 39.8, and the Mountain divisions, 48.9.

Among the 47 states and the District of Columbia that reported extended mass layoffs during the third

quarter of 2003, 40 states and the District of Columbia reported indexes below 100.0, indicating a relatively

small share of layoffs. (See table 6.) Of the seven States with indexes above 100.0, California had the

highest index of 344.8—due to the high concentrations of layoff activity in administrative and support

services, agriculture and forestry support activities, and in crop production. (See chart 1.) Relative concentrations of layoffs also were high in Illinois (198.1), Washington (193.6), and Idaho (185.2). Utah, at

11.5, had the lowest relative concentration of mass layoffs followed by Iowa (13.0), New Hampshire (13.9),

and West Virginia, (16.0).

After the exclusion of seasonal work and vacation periods, the Pacific division recorded the highest index,

242.9, reflecting a concentration of layoffs in administrative and waste services and in manufacturing. (See

chart 2.)

At the state level, California reported the highest index, excluding seasonal and vacation period events,

(278.5) for third quarter 2003, followed by Idaho (219.1) and Hawaii (218.4). The lowest indexes occurred

in West Virginia (15.9), Utah (16.3), Arizona (16.4), and Nebraska (16.5). (See table 7 and chart 2.)

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.

p
7

The index of mass layoff activity is calculated as the area’s share, or ratio, of the total number of private

sector separations in the U.S. divided by the same area’s share of U.S. total private sector employment in

establishments that employ at least 50 workers. It facilitates relative area-to-area comparisons by discounting

the absolute size of the area. Areas with indexes of more than 100.0 account for a larger share of layoffs

relative to their share of larger establishment employment.

For additional information about the program, see the Technical Note.

The report on Mass Layoffs in October 2003 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday,

November 26, 2003.

_________________________________
Technical Note

The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federalstate program which uses a standardized, automated approach

to identifying, describing, and tracking the effects of major job

cutbacks, using data from each state’s unemployment insurance

database. Establishments which have at least 50 initial claims

filed against them during a consecutive 5-week period are

contacted by the state agency to determine whether these

separations are of at least 31 days duration, and, if so, information is obtained on the total number of persons separated

and the reasons for these separations. Establishments are

identified according to industry classification and location,

and unemployment insurance claimants are identified by such

demographic factors as age, race, sex, ethnic group, and place

of residence. The program yields information on an individual’s

entire spell of unemployment, to the point when regular

unemployment insurance benefits are exhausted.

The MLS program was resumed in April 1995; it had been

terminated in November 1992 due to lack of funding. However,

due to changes in concepts and definitions, data from the

resumed program are not comparable to earlier data.

Information in this release will be made available

to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone:

202-691-5200 ; TDD message referral phone number:

1-800-877-8339.

Definitions

Establishment. A unit at a single physical location

at which predominantly one type of economic activity is

conducted.

Extended layoff event. Fifty or more initial claims for

unemployment insurance benefits from an establishment during

a 5-week period, with at least 50 workers separated for more

than 30 days.

Initial claimant. A person who files any notice of

unemployment to initiate a request either for a determination

of entitlement to and eligibility for compensation, or for a

subsequent period of unemployment within a benefit year or

period of eligibility.

Layoff. The separation of persons from an employer as

part of a mass layoff event. (See below.) Such layoffs involve

both persons subject to recall and those who are terminated by

the establishment.

Mass layoff. Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits from an establishment beginning in a

given month, regardless of duration.

Worksite closure. The full closure of either multi-unit

or single-unit establishments or the partial closure of a multiunit establishment where entire worksites affected by layoffs

are closed or planned to be closed.
Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment

insurance, selected quarters, 2002 and 2003

Industry

III II III III II III III II III

 2002r 2003r 2003p 2002r 2003r 2003p 2002r 2003r 2003p 

 Total1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,383 2,131 1,375 310,351 457,434 268,020 284,629 415,316 181,793 

Total, private ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,318 1,907 1,252 296,720 392,687 243,762 273,060 360,458 163,231 

 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ..................................................................................................................................................................... 132 108 131 41,568 24,770 34,671 18,105 16,429 11,606 

 Mining ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 10 4 1,517 2,705 582 1,451 2,694 331 

 Utilities ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 8 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 924 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 996 ( 2 ) 

 Construction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 63 143 101 8,503 20,583 11,852 12,177 23,064 11,161 

 Manufacturing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 497 549 436 106,134 104,733 82,030 112,154 105,904 62,953 

 Food ..................................................................................................................................................................... 50 93 55 20,320 18,018 18,422 10,144 17,742 8,489 

 Beverage and tobacco products ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 4 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,082 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,000 ( 2 ) 

 Textile mills ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 25 19 3,001 4,199 7,005 6,693 4,524 6,576 

