Technical information:  (202) 691-6392     USDL 03-178
http://www.bls.gov/mls/
                                     
                                           For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                691-5902     Friday, April 18, 2003
                                     
                                     
            EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2002
                       AND ANNUAL AVERAGES FOR 2002
  
  
   In the fourth quarter of 2002, 2,127 mass layoff actions were taken 
by employers that resulted in the separation of 416,941 workers from 
their jobs for at least 31 days, according to preliminary figures re-
leased 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 October-December 2001.  (See table A.)  The decline 
from fourth quarter 2001 was most notable in administrative and support 
services, in transportation equipment manufacturing, and in computer and 
electronic products manufacturing.
                                     
   The completion of seasonal work accounted for 46 percent of all events
and 213,730 separations during the period.  Layoffs due to internal company
restructuring accounted for 16 percent of events, and resulted in 72,208 
separations, lower than a year earlier.  Permanent closure of worksites 
occurred in 11 percent of all events and affected 54,762 workers, down from
83,688 workers in October-December 2001 and the smallest for the fourth
quarter since 1999.  Fifty-eight percent of the employers with layoffs in
the fourth quarter indicated that they anticipated some type of recall,
higher than a year ago (49 percent).
   
   For all of 2002, extended mass layoff events, at 7,163, and the number
of worker separations, at 1,493,065, were lower than in 2001, when there
were 8,350 mass layoff events and 1,751,527 separations.  Additional in-
formation on the annual data is available starting on page 5 of this re-
lease.
   
Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
   
   Extended mass layoff separations occurred in 498 of the 1,197 detailed
industries for which data are available.  Manufacturing industries accounted 
for 32 percent of private-sector layoff events and 31 percent of separations 
during October-December 2002.  The 123,722 worker separations were the third 
highest for a fourth quarter, trailing only those for 2001 and 2000.  Layoff 
activity in this sector was concentrated in food manufacturing (30,142, large-
ly in the highly seasonal fruit and vegetable canning industry), followed by 
computer and electronic products (13,867, mostly in semiconductors and related 
devices).  A year earlier, manufacturing layoff activity was at a fourth-quar-
ter peak, accounting for 36 percent of private-sector events and 35 percent of 
separations.  (See table 1.)
   
   
  ----------------------------------------------------------------
 |                                                                |
 |                 Mass Layoff Statistics Program                 |
 |                                                                |
 |   The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program was discontinued as |
 | of Dec. 31, 2002, due to a lack of funding.  However, funds for|
 | the MLS resumption were contained in H.J. Res. 2, the Omnibus  |
 | Appropriation Bill, signed into law on Feb. 20.                |
 |                                                                |
  ----------------------------------------------------------------
   
                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Selected measures of extended mass layoff activity
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Period           | Layoff events|  Separations | Initial claimants
-------------------------|--------------|--------------|-------------------
          1998           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,320    |    208,082   |     247,315
April-June...............|     1,563    |    391,461   |     402,276
July-September...........|     1,234    |    248,054   |     256,803
October-December.........|     1,734    |    379,976   |     325,990
          1999           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,509    |    277,780   |     252,122
April-June...............|     1,444    |    294,968   |     242,464
July-September...........|     1,097    |    241,725   |     189,973
October-December.........|     1,625    |    334,794   |     287,685
          2000           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,330    |    254,646   |     221,368
April-June...............|     1,271    |    258,608   |     231,471
July-September...........|     1,014    |    230,103   |     189,250
October-December.........|     2,005    |    427,070   |     376,611
          2001           |              |              |
January-March............|     1,765    |    342,954   |     340,210
April-June...............|     2,072    |    481,886   |     401,270
July-September...........|     1,815    |    384,403   |     370,942
October-December(r)......|     2,698    |    542,284   |     502,662
          2002           |              |              |
January-March(r).........|     1,748    |    333,304   |     315,819
April-June(r)............|     1,905    |    432,889   |     352,183
July-September(r)........|     1,383    |    309,931   |     274,576
October-December(p)......|     2,127    |    416,941   |     305,208
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     p=preliminary.                          r=revised.

   Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting accounted for 14 percent of
private-sector layoff events and 19 percent of separations, with the layoff
activity concentrated in agriculture and forestry support activities.
Layoffs in construction comprised 22 percent of events and 16 percent of
separations, mostly in heavy and civil engineering construction.  Separa-
tions in this sector have averaged nearly 65,000 for each of the last
3 years.  Cutbacks in administrative and waste services accounted for an
additional 8 percent of events and 7 percent of separations, mainly in
temporary help services.  Worker separations were sharply lower than a 
year earlier.  Extended mass layoffs in retail trade accounted for an 
additional 4 percent of events and 6 percent of separations, primarily in 
general merchandise stores.
   
   Layoffs in government establishments accounted for 2 percent of all
events and 4 percent of separations, mostly in the administration of
environmental programs.
   
