Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:  (202) 691-6392        USDL 00-83
                                     
                                              For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                691-5902        Thursday, March 23, 2000
                                     
                                     
            EXTENDED MASS LAYOFFS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1999

   In the fourth quarter of 1999, there were 1,571 mass layoff actions by
employers that resulted in the separation of 310,954 workers from their
jobs for more than 30 days, according to preliminary figures released by
the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Both the number
of layoff events and the number of separations were sharply lower than in
October-December 1998.  (See table A.)  For all of 1999, the total of
extended mass layoff events, at 5,624, and the total number of worker
separations, at 1,126,278, declined to pre-1998 levels.  Additional
information on the 1999 annual data is provided in the review of 1999
section beginning on page 4 of this release.
   
   The completion of seasonal work was the major reason cited for layoffs
in the fourth quarter and accounted for 59 percent of all events and
60 percent of all separations. These percentages were the highest since the
mass layoff program was resumed in the second quarter of 1995.  Layoffs due
to internal company restructuring resulted in 37,928 separations, the lowest
level in 8 quarters.  Permanent closure of worksites occurred in 9 percent of
all events and affected 41,296 workers, about unchanged from a year earlier.
   
   The quarterly series on extended mass layoffs covers 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.  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 indicator of trend.  Additional information about
the program is provided in the technical note that follows the analysis.
   
Industry Distribution of Extended Layoffs
   
   In the private sector during October-December 1999, agriculture accounted
for 25 percent of all layoff events and separations.  The layoff activity
occurred in agricultural services, primarily farm labor contractors, and was
almost entirely due to the end of seasonal work.  (See table 1.)
   
   Twenty-nine percent of all layoff events and separations occurred in
manufacturing industries.  Layoffs from nondurable goods manufacturers were
most numerous in food and kindred products (primarily in canned and frozen
fruits and vegetables).  Among durable goods industries, layoffs were most
prevalent in transportation equipment (motor vehicle parts and accessories)
and industrial machinery and equipment (mostly construction machinery).

                                  - 2 -
     
  Table A.  Selected measures of mass layoff activity
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Period       | Layoff events|  Separations | Initial claimants
  ---------------------|--------------|--------------|------------------
           1995        |              |              |
  April-June...........|     1,724    |     400,891  |      332,731
  July-September.......|       950    |     193,956  |      154,226
  October-December.....|     1,764    |     348,036  |      312,428
           1996        |              |              |
  January-March........|     1,408    |     272,399  |      224,393
  April-June...........|     1,352    |     261,628  |      200,032
  July-September.......|     1,021    |     233,199  |      185,247
  October-December.....|     1,916    |     417,044  |      348,073
           1997        |              |              |
  January-March........|     1,317    |     255,227  |      224,180
  April-June...........|     1,587    |     351,198  |      292,673
  July-September.......|     1,082    |     217,869  |      209,019
  October-December.....|     1,697    |     321,821  |      316,035
           1998        |              |              |
  January-March........|     1,320    |     208,082  |      247,315
  April-June...........|     1,563    |     391,461  |      402,276
  July-September(r)....|     1,234    |     248,054  |      256,803
  October-December(r)..|     1,736    |     380,256  |      326,122
           1999        |              |              |
  January-March(r).....|     1,509    |     277,767  |      252,060
  April-June(r)........|     1,445    |     295,268  |      242,197
  July-September(r)....|     1,099    |     242,289  |      189,366
  October-December(p)..|     1,571    |     310,954  |      212,196
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
       p=preliminary.              r=revised.

   Cutbacks in construction accounted for 20 percent of events and
16 percent of separations, primarily in heavy construction, excluding
building.  Services accounted for 13 percent of all layoff events and
14 percent of separations, mainly in business services (primarily help
supply) and amusement and recreation services (mostly in amusement parks).
Retail trade accounted for 5 percent of all layoff events and 8 percent of
all separations, largely in general merchandise stores (department stores)
and building material and garden supplies (lumber and other building
materials).
   
   Layoffs in government establishments accounted for 3 percent of total
events and 5 percent of all separations.
   