 Textile product mills ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 6 6 1,043 604 1,257 1,851 678 898 

 Apparel ..................................................................................................................................................................... 36 30 27 7,487 3,535 4,370 6,497 3,690 3,283 

 Leather and allied products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 7 ( 2

 ) 484 944 ( 2 ) 486 836 ( 2 ) 

 Wood products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 16 17 1,584 2,357 1,629 2,288 4,146 1,682 

 Paper ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 12 11 1,959 1,689 1,586 1,907 1,850 908 

 Printing and related support activities ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 17 9 1,267 1,858 1,021 1,039 2,046 846 

 Petroleum and coal products ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 559 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 574 ( 2 ) 

 Chemicals ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 13 13 2,515 4,463 1,538 1,488 2,919 1,201 

 Plastics and rubber products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 15 17 2,434 1,712 2,024 2,088 2,514 2,033 

 Nonmetallic mineral products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 11 10 1,623 1,815 1,337 1,679 1,685 1,432 

 Primary metals ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30 29 31 4,907 7,270 5,273 6,232 6,497 4,162 

 Fabricated metal products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25 32 29 4,629 5,261 3,988 3,894 5,530 3,480 

 Machinery ..................................................................................................................................................................... 38 36 28 6,755 7,373 5,839 9,038 6,417 4,843 

 Computer and electronic products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 105 71 50 20,630 11,109 7,175 20,626 11,297 5,591 

 Electrical equipment and appliances ..................................................................................................................................................................... 27 18 16 4,952 2,922 2,891 7,308 3,572 2,177 

 Transportation equipment ..................................................................................................................................................................... 55 65 59 15,025 21,335 9,955 22,340 21,870 10,513 

 Furniture and related products ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 34 18 1,877 4,914 3,606 2,806 4,801 2,521 

 Miscellaneous manufacturing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 12 16 2,897 1,714 2,602 3,173 1,716 1,947 

 Wholesale trade ..................................................................................................................................................................... 34 47 43 5,343 7,060 7,192 4,580 5,441 4,870 

 Retail trade ..................................................................................................................................................................... 62 114 65 18,579 26,099 16,250 18,367 24,533 10,070 

 Transportation and warehousing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 84 162 73 25,097 42,172 13,799 22,244 44,400 10,542 

 Information ..................................................................................................................................................................... 70 76 46 14,787 22,358 10,120 15,702 21,674 9,237 

 Finance and insurance ..................................................................................................................................................................... 53 52 47 10,984 9,776 9,263 11,005 8,564 6,672 

 Real estate and rental and leasing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 6 ( 2

 ) 1,197 915 ( 2 ) 1,161 864 ( 2 ) 

 Professional and technical services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 58 75 50 9,150 16,433 7,799 8,943 13,681 5,931 

 Management of companies and enterprises ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 9 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,775 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2,064 ( 2 ) 

 Administrative and waste services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 124 172 120 33,487 35,291 32,342 32,597 31,109 16,350 

 Educational services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 11 12 821 3,200 1,083 704 2,420 1,095 

 Health care and social assistance ..................................................................................................................................................................... 39 139 44 4,448 20,981 5,035 4,157 17,670 3,636 

 Arts, entertainment, and recreation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26 55 28 7,541 16,877 4,433 3,485 6,265 3,161 

 Accommodation and food services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 34 117 29 4,159 28,486 4,514 3,809 25,518 3,294 

 Other services, except public administration ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 51 14 1,929 7,055 1,288 1,431 6,674 1,161 

 Unclassified ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 3 2 – 494 335 – 494 335 

Government ..................................................................................................................................................................... 65 224 123 13,631 64,747 24,258 11,569 54,858 18,562 

 Federal ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 12 10 2,165 4,274 2,224 2,124 4,117 1,989 

 State ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 20 23 3,124 10,413 4,675 3,105 4,453 3,537 

 Local ..................................................................................................................................................................... 42 192 90 8,342 50,060 17,359 6,340 46,288 13,036 

 

 

 1 For the third quarter of 2003, data on layoffs were reported by employers r = revised.

in all states and the District of Columbia. NOTE: Industry data reflect the North American Industry

 

 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. Classification System (NAICS), 2002. Dash represents zero.

 p = preliminary.

Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance Layoff events
Table 2. Reason for separation: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment 

insurance, selected quarters, 2002 and 2003

Reason for separation

III II III III II III III II III

 2002r 2003r 2003p 2002r 2003r 2003p 2002r 2003r 2003p 

 Total, all reasons1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,383 2,131 1,375 310,351 457,434 268,020 284,629 415,316 181,793 

Automation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 – ( 2

 ) 406 – ( 2 ) 273 – ( 2 ) 

Bankruptcy ..................................................................................................................................................................... 59 65 39 24,103 16,458 14,332 20,244 13,355 9,312 

Business ownership change ..................................................................................................................................................................... 41 30 28 11,370 9,789 5,497 8,363 5,177 3,303 

Contract cancellation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 53 40 23 13,529 5,665 18,897 9,229 6,918 2,274 

Contract completed ..................................................................................................................................................................... 154 250 189 28,359 42,650 27,193 36,588 46,437 26,153 

Domestic relocation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26 26 26 4,603 4,170 4,156 3,504 3,824 3,141 

Energy-related ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

Environment-related ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 3 – – 884 – – 711 –

Financial difficulty ..................................................................................................................................................................... 123 152 87 24,617 33,670 12,271 21,482 30,333 9,826 

Import competition ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17 32 29 3,010 5,660 6,947 2,616 5,480 4,242 

Labor dispute ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 3 8 814 1,085 5,393 822 992 1,922 

Material shortage ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 5 ( 2

 ) – 618 ( 2 ) – 1,041 ( 2 ) 

Model changeover ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) 5 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 340 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 315 

Natural disaster ..................................................................................................................................................................... – ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

Non-natural disaster ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) – ( 2 ) ( 2 ) –

Overseas relocation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 18 14 4,603 4,205 3,534 3,525 3,204 2,818 

Plant or machine repair ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 7 5 825 1,161 618 656 804 673 

Product line discontinued ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 10 6 1,693 1,829 903 1,137 2,454 657 

Reorganization within company ..................................................................................................................................................................... 181 186 145 38,202 33,040 25,627 38,189 32,897 18,745 

Seasonal work ..................................................................................................................................................................... 306 645 296 86,968 161,524 74,805 48,530 121,104 33,603 

Slack work ..................................................................................................................................................................... 268 266 193 43,857 41,201 25,447 62,309 48,830 26,556 

Vacation period ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 92 26 3,605 18,937 4,531 2,106 18,677 3,883 

Weather-related ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 3 3 ( 2 ) 2,456 423 ( 2 ) 2,463 412 

Other ..................................................................................................................................................................... 42 48 62 7,268 10,622 10,218 8,415 9,100 7,256 

Not reported ..................................................................................................................................................................... 51 243 187 11,862 59,499 26,585 15,767 58,886 26,380 

 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. r

 = revised.

 

 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. NOTE: Dash represents zero.

 

 p = preliminary.

Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance Layoff events Separations
Table 3. State and selected claimant characteristics: Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment

insurance, second and third quarters, 2003

Total Percent of total

State

Layoff events initial

claimants Black Hispanic

origin Women Persons age 55and over

II III II III II III II III II III II III

 2003r 2003p 2003r 2003p 2003r 2003p 2003r 2003p 2003r 2003p 2003r 2003p 

 Total1

 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2,131 1,375 415,316 181,793 17.7 15.5 16.5 20.1 52.3 46.2 17.0 16.0 

Alabama ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17 7 2,502 1,115 40.2 50.2 7.8 5.6 53.1 37.8 17.9 20.6 

Alaska ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 3 1,220 185 3.5 – 14.4 20.0 48.2 33.0 17.8 20.0 

Arizona ..................................................................................................................................................................... 46 14 7,157 1,426 2.7 2.0 52.3 68.2 47.8 30.0 14.2 16.2 

Arkansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 4 845 413 49.3 12.8 2.2 .2 62.8 65.6 12.4 22.5 

California ..................................................................................................................................................................... 448 405 87,238 48,632 10.7 9.2 34.6 42.0 51.6 49.2 12.9 12.7 

Colorado ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20 12 3,337 1,210 5.7 9.9 21.8 18.3 53.2 52.7 14.7 16.1 

Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 12 3,226 935 11.0 15.0 9.3 15.2 72.9 39.6 16.6 22.9 

Delaware ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) – ( 2 ) – 35.5 – 8.2 – 80.5 – 18.8 –

District of Columbia ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 16.2 27.9 .6 .4 64.5 74.6 15.6 14.1 

Florida ..................................................................................................................................................................... 206 94 33,046 12,332 26.5 20.2 29.8 29.1 51.8 47.0 19.7 18.8 

Georgia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 43 14 9,260 2,106 67.6 66.7 .7 .4 69.0 48.3 13.8 13.2 

Hawaii ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 3 710 1,208 1.4 2.6 16.3 36.7 46.9 18.0 13.5 16.8 

Idaho ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 12 1,926 1,750 .5 .2 14.7 24.4 50.9 40.7 22.6 19.0 

Illinois ..................................................................................................................................................................... 150 114 33,270 15,571 24.0 21.5 10.7 10.8 52.5 45.2 16.7 14.3 

Indiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 50 21 11,526 4,019 16.2 18.7 3.6 2.6 48.5 33.6 18.8 15.5 

Iowa ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 4 1,422 354 1.0 1.7 3.6 – 56.3 49.2 24.4 15.5 

Kansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 10 1,529 1,766 15.0 22.5 3.1 2.5 45.7 56.1 18.9 17.1 

Kentucky ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26 14 3,742 1,119 7.8 8.4 .5 .7 39.4 57.6 16.0 20.8 

Louisiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 36 9 4,398 715 63.0 34.5 1.4 2.1 69.5 36.5 15.3 14.1 

Maine ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 4 1,378 260 .7 1.2 .1 – 46.3 70.0 14.3 23.5 

Maryland ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 7 1,995 594 35.6 45.5 1.0 – 32.6 46.1 35.1 22.7 

Massachusetts ..................................................................................................................................................................... 58 43 10,418 5,933 10.1 7.2 2.5 4.1 60.1 52.0 18.7 17.3 

Michigan ..................................................................................................................................................................... 70 49 18,112 5,904 14.7 18.8 4.0 3.6 46.1 43.4 13.6 12.3 

Minnesota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 42 15 6,975 1,730 7.7 10.1 2.9 2.9 47.6 48.5 15.9 14.0 

Mississippi ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 9 1,015 705 67.4 80.0 .9 .1 62.2 52.2 8.8 9.5 

Missouri ..................................................................................................................................................................... 34 12 7,348 1,560 33.4 22.9 .5 .4 67.5 67.1 23.3 25.9 

Montana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 4 1,334 231 .6 .4 3.7 4.3 54.6 72.7 14.2 19.5 

Nebraska ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 ( 2

 ) 594 ( 2 ) 17.0 .3 5.1 .8 58.8 8.8 27.4 16.0 

Nevada ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 5 1,159 540 20.5 13.7 13.4 19.1 59.4 45.4 19.8 33.3 

New Hampshire ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 ( 2

 ) 635 ( 2 ) .8 .7 6.1 .7 60.9 62.7 22.8 19.3 

New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................................................... 74 50 16,342 6,664 20.2 31.4 11.7 15.9 69.0 60.9 29.4 23.5 

New Mexico ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 4 2,014 246 1.6 2.8 45.0 33.7 55.7 37.4 7.8 5.7 

New York ..................................................................................................................................................................... 114 85 28,133 10,284 15.1 12.3 8.9 8.5 55.2 50.9 18.3 15.8 

North Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 48 28 7,812 7,274 38.4 31.4 3.4 5.7 54.1 52.2 16.9 25.9 

North Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 ( 2

 ) 461 ( 2 ) .9 – 1.5 1.2 62.5 3.5 17.1 24.4 

Ohio ..................................................................................................................................................................... 54 51 12,295 5,810 11.0 10.1 1.8 1.3 36.6 33.9 16.0 13.6 

Oklahoma ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 7 6,595 555 12.8 6.3 3.8 3.6 23.6 64.3 19.5 18.2 

Oregon ..................................................................................................................................................................... 29 22 4,156 4,222 3.1 2.1 9.5 12.1 48.3 38.9 19.0 18.4 

Pennsylvania ..................................................................................................................................................................... 96 65 27,539 10,031 11.3 9.2 2.2 2.2 54.4 36.2 23.5 17.9 

Rhode Island ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 4 874 387 3.5 5.7 25.9 14.0 80.5 62.0 22.3 20.7 

South Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 8 1,734 975 57.3 60.8 – .8 64.2 57.7 .3 1.5 

South Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 ( 2

 ) 641 ( 2 ) .5 3.9 .2 – 68.3 72.4 18.6 –

Tennessee ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20 21 2,524 2,263 37.1 17.5 .1 – 51.1 55.3 12.2 22.8 

Texas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 84 41 20,602 8,234 19.6 16.4 36.0 36.5 45.2 39.3 13.3 12.2 

Utah ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8 ( 2

 ) 1,042 ( 2 ) 1.6 .6 15.5 11.1 67.2 3.1 9.7 22.2 

Vermont ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 – 1,076 – .4 – .2 – 43.4 – 15.7 –

Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 28 12 4,531 1,612 44.4 42.7 2.3 1.3 64.8 61.4 15.1 16.5 

Washington ..................................................................................................................................................................... 48 30 8,198 5,089 5.0 3.2 20.2 23.6 40.3 41.1 17.4 19.7 

West Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 3 519 171 .2 – – – 63.4 29.2 16.8 14.0 

Wisconsin ..................................................................................................................................................................... 61 34 10,334 4,530 7.3 12.0 4.5 3.8 46.4 30.3 17.7 15.2 

Wyoming ..................................................................................................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – –

Puerto Rico ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 18 2,937 2,339 ( 3

 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) ( 3 ) 64.8 53.1 12.7 8.2 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. p

 = preliminary.