Reasons for Extended Layoff
   
   Layoffs due to the completion of seasonal work accounted for 46 percent
of the extended layoff events and resulted in 213,730 separations in the
fourth quarter.  (See table 2.)  Seasonal layoffs typically reach a yearly
peak in the fourth quarter, and 2002 was no exception.  Seasonal layoffs
                                  
                                  - 3 -

     Table B.  Summary of employer expectations of a recall from
     extended layoff, fourth quarter 2001-fourth quarter 2002
     -------------------------------------------------------------
                          |         Percentage of events
                          |---------------------------------------
     Nature of the recall |  IV  |   I   |   II  |  III  |  IV 
                          | 2001 |  2001 |  2001 | 2002r | 2002p
    ----------------------|------|-------|-------|-------|--------
     Anticipate a recall..| 49.1 |  35.3 |  52.8 |  36.4 |  57.6
                          |      |       |       |       |
           Timeframe      |      |       |       |       |
                          |      |       |       |       |
     Within 6 months......| 80.8 |  77.3 |  82.0 |  77.5 |  78.8
       Within 3 months....| 30.8 |  46.5 |  57.4 |  51.5 |  32.6
                          |      |       |       |       |
           Size           |      |       |       |       |
                          |      |       |       |       |
     At least half........| 87.3 |  84.9 |  91.3 |  82.5 |  86.4
       All workers........| 36.2 |  27.7 |  42.8 |  32.6 |  36.5
     -------------------------------------------------------------
        p=preliminary.                       r=revised.
   

this quarter were most numerous among workers in agriculture and forestry
support services (largely among farm labor contractors), in heavy and civil
engineering construction (mainly in highway, street, and bridge construction), 
and in crop production (mostly in grape vineyards).
   
   Internal company restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change,
financial difficulty, and reorganization) accounted for 16 percent of
layoff events and resulted in 72,208 separations.  These layoffs were
mostly among workers in general merchandise stores and in computer and
electronic products manufacturing.
   
   Lack of demand for products and services (slack work) accounted for 14
percent of events and resulted in 46,099 separations during the fourth
quarter, mostly in machinery manufacturing and in transportation equipment
manufacturing.
   
Recall Expectations
   
   Fifty-eight percent of employers reporting an extended layoff in the
fourth quarter of 2002 indicated they anticipated some type of recall.
This compares with 49 percent of the employers anticipating a recall a year
earlier and 67 percent in fourth quarter 2000.  (See table B.)  Most of the
employers not expecting a recall were in computer and electronic products
manufacturing and in administrative and support services.
   
   Among establishments expecting a recall, most employers expected to recall 
over one-half of the separated employees and to do so within 6 months.  Thirty-
six percent of the employers expected to extend the offer to all laid-off work-
ers.
   
   Excluding layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period (in
which 95 percent of the employers expected a recall), employers expected to
recall laid-off workers in 26 percent of the events.  In layoff events due
to internal company restructuring, employers anticipated a recall in only 5
percent of the events.

                                  - 4 -

Table C.  Distribution of extended layoff events by size of layoff,
October-December 2002(p)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                 |      Layoff events     |       Separations
      Size       |------------------------|------------------------
                 |   Number  |   Percent  |  Number  |   Percent
-----------------|-----------|------------|----------|-------------
                 |           |            |          |
    Total........|   2,127   |    100.0   |  416,941 |    100.0
                 |           |            |          |
50-99............|     728   |     34.2   |   51,718 |     12.4
100-149..........|     508   |     23.9   |   59,645 |     14.3
150-199..........|     267   |     12.6   |   44,494 |     10.7
200-299..........|     281   |     13.2   |   64,307 |     15.4
300-499..........|     212   |     10.0   |   78,043 |     18.7
500-999..........|      90   |      4.2   |   59,916 |     14.4
1,000 or more....|      41   |      1.9   |   58,818 |     14.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------
     p=preliminary.

Size of Extended Layoff
   
   Layoff events during the fourth quarter continued to be concentrated at
the lower end of the extended layoff-size spectrum, with 58 percent involving 
fewer than 150 workers.  These events, however, accounted for only 27 percent 
of all separations.  (See table C.)  Separations involving 500 or more workers 
accounted for 28 percent of all separations, down slightly from 32 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 55 separations 
in ambulatory health care services to a high of 616 in postal services.
   
Initial Claimant Characteristics
   
   A total of 305,208 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with extended mass layoffs in the fourth quarter of 2002.  Of
these claimants, 11 percent were black, 35 percent were women, 23 percent
were Hispanic, and 14 percent were 55 years of age or older.  (See table 3.)  
Forty percent of claimants were 30 to 44 years of age.  Among the civilian 
labor force for the same period, 11 percent were black, 47 percent were women, 
13 percent were Hispanic, and 15 percent were 55 years of age or older.  Thirty-
seven percent of the civilian labor force were ages 30 to 44.
   
Geographic Distribution
   
   In the fourth quarter, the number of separations due to extended mass
layoff events was highest in the West (165,218), followed by the Midwest
(125,083), the Northeast (64,678), and the South (61,962).  (See table 4.)
Extended mass layoffs in the West were mainly in agricultural and forestry
support activities.
   