Reasons for Extended Layoff
   
   Sixty percent of the separations and 59 percent of the events in the
fourth quarter were due to seasonal work.  These layoffs were most numerous
among workers in agricultural services (such as farm labor contractors and
crop preparation services), agricultural production crops (mostly in
vegetables and melons and grapes), food and kindred products (largely in
canned fruits and vegetables), and heavy construction, excluding buildings
(mostly highway and street construction).  Layoffs due to internal company
restructuring (bankruptcy, business ownership change, financial difficulty,
and reorganization) comprised 12 percent of all layoff events and separations;
the 37,928 separations due to restructuring were the lowest fourth-quarter
level on record.  (See table 2.)
     
                                  - 3 -

      Table B.  Distribution of layoff events by size of layoff,
      October-December 1999p
      ------------------------------------------------------------
                    |    Layoff events    |      Separations
           Size     |---------------------|-----------------------
                    |  Number  |  Percent |   Number |   Percent
      --------------|----------|----------|----------|------------
         Total......|   1,571  |   100.0  |  310,954 |    100.0
                    |          |          |          |
     50-99..........|     581  |    37.0  |   40,954 |     13.2
     100-149........|     319  |    20.3  |   37,245 |     12.0
     150-199........|     186  |    11.8  |   30,882 |      9.9
     200-299........|     227  |    14.4  |   52,904 |     17.0
     300-499........|     160  |    10.2  |   57,576 |     18.5
     500-999........|      72  |     4.6  |   45,513 |     14.6
     1,000 or more..|      26  |     1.7  |   45,880 |     14.8
     --------------------------------------------------------------
         p=preliminary.

Size of Extended Layoff

   Layoff events during the fourth quarter continued to be concentrated at
the lower end of the layoff-size spectrum, with 57 percent involving fewer
than 150 workers.  These events, however, accounted for only 25 percent of
all separations.  (See table B.)  Separations involving 500 or more workers
accounted for 29 percent of all separations, down from 37 percent a year
earlier.  The average size of layoffs (as measured by separations per
layoff event) differed widely by industry, ranging from an average of 85
separations in membership organizations to 889 in apparel and accessory
stores.
   
Initial Claimant Characteristics
   
   A total of 212,196 initial claimants for unemployment insurance were
associated with mass layoffs in the fourth quarter of 1999.  Of these
claimants, 9 percent were black, 35 percent were women, 33 percent were
Hispanic, and 13 percent were 55 years of age or older.  (See table 3.)
Over 2 out of 5 claimants were 30 to 44 years of age.  Among the civilian
labor force, 12 percent were black, 47 percent were women, 11 percent were
Hispanic, and 13 percent were 55 years of age or older.  Thirty-nine
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 higher in the West (134,956) than in any of the other
regions.  (See table 4.) Contributing to extended mass layoffs in the West
were agricultural services and agricultural production crops.  The lowest
number of worker separations was reported in the Northeast region (29,931).
   
   All four regions reported over-the-year decreases in separations, with
the largest decline occurring in the Northeast (-27,382), primarily in
apparel and electronic and other electric equipment.  Lower levels of
separations this year were reported mainly by employers in the Middle
Atlantic and Pacific divisions, with sharply fewer layoffs in depository
institutions, agricultural services, and motion pictures.  Separations rose
in the West North Central division (+4,138).
   
   Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the largest number of
worker separations occurred in California (110,168), followed by Illinois
(35,590).  These two states accounted for 41 percent of total layoff events
and 47 percent of all separations during the fourth quarter of 1999.
(See table 5.)  After excluding the substantial impact of seasonal work,
California still reported the most laid-off workers (23,464), primarily in
business services.
   
   Over the year, the largest decreases in laid-off workers occurred in
California (-21,595) and New York (-11,651).  The largest increase occurred
in Michigan (+5,685), primarily in business services and wholesale trade.

                                  - 4 -

      Table C.  Summary of employer expectations of a recall from layoff,
      fourth quarter 1998-fourth quarter 1999
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                            |             Percentage of events
                            |----------------------------------------------
       Nature of the recall |    IV  |    I   |   II  |  III  |    IV
                            |   1998 |   1999 |  1999 | 1999r |   1999p
      ----------------------|--------|--------|-------|-------|------------
      Anticipate a recall...|   58.1 |   57.3 |  60.1 |  50.4 |    69.3
                            |        |        |       |       |
            Timeframe       |        |        |       |       |
                            |        |        |       |       |
      Within 6 months.......|   86.6 |   84.1 |  84.2 |  82.7 |    81.7
        Within 3 months.....|   35.5 |   47.3 |  51.1 |  56.7 |    30.5
                            |        |        |       |       |
              Size          |        |        |       |       |
                            |        |        |       |       |
      At least half.........|   96.5 |   89.5 |  91.5 |  88.6 |    88.8
        All workers.........|   52.4 |   53.0 |  60.3 |  39.7 |    42.2
      --------------------------------------------------------------------
           p=preliminary.                         r=revised.