 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. r

 = revised.

 3 Data are not available. NOTE: Dash represents zero.
Table 4. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment

insurance, selected quarters, 2002 and 2003

Census region and division

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance

III II III III II III III II III

 2002r 2003r 2003p 2002r 2003r 2003p 2002r 2003r 2003p 

 United States1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,383 2,131 1,375 310,351 457,434 268,020 284,629 415,316 181,793 

Northeast ..................................................................................................................................................................... 300 394 265 60,966 89,526 36,954 67,885 89,621 34,644 

 New England ..................................................................................................................................................................... 63 110 65 15,708 27,037 11,599 12,939 17,607 7,665 

 Middle Atlantic ..................................................................................................................................................................... 237 284 200 45,258 62,489 25,355 54,946 72,014 26,979 

South ..................................................................................................................................................................... 350 582 280 70,108 112,965 47,294 74,561 101,697 40,466 

 South Atlantic ..................................................................................................................................................................... 203 356 168 40,764 74,348 30,315 40,780 59,474 25,347 

 East South Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 48 74 51 8,204 11,867 8,275 5,550 9,783 5,202 

 West South Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 99 152 61 21,140 26,750 8,704 28,231 32,440 9,917 

Midwest ..................................................................................................................................................................... 285 492 314 66,696 112,843 56,038 68,731 104,507 41,782 

 East North Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 215 385 269 48,074 89,165 48,424 45,800 85,537 35,834 

 West North Central ..................................................................................................................................................................... 70 107 45 18,622 23,678 7,614 22,931 18,970 5,948 

West ..................................................................................................................................................................... 448 663 516 112,581 142,100 127,734 73,452 119,491 64,901 

 Mountain ..................................................................................................................................................................... 78 122 53 16,669 29,040 8,086 11,303 17,969 5,565 

 Pacific ..................................................................................................................................................................... 370 541 463 95,912 113,060 119,648 62,149 101,522 59,336 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. West Virginia; East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and 

 p = preliminary. Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and

 r = revised. Texas: East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin;

 NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North

census divisions are: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana,

New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California,

New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.

Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and
Table 5. State distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,

selected quarters, 2002 and 2003

State

III II III III II III III II III

 2002r 2003r 2003p 2002r 2003r 2003p 2002r 2003r 2003p 

 Total1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1,383 2,131 1,375 310,351 457,434 268,020 284,629 415,316 181,793 

Alabama ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 17 7 ( 2 ) 2,502 1,115 ( 2 ) 2,502 1,115 

Alaska ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 9 3 – 1,279 185 – 1,220 185 

Arizona ..................................................................................................................................................................... 35 46 14 9,757 9,526 2,407 5,627 7,157 1,426 

Arkansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 8 4 ( 2 ) 1,899 1,179 ( 2 ) 845 413 

California ..................................................................................................................................................................... 301 448 405 79,398 95,756 105,816 51,053 87,238 48,632 

Colorado ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 20 12 3,522 8,495 1,894 3,348 3,337 1,210 

Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 16 12 3,592 3,690 1,553 2,892 3,226 935 

Delaware ..................................................................................................................................................................... – ( 2

 ) – – ( 2 ) – – ( 2 ) –

District of Columbia ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 

Florida ..................................................................................................................................................................... 110 206 94 22,333 45,511 14,247 19,301 33,046 12,332 

Georgia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 43 14 3,372 10,916 2,363 6,580 9,260 2,106 

Hawaii ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 7 3 ( 2 ) 690 1,559 ( 2 ) 710 1,208 

Idaho ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 13 12 504 1,900 1,675 357 1,926 1,750 

Illinois ..................................................................................................................................................................... 109 150 114 29,186 37,024 26,884 23,573 33,270 15,571 

Indiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26 50 21 5,524 20,213 4,934 5,910 11,526 4,019 

Iowa ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 5 4 556 1,686 356 492 1,422 354 

Kansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 11 10 8,081 2,385 2,080 13,814 1,529 1,766 

Kentucky ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 26 14 3,876 5,104 2,069 2,684 3,742 1,119 

Louisiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 36 9 2,052 4,846 980 1,543 4,398 715 

Maine ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 13 4 ( 2 ) 2,753 348 ( 2 ) 1,378 260 

Maryland ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 9 7 1,495 2,222 1,440 947 1,995 594 

Massachusetts ..................................................................................................................................................................... 42 58 43 10,011 18,135 9,161 8,555 10,418 5,933 

Michigan ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 70 49 3,993 15,289 6,117 2,636 18,112 5,904 

Minnesota ..................................................................................................................................................................... 22 42 15 4,336 6,893 1,811 3,800 6,975 1,730 