   All four regions reported over-the-year decreases in separations, with
the largest decrease occurring in the Midwest (-44,332).  Each of the nine
geographic divisions reported over-the-year declines in laid-off workers,
with the largest declines in the East North Central and South Atlantic
divisions.

                                  - 5 -

     Table D.  Selected measures of mass layoff activity, 1996-2002
     ----------------------------------------------------------------
         Period    | Layoff events|  Separations | Initial claimants
     --------------|--------------|--------------|-------------------
                   |              |              |
     1996..........|     5,697    |  1,184,355   |       957,745
     1997..........|     5,683    |  1,146,115   |     1,041,907
     1998..........|     5,851    |  1,227,573   |     1,232,384
     1999 .........|     5,675    |  1,149,267   |       972,244
     2000(r).......|     5,620    |  1,170,427   |     1,018,700
     2001(r).......|     8,350    |  1,751,527   |     1,615,084
     2002(p).......|     7,163    |  1,493,065   |     1,247,786
                   |              |              |
     -----------------------------------------------------------------
         p=preliminary.                      r=revised.

   
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the largest number of
worker separations occurred in California (115,631), followed by Illinois
(45,455).  These two states accounted for 33 percent of total layoff events
and 39 percent of the separations during the fourth quarter of 2002.  They
were followed by New York (23,525), Wisconsin (18,560), Washington (16,068), 
and Pennsylvania (15,122).  (See table 5.)  After excluding the substantial 
impact of seasonal work, California still reported the most laid-off workers 
(30,838), largely due to layoffs in administrative and support services and 
in computer and electronic products manufacturing.
   
   Over the year, Massachusetts reported the greatest decrease in laid-off
workers (-12,100), followed by California (-10,954) and Illinois (-9,774).
The largest increase occurred in South Carolina (+1,710).

Review of 2002
   
   For all of 2002, employers reported 7,163 extended mass layoff actions,
affecting 1,493,065 workers, the second highest totals since full-year data
became available in 1996.  These totals were down from 8,350 events and
1,751,527 separations in 2001.  (See table D.)  The annual average national
unemployment rate increased from 4.7 percent in 2001 to 5.8 percent in 2002, 
while nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 0.9 percent, or 1,131,000 jobs.
   
   In the private sector, manufacturing had the largest share of extended
events and separations in 2002.  Manufacturing accounted for 34 percent 
of all mass layoff events--the smallest share since 1999--and 31 percent 
of all separations--the lowest percentage since 1997.  Within manufacturing,
separations were most numerous in computer and electronic products (78,350,
mainly in semiconductors and related devices), food processing (77,630,
largely in fruit and vegetable canning), and transportation equipment
(57,944 mostly in aircraft manufacturing).  Compared with 2001, 18 of the
21 manufacturing subgroups had declines in the number of separations, with
the largest reported among employers in computer and electronic products 
(-53,257), followed by those in transportation equipment (-28,459) and
primary metals (-21,603).  Food manufacturing had the largest increase
(+5,551).
   
   In 2002, seasonal work continued to be the most cited reason for
layoff, accounting for 32 percent of all layoff events and 37 percent of
all separations.  These are the second lowest shares for seasonal layoffs
since 1996.  A year earlier, seasonal layoffs accounted for 27 percent of
events and 28 percent of separations.  The layoffs in 2002 occurred
primarily in establishments engaged in agriculture and forestry support
activities, crop production, and food manufacturing.
   
                                  - 6 -

   Layoff activity due to internal company restructuring occurred largely
among general merchandise stores and was at levels exceeded only by those
in 2001.  Employers cited this reason in 1,654 events (23 percent of the
total), resulting in the separation of 375,593 workers (25 percent of the
total).
   
   The West reported more laid-off workers in 2002 than any other region,
553,868.  Layoffs in the West were mainly in food production (agriculture
and forestry support activities, crop production, and food manufacturing)
and were primarily attributed to seasonal factors.  The Northeast region
continued to report the lowest annual number of separations (248,624).
Compared with 2001, each of the four geographic regions reported a decrease
in laid-off workers, the first time that all four regions had an over-the-
year decrease.  The largest decline occurred in the Midwest (-151,463).
   
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, California continued
to report the largest number of separated workers (349,332), largely due to
seasonal layoffs in agriculture.  However, California accounted for its
smallest share of events and its second smallest share of separations since
1996.  After California were Illinois (154,424), Florida (97,229), New York
(69,977), Texas (68,978), and Pennsylvania (62,456).  These six states
accounted for 51 percent of events and 54 percent of separations for the
year.  Michigan had the largest over-the-year decline in the number of
separations (-77,285); Arizona recorded the largest over-the-year increase
(+22,195).
   
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 establish-
ment 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 fourth 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 in-
dicator of trend.  For additional information about the program, see the 
Technical Note.
   
                      ______________________________
   
   
   The report on Mass Layoffs in March 2003 will be issued on Wednesday,
April 30, 2003.
   