Recall Expectations

   Sixty-nine percent of employers reporting a layoff in the fourth quarter
of 1999 indicated they anticipated some type of recall, up from 58 percent
a year earlier and the highest rate for any quarter since fourth quarter
1997.  (See table C.)  The large proportion of employers expecting recall
in the fourth quarter of 1999 reflects, primarily, the dominance of
seasonal layoffs in this quarter's data.  Among establishments expecting a
recall, most employers expected to recall over one-half of the separated
employees and to do so within 6 months.
   
   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 35 percent of the events, higher than during the
same period a year ago (31 percent).  In layoff events due to internal
company restructuring, employers anticipated a recall in only 6 percent of
the events.
   
Review of 1999
   
   For all of 1999, there were 5,624 extended mass layoff actions and
1,126,278 workers separated from their jobs for more than 30 days in the
50 states and the District of Columbia, the lowest annual totals reported
since the resumption of the Mass Layoff Statistics program in April 1995.
A year earlier, in 1998, employers reported the largest number of laid-off
workers, totaling 1,227,853 separations in 5,853 extended layoff events.
This level of activity was due in large part to the automobile strike-
related plant shutdowns in the transportation equipment and related
industries.  (See table D.)
     
                                  - 5 -

   Table D.  Selected measures of mass layoff activity, 1996-1999
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
      Period   | Layoff events |  Separations  |  Initial claimants
   ------------|---------------|---------------|--------------------
   1996........|     5,697     |   1,184,270   |       957,745
   1997........|     5,683     |   1,146,115   |     1,041,907
   1998........|     5,853     |   1,227,853   |     1,232,516
   1999(p).....|     5,624     |   1,126,278   |       895,819
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
       p=preliminary.

   In the private sector during 1999, manufacturing accounted for 32 percent
of all mass layoff events and 33 percent of all separations, lower than in
1998 (37 percent and 41 percent, respectively).  The largest number of
separations occurred in food processing (81,530) and transportation equipment
(56,037).  Transportation equipment had the sharpest decrease in laid-off
workers (-88,196) compared with 1998, when there were large strike-related
plant shutdowns.  The largest over-the-year increase occurred in food
processing (+11,970).
   
   In 1999, seasonal work continued to be the most cited reason for layoff,
accounting for 41 percent of all layoff events and 43 percent of all
separations.  The number of workers separated due to internal company
restructuring rose 30 percent over the year to 244,564 separations,
slightly exceeding the 1996 figure as the highest level for this series.
   
   In 1999, the number of laid-off workers was higher in the West (434,879)
than in any other region.  Layoffs in food production (agriculture and food
processing) accounted for 50 percent of the separations in the West and
were due primarily to seasonal work.  The fewest number of separations
continued to be reported in the Northeast region (167,854).  Compared with
1998, three of the four regions reported a decrease in laid-off workers,
with the largest occurring in the Midwest (-107,060).  The West reported
the only rise in separations (+58,921).  Among the 50 states and the
District of Columbia, California continued to report the largest number of
separated workers (325,713), reflecting an over-the-year increase of 33,197.
Ohio had the largest over-the-year decline in separations (-55,823).

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, 1998 and 1999

                                                            Layoff events            Separations          Initial claimants for
                                                                                                          unemployment insurance
                         Industry
                                                           IV    III   IV        IV      III     IV        IV      III     IV
                                                          1998r 1999r 1999p     1998r   1999r   1999p     1998r   1999r   1999p    

         Total( 1 ).....................................  1,736 1,099 1,571   380,256 242,289 310,954   326,122 189,366 212,196     

 Total, private ........................................  1,677 1,042 1,529   366,703 222,841 295,953   313,519 177,465 205,266     