Mississippi ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 11 9 1,057 1,558 1,770 766 1,015 705 

Missouri ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 34 12 4,890 10,765 2,451 4,275 7,348 1,560 

Montana ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 11 4 – 2,073 307 – 1,334 231 

Nebraska ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 7 ( 2

 ) 759 708 ( 2 ) 550 594 ( 2 ) 

Nevada ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 9 5 1,106 1,124 1,168 1,081 1,159 540 

New Hampshire ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 6 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 543 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 635 ( 2 ) 

New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................................................... 56 74 50 8,538 15,496 6,670 8,167 16,342 6,664 

New Mexico ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 15 4 ( 2 ) 2,675 415 ( 2 ) 2,014 246 

New York ..................................................................................................................................................................... 122 114 85 24,681 32,189 11,782 26,790 28,133 10,284 

North Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30 48 28 7,583 8,687 7,868 6,357 7,812 7,274 

North Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 4 ( 2

 ) – 613 ( 2 ) – 461 ( 2 ) 

Ohio ..................................................................................................................................................................... 50 54 51 5,711 6,421 5,395 8,964 12,295 5,810 

Oklahoma ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 24 7 793 5,712 549 667 6,595 555 

Oregon ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25 29 22 4,223 3,525 2,582 3,406 4,156 4,222 

Pennsylvania ..................................................................................................................................................................... 59 96 65 12,039 14,804 6,903 19,989 27,539 10,031 

Rhode Island ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 7 4 ( 2 ) 840 384 ( 2 ) 874 387 

South Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 11 8 1,760 1,442 1,058 2,115 1,734 975 

South Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... – 4 ( 2

 ) – 628 ( 2 ) – 641 ( 2 ) 

Tennessee ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 20 21 3,052 2,703 3,321 1,915 2,524 2,263 

Texas ..................................................................................................................................................................... 77 84 41 17,753 14,293 5,996 25,806 20,602 8,234 

Utah ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 8 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 3,247 ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 1,042 ( 2 ) 

Vermont ..................................................................................................................................................................... ( 2

 ) 10 – ( 2 ) 1,076 – ( 2 ) 1,076 –

Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20 28 12 2,926 4,056 2,874 4,397 4,531 1,612 

Washington ..................................................................................................................................................................... 41 48 30 11,955 11,810 9,506 7,354 8,198 5,089 

West Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 6 3 870 937 182 658 519 171 

Wisconsin ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 61 34 3,660 10,218 5,094 4,717 10,334 4,530 

Wyoming ..................................................................................................................................................................... – – – – – – – – –

Puerto Rico ..................................................................................................................................................................... 12 14 18 2,616 1,543 2,231 3,191 2,937 2,339 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. r

 = revised.

 2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards. NOTE: Dash represents zero.

 p = preliminary.

Layoff events Separations Initial claimants for

unemployment insurance
Table 6. State distribution: Index of mass-layoff separations, private sector, third quarter 2002 and 2003 

III III II II III III

2002 2003p 2001 2002 2002 2003p

 Total1

 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 100.0 100.0 

Alabama ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00071 .00416 .01311 .01307 5.4 31.8 

Alaska ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00000 .00069 .00164 .00167 0.0 41.3 

Arizona ..................................................................................................................................................................... .03144 .00898 .01880 .01920 167.2 46.8 

Arkansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00175 .00440 .00805 .00818 21.7 53.8 

California ..................................................................................................................................................................... .25583 .39481 .11500 .11451 222.5 344.8 

Colorado ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01135 .00707 .01543 .01500 73.6 47.1 

Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01157 .00579 .01290 .01307 89.7 44.3 

Delaware ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00000 .00000 .00346 .00348 0.0 0.0 

District of Columbia ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00137 .00106 .00428 .00450 32.0 23.5 

Florida ..................................................................................................................................................................... .07196 .05316 .05836 .05868 123.3 90.6 

Georgia ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01087 .00882 .03059 .03037 35.5 29.0 

Hawaii ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00108 .00582 .00377 .00378 28.7 153.8 

Idaho ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00162 .00625 .00332 .00338 48.9 185.2 

Illinois ..................................................................................................................................................................... .09404 .10031 .05102 .05063 184.3 198.1 

Indiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01780 .01841 .02363 .02378 75.3 77.4 

Iowa ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00179 .00133 .01018 .01022 17.6 13.0 

Kansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... .02604 .00776 .00949 .00957 274.4 81.1 

Kentucky ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01249 .00772 .01291 .01287 96.8 60.0 

Louisiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00661 .00366 .01258 .01261 52.6 29.0 

Maine ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00070 .00130 .00389 .00388 18.0 33.5 

Maryland ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00482 .00537 .01786 .01829 27.0 29.4 