   
   
   
   

Technical Note
  
  The  Mass  Layoff  Statistics (MLS) program is  a  federal-state  program
which  uses  a standardized, automated approach to identifying, describing,
and  tracking  the  effects of major job cutbacks,  using  data  from  each
state's  unemployment  insurance database.  Establishments  which  have  at
least  50  initial  claims filed against them during a  consecutive  5-week
period  are  contacted  by  the state agency  to  determine  whether  these
separations  are of at least 31 days duration, and, if so,  information  is
obtained on the total number of persons separated and the reasons for these
separations.    Establishments  are  identified   according   to   industry
classification  and  location,  and unemployment  insurance  claimants  are
identified by such demographic factors as age, race, sex, ethnic group, and
place  of  residence.  The program yields information  on  an  individual's
entire  spell  of  unemployment,  to the point  when  regular  unemployment
insurance benefits are exhausted.

  The  MLS  program  was resumed in April 1995; it had been  terminated  in
November  1992 due to lack of funding.  However, due to changes in concepts
and  definitions,  data  from the resumed program  are  not  comparable  to
earlier data.

  Information   in   this   release  will  be  made  available  to  sensory
impaired  individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message
referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.

Definitions

  Establishment.   A  unit  at   a  single   physical  location   at  which
predominantly one type of economic activity is conducted.

  Extended layoff event.  Fifty  or  more  initial  claims for unemployment
insurance  benefits from an establishment during a 5-week period,  with  at
least 50 workers separated for more than 30 days.

  Initial  claimant.  A person  who  files  any  notice of unemployment  to
initiate  a  request  either  for a determination  of  entitlement  to  and
eligibility  for  compensation, or for a subsequent period of  unemployment
within a benefit year or period of eligibility.

  Layoff. The separation of persons  from  an  employer  as part of a  mass
layoff  event.  (See below.) Such layoffs involve both persons  subject  to
recall and those who are terminated by the establishment.

                                  - 2 -

  Mass layoff.  Fifty or more  initial  claims for  unemployment  insurance
benefits  from  an establishment beginning in a given month, regardless  of
duration.

  Worksite  closure.  The  full  closure  of  either multi-unit or  single-
unit  establishments  or the partial closure of a multi-unit  establishment
where  entire  worksites affected by layoffs are closed or  planned  to  be
closed.


Table 1. Industry distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment
insurance, selected quarters, 2001 and 2002   
                                                                                                           Initial claimants for  
                                                          Layoff events               Separations          unemployment insurance  
                      Industry                    
                                                       IV       III      IV       IV       III      IV       IV       III      IV   
                                                      2001r    2002r    2002p    2001r    2002r    2002p    2001r    2002r    2002p 


        Total( 1 ) ...............................    2,698    1,383    2,127  542,284  309,931  416,941  502,662  274,576  305,208

Total, private ...................................    2,651    1,319    2,075  526,871  296,403  399,167  491,213  263,230  296,920

  Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting  ....      278      132      281   66,941   41,568   75,647   34,985   18,022   34,193
  Mining .........................................       34       10       22    5,591    1,517    2,873    5,750    1,451    2,266
  Utilities ......................................        7    ( 2 )        6    1,127    ( 2 )    1,381    1,479    ( 2 )      713
  Construction ...................................      459       63      455   65,449    8,503   65,243   68,118   12,158   56,807
  Manufacturing ..................................      959      499      672  185,209  106,339  123,722  204,706  104,083  109,854
       Food ......................................      113       50      120   29,713   20,320   30,142   22,789    9,736   20,714
       Beverage and tobacco products .............       14    ( 2 )        4    2,052    ( 2 )      428    1,555    ( 2 )      313
       Textile mills .............................       25       18       17    5,715    3,001    2,800    5,710    6,692    3,554
       Textile product mills .....................        8        6        8      952    1,043      783    1,387    1,479      838
       Apparel ...................................       53       36       23    9,653    7,487    4,283    8,455    6,706    3,518
       Leather and allied products ...............       10        6        8    1,713      484      857    1,580      486      854
       Wood products .............................       36       12       35    4,022    1,584    5,111    6,636    2,288    4,513
       Paper .....................................       25       14       17    3,535    1,959    2,926    3,453    1,907    2,197
       Printing and related support activities ...       18        9        8    2,333    1,267    1,435    2,199    1,039      747
       Petroleum and coal products ...............       15    ( 2 )       17    2,405    ( 2 )    2,742    2,248    ( 2 )    2,654

       Chemicals  ................................       15       10       11    2,338    2,515    1,552    1,752    1,312    1,012
       Plastics and rubber products ..............       35       16       16    5,912    2,434    2,456    7,631    2,086    2,411
       Nonmetallic mineral products ..............       42       11       40    8,796    1,623    6,913    9,061    1,675    5,000
       Primary metals ............................       56       30       38   16,812    4,943    6,521   20,305    6,268    7,158
       Fabricated metal products .................       58       25       33    7,304    4,629    4,530    9,512    3,861    3,854
       Machinery .................................       78       38       54   10,968    6,755   11,680   18,296    9,030   10,186
       Computer and electronic products ..........      151      107       81   27,984   20,799   13,867   28,990   20,752   12,006
       Electrical equipment and appliances .......       34       27       26    8,562    4,952    6,290   10,015    7,247    8,991
       Transportation equipment ..................      117       55       76   25,750   15,025   11,690   33,219   15,056   13,498
       Furniture and related products ............       34       10       23    5,360    1,877    3,869    6,285    2,806    3,435
       Miscellaneous manufacturing ...............       22       13       17    3,330    2,897    2,847    3,628    3,080    2,401