   Agriculture  ........................................    312   137   382    93,478  37,321  75,317    46,847  21,478  46,489     
   Nonagriculture ......................................  1,358   899 1,141   272,383 184,930 219,959   265,862 155,432 158,061     
      Manufacturing  ...................................    572   409   440   118,412  92,479  85,950   119,510  75,166  66,718     
         Durable goods  ................................    293   215   219    59,095  46,259  35,900    63,304  37,499  33,778     
            Lumber and wood products ...................     20    12    26     3,216   1,218   2,730     3,644   1,313   2,033     
            Furniture and fixtures .....................      6     9     7       592   1,157     940       517   1,125   1,329     
            Stone, clay, and glass products ............     17     8    22     2,484     964   3,537     2,703   1,708   2,673     
            Primary metal industries ...................     38    22    16     6,091   3,831   2,752     7,936   4,375   2,821     
            Fabricated metal products ..................     23    27    24     2,811   4,618   3,081     3,681   4,324   2,740     
            Industrial machinery and equipment .........     63    41    39    11,821   7,652   7,572    12,837   7,523   7,482     
            Electronic and other electrical equipment ..     49    28    26    13,167  14,527   4,065    12,477   4,595   4,355     
            Transportation equipment ...................     35    52    40    11,193  10,093   8,474    12,237  10,931   8,068     
            Instruments and related products ...........     18     8     5     3,618   1,370     554     2,619     990     591     
            Miscellaneous manufacturing industries .....     24     8    14     4,102     829   2,195     4,653     615   1,686     

         Nondurable goods  .............................    279   194   221    59,317  46,220  50,050    56,206  37,667  32,940     
            Food and kindred products ..................    106    65   102    27,231  21,107  28,293    25,690  11,270  16,303                                                             
            Tobacco products ...........................  ( 2 ) ( 2 )     -     ( 2 )   ( 2 )       -     ( 2 )   ( 2 )       -
            Textile mill products ......................     26    18    18     4,384   4,088   4,833     5,309   5,522   2,878     
            Apparel and other textile products .........     73    52    42    15,434  10,136   7,312    14,386  10,895   6,848     
            Paper and allied products ..................     18    11     8     4,023   2,141     961     3,379   1,666     741     
            Printing and publishing ....................     12     5     8     1,938   1,304   1,383     1,663     879     865     
            Chemicals and allied products ..............      7    11     7       862   1,995   1,027       891   1,687     702     
            Petroleum and coal products ................     14 ( 2 )    14     2,158   ( 2 )   2,345     2,137   ( 2 )   2,024     
            Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products .     15    26    14     1,738   4,231   2,418     1,417   4,875   1,453     
            Leather and leather products ...............  ( 2 )     3     8     ( 2 )     290   1,478     ( 2 )     339   1,126     

      Nonmanufacturing  ................................    786   490   701   153,971  92,451 134,009   146,352  80,266  91,343     
         Mining  .......................................     37    12    19     5,560   4,583   3,224     6,635   5,718   2,139     
         Construction ..................................    328    74   307    51,638  11,012  46,856    51,136  12,075  37,118     
         Transportation and public utilities ...........     37    87    47     8,090  20,605   6,970     7,311  14,963   5,208     
         Wholesale and retail trade ....................    112   101   111    21,973  22,521  31,161    19,935  14,443  14,469     
            Wholesale trade  ...........................     36    29    36     6,723   5,552   6,648     5,581   3,260   4,146     
            Retail trade  ..............................     76    72    75    15,250  16,969  24,513    14,354  11,183  10,323     
         Finance, insurance, and real estate ...........     40    43    25     8,232   5,438   2,948     6,533   6,009   3,057     
         Services ......................................    232   173   192    58,478  28,292  42,850    54,802  27,058  29,352     

   Not identified  .....................................      7     6     6       842     590     677       810     555     716     

 Government ............................................     59    57    42    13,553  19,448  15,001    12,603  11,901   6,930     
         Federal .......................................     16    10     6     4,049   3,110   1,677     3,779   2,997   1,143     
         State .........................................     21     5    19     4,782   1,835   8,812     4,374   1,433   2,726     
         Local .........................................     22    42    17     4,722  14,503   4,512     4,450   7,471   3,061     


   1 For the fourth quarter of 1999, 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:  Dash represents zero.
Table 2. Reason for separation: Extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment 
insurance, selected quarters, 1998 and 1999

 