Massachusetts ..................................................................................................................................................................... .03226 .03418 .02673 .02639 120.7 129.5 

Michigan ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01287 .02282 .03788 .03784 34.0 60.3 

Minnesota ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01397 .00676 .02078 .02088 67.2 32.4 

Mississippi ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00341 .00660 .00787 .00792 43.3 83.4 

Missouri ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01576 .00914 .02001 .02024 78.7 45.2 

Montana ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00000 .00115 .00183 .00192 0.0 59.7 

Nebraska ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00245 .00224 .00639 .00644 38.2 34.8 

Nevada ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00356 .00436 .00921 .00929 38.7 46.9 

New Hampshire ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00121 .00057 .00413 .00410 29.2 13.9 

New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................................................... .02751 .02489 .03052 .03063 90.2 81.3 

New Mexico ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00182 .00155 .00453 .00467 40.1 33.2 

New York ..................................................................................................................................................................... .07953 .04396 .06408 .06407 124.1 68.6 

North Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... .02443 .02936 .02879 .02821 84.9 104.1 

North Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00000 .00032 .00186 .00190 0.0 16.9 

Ohio ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01840 .02013 .04461 .04433 41.3 45.4 

Oklahoma ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00256 .00205 .01021 .01016 25.0 20.2 

Oregon ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01361 .00963 .01062 .01054 128.1 91.4 

Pennsylvania ..................................................................................................................................................................... .03879 .02576 .04577 .04606 84.8 55.9 

Rhode Island ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00111 .00143 .00340 .00344 32.6 41.7 

South Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00567 .00395 .01349 .01337 42.0 29.5 

South Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00000 .00086 .00220 .00219 0.0 39.2 

Tennessee ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00983 .01239 .02264 .02271 43.4 54.6 

Texas ..................................................................................................................................................................... .05720 .02237 .07214 .07214 79.3 31.0 

Utah ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00392 .00082 .00725 .00715 54.1 11.5 

Vermont ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00376 .00000 .00173 .00174 217.3 0.0 

Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00943 .01072 .02521 .02526 37.4 42.5 

Washington ..................................................................................................................................................................... .03852 .03547 .01873 .01832 205.7 193.6 

West Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00280 .00068 .00417 .00424 67.2 16.0 

Wisconsin ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01179 .01901 .02193 .02208 53.8 86.1 

Wyoming ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00000 .00000 .00103 .00108 0.0 0.0 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. to the comparable U.S. total. Covered employment refers to workers

 2 The share of separations is the proportion of each State's private sector who are covered by State unemployment insurance laws.

separations to the total number of private sector separations in the U.S. for 4 The index is the ratio of the share of separations to the share of 

the period. establishment employment, multiplied by 100.

 3 The share of establishment employment is the proportion of each State's p = preliminary.

private sector covered employment in establishments of 50 workers or more

State

Index of mass-layoff 

separations4

Share of 

establishment employment3

Share of 

separations2
Table 7. State distribution: Index of mass-layoff separations (excluding seasonal work and vacation periods),

private sector, third quarter 2002 and 2003 

III III II II III III

2002 2003p 2001 2002 2002 2003p

 Total1 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 1.00000 100.0 100.0 

Alabama ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00100 .00438 .01311 .01307 7.6 33.5 

Alaska ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00000 .00000 .00164 .00167 0.0 0.0 

Arizona ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01815 .00315 .01880 .01920 96.6 16.4 

Arkansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00247 .00625 .00805 .00818 30.6 76.4 

California ..................................................................................................................................................................... .15815 .31890 .11500 .11451 137.5 278.5 

Colorado ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01523 .00705 .01543 .01500 98.7 47.0 

Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01475 .00635 .01290 .01307 114.3 48.6 

Delaware ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00000 .00000 .00346 .00348 0.0 0.0 

District of Columbia ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00193 .00150 .00428 .00450 45.2 33.4 

Florida ..................................................................................................................................................................... .08427 .06176 .05836 .05868 144.4 105.3 

Georgia ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01511 .01252 .03059 .03037 49.4 41.2 

Hawaii ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00153 .00826 .00377 .00378 40.6 218.4 

Idaho ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00143 .00739 .00332 .00338 43.0 219.1 

Illinois ..................................................................................................................................................................... .09541 .10791 .05102 .05063 187.0 213.1 

Indiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01713 .02535 .02363 .02378 72.5 106.6 

Iowa ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00207 .00189 .01018 .01022 20.3 18.5 

Kansas ..................................................................................................................................................................... .02994 .00943 .00949 .00957 315.5 98.6 

Kentucky ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01476 .00826 .01291 .01287 114.3 64.2 

Louisiana ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00906 .00519 .01258 .01261 72.0 41.2 

Maine ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00099 .00153 .00389 .00388 25.5 39.3 