  Wholesale trade ................................       43       35       33    4,650    5,542    6,681    4,655    4,601    3,744
  Retail trade ...................................      112       62       84   38,694   18,177   23,561   30,618   17,747   14,177
  Transportation and warehousing .................      100       84       57   26,594   25,097   17,554   21,757   22,046   11,798
  Information ....................................       92       70       62   17,884   14,787   10,687   21,531   15,649    8,966
  Finance and insurance ..........................       57       53       37    9,619   10,942    6,592    8,843   10,897    4,517
  Real estate and rental and leasing .............       18        5    ( 2 )    3,057    1,147    ( 2 )    2,153    1,091    ( 2 )
  Professional and technical services ............       78       57       52   11,589    9,031    7,657   11,505    8,505    6,203
  Management of companies and enterprises ........    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
  Administrative and waste services ..............      199      124      164   45,892   33,379   28,568   41,590   32,442   25,009
  Educational services ...........................    ( 2 )        8    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      821    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      704    ( 2 )
  Health care and social assistance ..............       21       39       29    5,344    4,448    4,749    3,513    4,122    3,949
  Arts, entertainment, and recreation ............       43       26       32    9,869    7,541    7,807    6,522    3,485    3,845
  Accommodation and food services ................      110       34       56   22,192    4,159   11,422   17,768    3,809    7,266
  Other services, except public administration ...       16       12       18    2,479    1,929    2,708    2,187    1,430    1,979

  Unclassified ...................................       18        -        5    3,505        -      613    2,722        -      472

Government .......................................       47       64       52   15,413   13,528   17,774   11,449   11,346    8,288
       Federal ...................................       10        9        8    2,182    2,165    3,552    2,764    2,124    1,033
       State .....................................       18       13       19    5,683    3,021    7,438    4,282    3,002    4,061
       Local .....................................       19       42       25    7,548    8,342    6,784    4,403    6,220    3,194
 
    1 Data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia. 
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    p = preliminary.
    r = revised.
    NOTE:  Industry data reflect the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), 2002.  Dash represents zero. 
     
 
 
 

Table 2. Reason for separation: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment 
insurance, selected quarters, 2001 and 2002   
                                                                                                            Initial claimants for  
                                                          Layoff events               Separations          unemployment insurance  
               Reason for separation              
                                                       IV       III      IV       IV       III      IV       IV       III      IV   
                                                      2001r    2002r    2002p    2001r    2002r    2002p    2001r    2002r    2002p 


   Total, all reasons( 1 )........................    2,698    1,383    2,127  542,284  309,931  416,941  502,662  274,576  305,208

Automation .......................................        3        3    ( 2 )      343      406    ( 2 )      889      273    ( 2 )
Bankruptcy .......................................       74       59       43   26,505   23,812   14,649   20,326   19,519    8,896
Business ownership change ........................       57       41       32   16,797   11,328    8,301    9,752    8,129    3,915
Contract cancellation ............................       51       53       40    8,376   13,421    7,669    9,071    9,038    6,067
Contract completed ...............................      169      154      190   35,766   28,359   31,900   33,057   36,647   29,939
Domestic relocation ..............................       23       27       18    4,781    4,803    5,103    4,021    3,616    2,660
Energy-related ...................................    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -
Environment-related ..............................    ( 2 )        -        -    ( 2 )        -        -    ( 2 )        -        -
Financial difficulty .............................      181      122      100   38,971   24,514   17,500   35,626   20,983   14,085
Import competition ...............................       41       17       15    7,394    3,010    2,786    7,568    2,616    2,216
Labor dispute ....................................        3        4       11      555      814    2,300      240      822    2,172
Material shortage ................................    ( 2 )        -        4    ( 2 )        -      379    ( 2 )        -      379

Model changeover .................................        -    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
Natural disaster .................................    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )
Non-natural disaster .............................        6    ( 2 )        -    1,336    ( 2 )        -      514    ( 2 )        -
Overseas relocation ..............................       24       18       18    4,568    4,603    2,834    3,764    3,345    1,726
Plant or machine repair ..........................        3        7        5      364      825      488      877      656      574
Product line discontinued ........................       11       10        9    1,718    1,729      945    1,463    1,116      932
Reorganization within company ....................      191      181      169   38,870   38,091   31,758   33,706   37,221   23,870
Seasonal work ....................................      991      306      976  207,287   86,968  213,730  154,954   48,477  129,542
Slack work .......................................      669      268      304  112,064   43,857   46,099  144,223   55,111   50,360
Vacation period ..................................    ( 2 )       15    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    3,605    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    2,106    ( 2 )
Weather-related ..................................       20    ( 2 )       17    2,249    ( 2 )    1,854    3,110    ( 2 )    1,692
Other ............................................      111       42       58   20,304    7,268   10,549   24,105    8,262    9,302
Not reported .....................................       62       51      112   12,861   11,861   16,488   14,321   15,765   15,814

    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    p = preliminary. 
    r = revised.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero. 
     