                                       Layoff events              Separations              Initial claimants for                                                                           
                                                                                           unemployment insurance
           Reason for separation                                                               
                                      IV     III    IV         IV       III      IV         IV       III       IV
                                     1998r  1999r  1999p      1998r    1999r    1999p      1998r    1999r     1999p     


    Total, all reasons( 1 )........  1,736  1,099  1,571    380,256  242,289  310,954    326,122  189,366   212,196      

 Automation .......................  ( 2 )  ( 2 )  ( 2 )      ( 2 )    ( 2 )    ( 2 )      ( 2 )    ( 2 )     ( 2 )
 Bankruptcy .......................     21     24     25      8,625   10,471    6,799      3,948    3,163     2,540      
 Business ownership change ........     40     55     32      8,485   19,248    8,824      7,398    7,395     4,167      
 Contract cancellation ............     15     17     18      3,979    2,655    2,500      1,988    2,000     2,249      
 Contract completed ...............    190    140    152     48,076   21,095   28,940     52,624   26,455    25,033      
 Domestic relocation ..............     29     16      7      5,660    3,001    1,830      3,354    2,294     1,025      
 Energy-related ...................     18      -      -      2,793        -        -      4,282        -         -
 Environment-related ..............      4      -      6        664        -    1,306      1,234        -       843      
 Financial difficulty .............     32     58     37      5,261   13,106    6,750      4,641   10,517     4,407      
 Import competition ...............     40     24     24      9,794    8,624    6,428     11,483    6,524     3,658      
 Labor dispute ....................     11      3      8      2,665      829    2,615      1,798      495     1,615      
 Material shortage ................  ( 2 )      6      -      ( 2 )    1,368        -      ( 2 )    2,843         -

 Model changeover .................      5      -  ( 2 )      3,174        -    ( 2 )      3,018        -     ( 2 )
 Natural disaster .................  ( 2 )  ( 2 )      -      ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -      ( 2 )    ( 2 )         -
 Overseas relocation ..............      8      5      9      1,108      988    1,525        871      594       939      
 Plant or machine repair ..........     10  ( 2 )      3      1,210    ( 2 )      368      1,858    ( 2 )       344      
 Product line discontinued ........     10      8      5      1,183    1,042    1,406      1,288    1,024     1,581      
 Reorganization within company ....    115    110     88     26,372   22,042   15,555     25,145   22,792    12,018      
 Seasonal work ....................    804    357    924    195,232   85,695  185,063    135,088   56,365   116,439      
 Slack work .......................    201    122    113     27,876   18,068   19,533     38,620   21,616    18,288      
 Vacation period ..................      4     25      6        576   13,129      921        925    3,712     1,089      
 Weather-related ..................     39      5     21      4,212      995    3,061      5,299      494     2,407      
 Other ............................     56     27     43     10,801    4,946   11,381      8,363    4,876     7,443      
 Not reported .....................     80     92     47     11,314   14,367    5,704     11,905   15,635     5,663      

    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, 1999
               
                                                                                        Percent of total
                                               Total
                          Layoff events       initial                          Hispanic                            
                                             claimants         Black            origin         Women          Persons age 55
                                                                                                                 and over 
          State
                           III    IV        III     IV       III    IV       III    IV       III     IV       III      IV
                          1999r  1999p     1999r   1999p    1999r  1999p    1999r  1999p    1999r   1999p    1999r    1999p 
                                                                                                   
     Total( 1 ).........  1,099  1,571   189,366 212,196     15.6    9.4     24.3   32.7     45.1    35.0     13.4     12.7     
                                                                                                   