Maryland ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00617 .00689 .01786 .01829 34.5 37.7 

Massachusetts ..................................................................................................................................................................... .03648 .03947 .02673 .02639 136.5 149.6 

Michigan ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01779 .03185 .03788 .03784 47.0 84.2 

Minnesota ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01658 .00711 .02078 .02088 79.8 34.0 

Mississippi ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00276 .00885 .00787 .00792 35.1 111.8 

Missouri ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01429 .00690 .02001 .02024 71.4 34.1 

Montana ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00000 .00053 .00183 .00192 0.0 27.6 

Nebraska ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00345 .00106 .00639 .00644 54.0 16.5 

Nevada ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00471 .00565 .00921 .00929 51.1 60.9 

New Hampshire ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00171 .00081 .00413 .00410 41.3 19.8 

New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................................................... .02508 .02561 .03052 .03063 82.2 83.6 

New Mexico ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00257 .00220 .00453 .00467 56.7 47.1 

New York ..................................................................................................................................................................... .07973 .03150 .06408 .06407 124.4 49.2 

North Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... .03450 .04170 .02879 .02821 119.8 147.8 

North Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00000 .00046 .00186 .00190 0.0 24.0 

Ohio ..................................................................................................................................................................... .02569 .02859 .04461 .04433 57.6 64.5 

Oklahoma ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00361 .00291 .01021 .01016 35.4 28.6 

Oregon ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01601 .00780 .01062 .01054 150.7 74.0 

Pennsylvania ..................................................................................................................................................................... .05075 .03016 .04577 .04606 110.9 65.5 

Rhode Island ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00128 .00106 .00340 .00344 37.6 30.8 

South Carolina ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00640 .00405 .01349 .01337 47.4 30.3 

South Dakota ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00000 .00122 .00220 .00219 0.0 55.7 

Tennessee ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01389 .01713 .02264 .02271 61.3 75.4 

Texas ..................................................................................................................................................................... .07787 .03133 .07214 .07214 108.0 43.4 

Utah ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00553 .00117 .00725 .00715 76.3 16.3 

Vermont ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00531 .00000 .00173 .00174 306.8 0.0 

Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01331 .01523 .02521 .02526 52.8 60.3 

Washington ..................................................................................................................................................................... .03212 .02648 .01873 .01832 171.5 144.6 

West Virginia ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00396 .00067 .00417 .00424 94.8 15.9 

Wisconsin ..................................................................................................................................................................... .01508 .02452 .02193 .02208 68.8 111.1 

Wyoming ..................................................................................................................................................................... .00000 .00000 .00103 .00108 0.0 0.0 

 1 See footnote 1, table 1. to the comparable U.S. total. Covered employment refers to workers

 2 The share of separations is the proportion of each State's private sector who are covered by State unemployment insurance laws.

separations to the total number of private sector separations in the U.S. for 4 The index is the ratio of the share of separations (excluding seasonal 

the period. Seasonal work and vacation periods as reasons for layoff are work and vacation periods) to the share of establishment employment,

excluded from these calculations. multiplied by 100.

 3 The share of establishment employment is the proportion of each State's p = preliminary.

private sector covered employment in establishments of 50 workers or more

State

Index of mass-layoff 

separations4

Share of 

separations2

Share of 

establishment employment3
AK HI

TX

OK

AR

AL MS

TN

SC

NC

LA

FL

GA

UT

NM AZ

CA

OR

WA

NV

CO

WY

ID

MT

KS MO

IA

MN

ND

SD

NE

KY

WI

IL IN OH

MI

WV

VA

MD

DE

PA

NY

NJ

VT

Pacific

Mountain West North Central East North Central

Middle

Atlantic

New England

West South

Central

East South

Central

Chart 1. Index of private-sector mass-layoff separation

third quarter 2003

20

16

12

80

40

39

Note: The index is the ratio of the share of private-sector

separations to the share of private-sector covered employment

in establishments of 50 or more workers, multiplied by 100.

Source: Mass Layoff Statistics
AK HI

TX

OK

AR

AL MS

TN

SC

NC

LA

FL

GA

UT

NM AZ

CA

OR

WA

NV

CO

WY

ID

MT

KS MO

IA

MN

ND

SD

NE

KY

WI

IL IN OH

MI

WV

VA

MD

DE

PA

NY

NJ

VT

Pacific

Mountain West North Central East North Central

Middle

Atlantic

New England

West South

Central

East South

Central

Chart 2. Index of private-sector mass-layoff separatio

(excluding seasonal work and vacation period),

third quarter 2003

20

16

12

80

40

39

Note: The index is the ratio of the share of private-sector

separations to the share of private-sector covered employment

in establishments of 50 or more workers, multiplied by 100.

Source: Mass Layoff Statistics