 
 
 
 
Table 3. State and selected claimant characteristics: Extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment
insurance, third and fourth quarters, 2002

                                                                               Percent of total
                                                Total                                         
                                               initial                             Hispanic                         Persons age 55 
                          Layoff events       claimants           Black             origin            Women            and over    
         State        
                           III      IV       III      IV       III      IV       III      IV       III      IV       III      IV   
                          2002r    2002p    2002r    2002p    2002r    2002p    2002r    2002p    2002r    2002p    2002r    2002p 

    Total( 1 ) .......    1,383    2,127  274,576  305,208     14.9     10.6     17.9     23.2     43.7     34.7     15.1     14.0

Alabama ..............    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )     41.1     32.1       .5      3.8     23.2     73.2     33.0     18.2
Alaska ...............        -       10        -    1,127        -      3.4        -     27.5        -     26.4        -     14.2
Arizona ..............       35       21    5,627    2,558      5.8      6.5     37.0     27.0     37.8     41.9     13.5     16.3
Arkansas .............    ( 2 )        7    ( 2 )    3,637     24.3     12.5      7.5      1.1     53.3     37.3     12.1     11.5
California ...........      302      480   50,514   58,954      5.6      3.8     46.6     67.1     43.3     39.3     13.7     12.6
Colorado .............       24       33    3,348    4,900      6.2      5.0     14.3     25.2     43.4     28.4     12.9     13.6
Connecticut ..........       12       17    2,536    1,945     12.9     10.4      8.8      6.0     52.8     23.8     16.7     16.2
Delaware .............        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -
District of Columbia .    ( 2 )        3    ( 2 )      276     50.6     15.2       .2     18.1     59.3     44.9     15.3     14.1
Florida ..............      110      102   19,037   12,115     22.9     20.4     14.4     23.9     48.1     47.0     18.5     15.8
Georgia ..............       15       16    6,580    2,091     33.4     56.1      6.9      1.0     52.7     48.3     11.7     13.7
Hawaii ...............    ( 2 )        8    ( 2 )    1,544      8.9       .5      9.5     48.6     18.8     68.1      9.8     11.7
Idaho ................        4        7      357    1,165       .6      1.2     26.3      7.9     37.8     26.6     19.9     13.0

Illinois .............      109      213   23,573   31,110     27.1     14.0     11.4     16.9     43.2     27.6     12.2     12.2
Indiana ..............       26       74    5,910   13,497      7.1      7.3      2.2      2.6     31.9     29.8     15.1     13.4
Iowa .................        5       18      492    3,579       .8      1.1       .4      2.7     33.7     29.5     14.8     11.4
Kansas ...............       15       10    6,433    1,685     11.9     18.5      2.8      6.1     34.3     40.5     17.3     13.8
Kentucky .............       21       28    2,684    3,342      3.7      6.6       .7      1.2     51.4     41.4     18.7     16.5
Louisiana ............       15       22    1,543    2,452     48.2     47.8      3.2      2.8     50.7     27.0     10.0     12.6
Maine ................    ( 2 )       13    ( 2 )    1,831        -       .2        -       .1     20.1     47.7     13.2     16.1
Maryland .............        6        7      947    1,137     35.1     26.5      1.6      1.1     32.8     47.1     24.9     32.3
Massachusetts ........       42       31    8,555    3,882      6.1      6.8      1.8      1.8     48.5     32.5     18.4     13.0
Michigan .............       12       54    2,636    6,240     22.5     13.0      1.9     15.0     49.2     36.6     13.9     12.0
Minnesota ............       22       93    3,800   11,100      3.6      2.5      2.6      8.5     42.3     19.9     14.6     14.5
Mississippi ..........        6       14      766    1,240     75.3     54.3       .3       .4     50.9     49.1     11.6     16.0
Missouri .............       24       34    4,275    5,379     22.0     11.2      1.2       .4     57.6     40.0     16.2     21.0

Montana ..............        -       11        -    1,474        -       .3        -      2.3        -     19.7        -     15.3
Nebraska .............        4        9      550      766     11.3      1.3      3.3     12.0     37.1     13.8     13.1     19.2
Nevada ...............       10        7    1,081    2,151      7.4      8.8     22.0     15.2     26.5     41.2     21.5     21.2
New Hampshire ........    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )        -       .3        -      3.0        -     44.6        -     16.1        -
New Jersey ...........       56       55    8,167    7,639     21.5     16.7     14.9     18.9     53.2     43.2     19.9     20.4
New Mexico ...........    ( 2 )        4    ( 2 )      326       .8      3.1     56.7     61.0     32.3     31.0     18.7     12.9
New York .............      122      121   25,929   16,641     15.9      9.9      8.3      8.0     46.0     38.7     14.5     17.2
North Carolina .......       30       29    6,090    4,403     29.8     36.2      1.6      5.3     48.2     47.9     15.7     13.2
North Dakota .........        -        8        -    1,140        -       .5        -      3.5        -     11.3        -     12.7
Ohio .................       50      106    8,964   14,002     14.4     12.4      1.6      3.8     30.2     19.1     17.6     11.5
Oklahoma .............        4        7      667      874     17.4      8.2     15.0     10.1     28.5     18.1     13.0     14.6
Oregon ...............       25       41    3,406    6,579      2.8      2.2      8.5     16.8     40.5     36.6     14.7     14.1
Pennsylvania .........       59       77   19,989   19,725      6.3      6.2      3.5      2.5     40.1     35.3     19.0     15.3