 Alabama ...............     20     15     2,309   1,837     48.2   30.0       .4     .3     50.9    46.0      7.3     16.5     
 Alaska ................  ( 2 )      7     ( 2 )     796      1.6    2.3     17.0   16.5     27.3    27.0     15.0     14.7     
 Arizona ...............     24      7     4,680     671      2.4    2.4     59.9   33.4     23.7    33.7     12.7     13.7     
 Arkansas ..............      4     10     1,353   1,253     30.3   14.1      1.8    2.0     65.5    48.4      7.8     10.4     
 California ............    247    501    44,956  65,215      6.4    2.2     55.0   73.4     42.9    37.4     11.4     10.6     
 Colorado ..............  ( 2 )     18     ( 2 )   1,626      3.3    5.0     16.5   32.4      5.5    31.4      5.5     12.5     
 Connecticut ...........      9      5       913     448     15.4   13.6     13.0    6.0     41.9    32.4     21.8     14.7     
 Delaware ..............      -      -         -       -        -      -        -      -        -       -        -        -
 District of Columbia ..      -  ( 2 )         -   ( 2 )        -   75.2        -    9.0        -    26.1        -      7.7     
 Florida ...............     44     21     5,081   1,824     33.0   20.9     21.5   22.0     45.9    53.1     18.7     22.8     
 Georgia ...............     17      8     2,109     842     49.3   50.1       .8    1.3     55.4    55.9     14.1      7.7     
 Hawaii ................      8      7       717     972      3.6     .6      1.8     .4     23.8    17.6     11.0     19.1     
 Idaho .................      8     11     1,080     998       .4     .3     36.2   34.7     54.8    26.1     17.1     12.2     
                                                                                                     
 Illinois ..............     56    148    10,967  20,002     18.9   17.3     10.2   16.8     37.0    27.0     12.3     12.4     
 Indiana ...............     18     27     2,190   3,279     24.4    8.2      4.2    3.2     37.4    21.6     15.7     14.0     
 Iowa ..................  ( 2 )     33     ( 2 )   5,775      5.5    1.2      1.6    4.2     26.4    25.5     10.1     12.4     
 Kansas ................      6      7       511     821     21.7    7.9      3.9   11.1     53.2    19.6     10.0     15.6     
 Kentucky ..............      7      6       615     652     11.1    3.5       .5      -     46.0    72.2     11.1     15.0     
 Louisiana .............      5      7       814     790     40.5   53.7       .2    1.3     32.9    21.4     10.3     13.0     
 Maine .................  ( 2 )     12     ( 2 )   1,358      1.3     .1       .4     .1     40.6    16.4     16.2     10.7     
 Maryland ..............      5      4       797     347     34.3   36.6       .6      -     51.7    16.7     26.6     40.1     
 Massachusetts .........     23     35     3,014   4,135     11.9    6.1     11.3   10.8     65.5    49.2     19.0     22.0     
 Michigan ..............     88     87    16,302  12,399     17.3   16.0      4.1    9.7     41.1    34.6      9.2     12.2     
 Minnesota .............      8     72     1,904   8,105      5.5    1.3       .9    6.7     35.0    21.8     12.2     13.7     
 Mississippi ...........      3     10       532     941     67.7   66.1       .8     .7     45.5    59.0      4.5      5.5     
 Missouri ..............      8     15     1,633   2,048     16.9   11.5      2.1    2.4     64.1    56.5     17.2     13.4     
                                                                                                    
 Montana ...............      -      4         -     458        -     .7        -    1.5        -     5.9        -     13.8     
 Nebraska ..............  ( 2 )      -     ( 2 )       -     46.9      -     22.9      -     65.6       -      4.2        -
 Nevada ................      8     10       709   1,227      8.2    8.1     23.6   20.9     29.8    26.8     19.0     18.0     
 New Hampshire .........  ( 2 )      -     ( 2 )       -        -      -        -      -     96.1       -     24.5        -
 New Jersey ............     50     31     7,233   4,055     25.8   16.8     17.3   28.7     65.3    48.0     24.8     21.1     
 New Mexico ............  ( 2 )  ( 2 )     ( 2 )   ( 2 )       .3    2.9     52.8   78.5      7.4    26.7      7.4     18.6     
 New York ..............    104     41    15,624   4,259     18.4   11.6     10.1    9.3     59.7    49.4     19.6     20.5     
 North Carolina ........     17     22     2,302   3,013     37.7   37.6      1.1     .8     48.7    51.9     13.6     11.8     
 North Dakota ..........      -      -         -       -        -      -        -      -        -       -        -        -
 Ohio ..................     43     80     8,244   9,709     13.1    9.2       .7    4.9     41.6    23.4     14.4     11.4     
 Oklahoma ..............      7  ( 2 )       633   ( 2 )     11.8   13.2      2.2    2.6     42.0    46.9     14.8     27.6     
 Oregon ................     18     14     1,705   1,764      5.2    1.2     11.6   26.0     54.2    37.9     10.0     14.6     
 Pennsylvania ..........     59     66    12,885  13,268     10.0    7.4      1.3    2.0     42.5    43.3     16.1     16.9     
                                                                                                    