Rhode Island .........    ( 2 )       10    ( 2 )      955      3.3      3.1     28.2     26.1     44.4     57.5     20.7     21.4
South Carolina .......       14       18    2,115    3,716     53.2     50.1       .1       .2     58.6     40.5      1.7      1.5
South Dakota .........        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -
Tennessee ............       19       15    1,798    1,785     28.3     21.2        -       .1     42.5     38.4     20.8     15.8
Texas ................       77       70   25,660   15,285     19.0     17.5     35.4     34.2     40.8     30.9     11.7     11.3
Utah .................    ( 2 )        5    ( 2 )      734      1.9       .3      9.3      8.4     28.9     24.9     25.3     12.4
Vermont ..............    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      2.1       .3      1.1        -     25.1     66.1     14.2     22.5
Virginia .............       20       26    4,232    3,444     27.4     36.3      1.1      3.0     59.6     53.1     19.6     14.4
Washington ...........       41       66    7,354    8,582      4.7      3.7     19.3     39.2     41.4     37.1     15.2     13.6
West Virginia ........        6        8      658    1,001       .2       .8        -        -     23.4     47.9     17.5     17.2
Wisconsin ............       18      115    4,717   16,536      3.9      3.8      4.0     13.5     43.9     26.9     15.6     16.1
Wyoming ..............        -    ( 2 )        -    ( 2 )        -      1.0        -      1.0        -     40.4        -     26.9

Puerto Rico ..........       12        3    3,191      463    ( 3 )    ( 3 )    ( 3 )    ( 3 )     50.6     49.0      7.0     17.1

    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    3 Data are not available. 
    p = preliminary.
    r = revised.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero. 
     
 
 
 
     
Table 4. Census region and division: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment
insurance, selected quarters, 2001 and 2002   
                                                                                                           Initial claimants for  
                                                          Layoff events               Separations          unemployment insurance  
             Census region and division           
                                                       IV       III      IV       IV       III      IV       IV       III      IV   
                                                      2001r    2002r    2002p    2001r    2002r    2002p    2001r    2002r    2002p 

        United States( 1 )........................    2,698    1,383    2,127  542,284  309,931  416,941  502,662  274,576  305,208

Northeast ........................................      401      300      326   82,297   60,674   64,678   83,553   66,668   52,969

    New England ..................................      132       63       73   31,589   15,707   16,606   23,452   12,583    8,964
    Middle Atlantic ..............................      269      237      253   50,708   44,967   48,072   60,101   54,085   44,005

South ............................................      542      350      373  102,445   69,958   61,962  103,947   73,601   57,007

    South Atlantic ...............................      292      203      209   59,847   40,614   33,017   55,346   40,084   28,183
    East South Central ...........................      103       48       58   19,216    8,204   11,076   18,495    5,433    6,576
    West South Central ...........................      147       99      106   23,382   21,140   17,869   30,106   28,084   22,248

Midwest ..........................................      897      285      734  169,415   66,696  125,083  172,773   61,350  105,034

    East North Central ...........................      681      215      562  132,627   48,074   97,281  133,436   45,800   81,385
    West North Central ...........................      216       70      172   36,788   18,622   27,802   39,337   15,550   23,649

West .............................................      858      448      694  188,127  112,603  165,218  142,389   72,957   90,198

    Mountain .....................................      150       77       89   30,635   16,602   23,888   23,062   11,347   13,412
    Pacific ......................................      708      371      605  157,492   96,001  141,330  119,327   61,610   76,786


    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    p = preliminary.
    r = revised.
    NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the census divisions are: New England: Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic:
Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; East South
Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas: East North
Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North
Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska,
California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. 
 
 
 

Table 5. State distribution: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance,
selected quarters, 2001 and 2002        
                                                                                                           Initial claimants for  
                                                          Layoff events               Separations          unemployment insurance  
                       State                      
                                                       IV       III      IV       IV       III      IV       IV       III      IV   
                                                      2001r    2002r    2002p    2001r    2002r    2002p    2001r    2002r    2002p 

    Total( 1 )....................................    2,698    1,383    2,127  542,284  309,931  416,941  502,662  274,576  305,208

Alabama ..........................................       28    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    6,754    ( 2 )    ( 2 )    6,507    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
Alaska ...........................................        5        -       10    1,047        -    1,127      580        -    1,127
Arizona ..........................................       25       35       21    3,747    9,757    5,263    4,300    5,627    2,558
Arkansas .........................................        6    ( 2 )        7    1,758    ( 2 )    1,525      714    ( 2 )    3,637
California .......................................      586      302      480  126,585   79,487  115,631   95,713   50,514   58,954
Colorado .........................................       46       24       33    7,349    3,522    7,334    6,894    3,348    4,900
Connecticut ......................................       23       12       17    3,977    3,591    2,907    2,971    2,536    1,945
Delaware .........................................        3        -        -      359        -        -      359        -        -
District of Columbia .............................    ( 2 )    ( 2 )        3    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      276    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      276
Florida ..........................................      137      110      102   21,666   22,225   14,013   21,407   19,037   12,115
Georgia ..........................................       21       15       16   10,998    3,372    2,367    4,545    6,580    2,091
Hawaii ...........................................       17    ( 2 )        8    2,165    ( 2 )    1,925    2,372    ( 2 )    1,544
Idaho ............................................       17        4        7    2,887      504    1,982    2,017      357    1,165

Illinois .........................................      254      109      213   55,229   29,186   45,455   44,684   23,573   31,110
Indiana ..........................................       72       26       74   12,389    5,524   13,945   15,689    5,910   13,497
Iowa .............................................       50        5       18    6,327      556    2,602    9,224      492    3,579
Kansas ...........................................       13       15       10    7,385    8,081    2,031    8,701    6,433    1,685
Kentucky .........................................       32       21       28    6,189    3,876    4,590    5,823    2,684    3,342
Louisiana ........................................       27       15       22    4,321    2,052    2,889    3,195    1,543    2,452
Maine ............................................       16    ( 2 )       13    5,103    ( 2 )    4,659    2,714    ( 2 )    1,831
Maryland .........................................       19        6        7    3,840    1,495    1,316    2,812      947    1,137
Massachusetts ....................................       78       42       31   19,373   10,011    7,273   15,253    8,555    3,882
Michigan .........................................      108       12       54   14,550    3,993    5,092   22,100    2,636    6,240
Minnesota ........................................       98       22       93   14,693    4,336   14,863   13,717    3,800   11,100
Mississippi ......................................       18        6       14    2,386    1,057    2,211    2,045      766    1,240
Missouri .........................................       45       24       34    6,748    4,890    5,835    6,133    4,275    5,379

Montana ..........................................        7        -       11    2,118        -    2,258    1,056        -    1,474
Nebraska .........................................    ( 2 )        4        9    ( 2 )      759    1,331    ( 2 )      550      766
Nevada ...........................................       27       10        7    7,177    1,106    3,923    3,884    1,081    2,151
New Hampshire ....................................        6    ( 2 )        -    1,945    ( 2 )        -    1,638    ( 2 )        -
New Jersey .......................................       56       56       55    9,566    8,538    9,425   10,925    8,167    7,639
New Mexico .......................................        6    ( 2 )        4    1,568    ( 2 )      798      782    ( 2 )      326
New York .........................................      118      122      121   22,140   24,390   23,525   18,007   25,929   16,641
North Carolina ...................................       63       30       29   14,362    7,541    6,483   12,390    6,090    4,403
North Dakota .....................................        9        -        8    1,546        -    1,140    1,473        -    1,140
Ohio .............................................      138       50      106   23,077    5,711   14,229   26,886    8,964   14,002
Oklahoma .........................................       11        4        7    2,145      793      902    3,371      667      874
Oregon ...........................................       39       25       41    8,619    4,223    6,579    7,950    3,406    6,579
Pennsylvania .....................................       95       59       77   19,002   12,039   15,122   31,169   19,989   19,725

Rhode Island .....................................        6    ( 2 )       10      870    ( 2 )    1,026      555    ( 2 )      955
South Carolina ...................................       16       14       18    1,551    1,760    3,261    5,876    2,115    3,716
South Dakota .....................................        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -
Tennessee ........................................       25       19       15    3,887    3,052    4,162    4,120    1,798    1,785
Texas ............................................      103       77       70   15,158   17,753   12,553   22,826   25,660   15,285
Utah .............................................       22    ( 2 )        5    5,789    ( 2 )    1,350    4,129    ( 2 )      734
Vermont ..........................................        3    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      321    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      321    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
Virginia .........................................       30       20       26    6,758    2,926    3,989    7,644    4,232    3,444
Washington .......................................       61       41       66   19,076   11,955   16,068   12,712    7,354    8,582
West Virginia ....................................    ( 2 )        6        8    ( 2 )      870    1,312    ( 2 )      658    1,001
Wisconsin ........................................      109       18      115   27,382    3,660   18,560   24,077    4,717   16,536
Wyoming ..........................................        -        -    ( 2 )        -        -    ( 2 )        -        -    ( 2 )

Puerto Rico ......................................       23       12        3    4,691    2,616      769    4,484    3,191      463

    1 See footnote 1, table 1.
    2 Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
    p = preliminary. 
    r = revised.
    NOTE: Dash represents zero.