 Rhode Island ..........      6  ( 2 )       671   ( 2 )      2.8    1.1     13.0   18.3     52.9    68.8     17.1     29.0     
 South Carolina ........     11      6     4,431     565     54.0   59.3      1.5      -     60.5    62.1       .8      5.1     
 South Dakota ..........      -      -         -       -        -      -        -      -        -       -        -        -
 Tennessee .............     13      5     2,530     572     19.3   18.2      1.0     .2     74.6    41.3     16.8      8.4     
 Texas .................     98     87    20,795  18,112     13.7   16.8     45.7   42.8     34.8    34.3     12.2     10.2     
 Utah ..................      4     11       307   1,322      1.6    1.2      7.5   13.5     47.9    18.7      4.2      6.5     
 Vermont ...............      -      3         -     362        -      -        -     .3        -    30.1        -     25.7     
 Virginia ..............     11     14     1,436   1,933     32.0   37.1       .8    1.1     80.5    61.6     13.9     14.3     
 Washington ............     20     29     4,232   4,520      3.8    2.5     22.0   38.1     35.4    33.2     12.0     12.0     
 West Virginia .........      -  ( 2 )         -   ( 2 )        -    5.6        -      -        -    29.0        -     15.9     
 Wisconsin .............     12     67     1,770   8,966      5.6    4.3      4.7    8.3     37.5    23.5     12.0     12.3     
 Wyoming ...............      -      -         -       -        -      -        -      -        -      -        -        -
                                                                                                    
 Puerto Rico ...........     18     14     2,726   1,359    ( 3 )  ( 3 )    ( 3 )  ( 3 )     54.3    68.0     11.6      6.7     
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
     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, 1998 and 1999


                                                                                                  Initial claimants for
                                      Layoff events                  Separations	             unemployment insurance
 Census region and division
                                   IV      III     IV          IV         III        IV          IV        III       IV
                                  1998r   1999r   1999p       1998r      1999r      1999p       1998r     1999r     1999p    


         United States( 1 ).....  1,736   1,099   1,571     380,256    242,289    310,954     326,122   189,366   212,196     

 Northeast .....................    350     254     194      57,313     56,727     29,931      68,318    40,676    27,978     

     New England ...............     60      41      56      12,644     17,117     11,292      10,128     4,934     6,396     
     Middle Atlantic ...........    290     213     138      44,669     39,610     18,639      58,190    35,742    21,582     

 South .........................    311     262     220      59,202     47,135     43,899      56,100    45,737    33,238     

     South Atlantic ............    132     105      78      26,547     19,128     20,067      17,896    16,156     8,853     
     East South Central ........     44      43      36       7,207      7,341      5,226       6,394     5,986     4,002     
     West South Central ........    135     114     106      25,448     20,666     18,606      31,810    23,595    20,383     

 Midwest .......................    532     242     536     108,192     45,613    102,168      94,849    43,924    71,104     

     East North Central ........    415     217     409      88,857     40,940     78,695      78,284    39,473    54,355     
     West North Central ........    117      25     127      19,335      4,673     23,473      16,565     4,451    16,749     

 West ..........................    543     341     621     155,549     92,814    134,956     106,855    59,029    79,876     

     Mountain ..................     59      46      63      11,104     19,443     11,240      10,193     7,166     6,609     
     Pacific ...................    484     295     558     144,445     73,371    123,716      96,662    51,863    73,267     


      1 See footnote 1, table 1.
      p = preliminary.
      r = revised.
      NOTE:  The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the 
 various 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, 1998 and 1999

                                                                                                 
                                Layoff events                Separations                Initial claimants for 
                                                                                        unemployment insurance
           State
                              IV     III    IV           IV       III      IV           IV       III      IV
                             1998r  1999r  1999p        1998r    1999r    1999p        1998r    1999r    1999p 

     Total( 1 )............  1,736  1,099  1,571      380,256  242,289  310,954      326,122  189,366  212,196     

 Alabama ..................     21     20     15        3,678    3,001    1,821        3,480    2,309    1,837     
 Alaska ...................     10  ( 2 )      7        2,228    ( 2 )    5,183        1,322    ( 2 )      796     
 Arizona ..................      9     24      7        2,006   16,014      577        3,009    4,680      671     
 Arkansas .................      5      4     10          880    1,726    1,463        1,084    1,353    1,253     
 California ...............    426    247    501      131,763   59,689  110,168       87,045   44,956   65,215     
 Colorado .................  ( 2 )  ( 2 )     18        ( 2 )    ( 2 )    2,878        ( 2 )    ( 2 )    1,626     
 Connecticut ..............      7      9      5        2,110    1,804      947        1,362      913      448     
 Delaware .................      -      -      -            -        -        -            -        -        -
 District of Columbia .....      -      -  ( 2 )            -        -    ( 2 )            -        -    ( 2 )
 Florida ..................     50     44     21       11,340    6,855    5,897        6,589    5,081    1,824     
 Georgia ..................     15     17      8        3,182    3,649    1,267        2,707    2,109      842     
 Hawaii ...................     10      8      7        1,508      665      932        1,648      717      972     
 Idaho ....................     15      8     11        2,310    1,222    1,538        1,631    1,080      998     

 Illinois .................    172     56    148       38,135   14,944   35,590       30,283   10,967   20,002     
 Indiana ..................     32     18     27        4,783    3,139    5,334        5,101    2,190    3,279     
 Iowa .....................     11  ( 2 )     33        1,212    ( 2 )    5,857        1,103    ( 2 )    5,775     
 Kansas ...................      5      6      7          498      792    1,221          500      511      821     
 Kentucky .................     11      7      6        1,684      899    1,435        1,443      615      652     
 Louisiana ................     15      5      7        2,248      862    1,024        1,989      814      790     
 Maine ....................     11  ( 2 )     12        1,796    ( 2 )    3,412        1,306    ( 2 )    1,358     
 Maryland .................      7      5      4          872      717      380          630      797      347     
 Massachusetts ............     39     23     35        8,403   13,404    6,371        7,108    3,014    4,135     
 Michigan .................     29     88     87        4,164   14,916    9,849        3,477   16,302   12,399     
 Minnesota ................     65      8     72       10,294    1,782   12,805        8,987    1,904    8,105     
 Mississippi ..............      9      3     10        1,318    1,567    1,305          981      532      941     
 Missouri .................     35      8     15        7,256    1,633    3,590        5,900    1,633    2,048     

 Montana ..................      5      -      4        1,286        -      461        1,053        -      458     
 Nebraska .................  ( 2 )  ( 2 )      -        ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -        ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -
 Nevada ...................     14      8     10        2,910      853    1,907        2,537      709    1,227     
 New Hampshire ............  ( 2 )  ( 2 )      -        ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -        ( 2 )    ( 2 )        -
 New Jersey ...............     56     50     31       10,321    6,027    3,832        6,726    7,233    4,055     
 New Mexico ...............      4  ( 2 )  ( 2 )        1,310    ( 2 )    ( 2 )          525    ( 2 )    ( 2 )
 New York .................    109    104     41       17,399   23,413    5,748       16,989   15,624    4,259     
 North Carolina ...........     23     17     22        4,776    4,923    4,409        2,537    2,302    3,013     
 North Dakota .............      -      -      -            -        -        -            -        -        -
 Ohio .....................    100     43     80       23,809    6,584   14,561       19,555    8,244    9,709     
 Oklahoma .................      9      7  ( 2 )          776      633    ( 2 )        1,592      633    ( 2 )
 Oregon ...................     15     18     14        3,051    2,808    2,081        3,023    1,705    1,764     
 Pennsylvania .............    125     59     66       16,949   10,170    9,059       34,475   12,885   13,268     

 Rhode Island .............  ( 2 )     6   ( 2 )        ( 2 )    1,540    ( 2 )        ( 2 )      671    ( 2 )
 South Carolina ...........     10     11      6        1,291    1,371      669        1,256    4,431      565     
 South Dakota .............      -      -      -            -        -        -            -        -        -
 Tennessee ................      3     13      5          527    1,874      665          490    2,530      572     
 Texas ....................    106     98     87       21,544   17,445   15,891       27,145   20,795   18,112     
 Utah .....................     10      4     11        1,181      770    2,712        1,346      307    1,322     
 Vermont ..................      -      -      3            -        -      362            -        -      362     
 Virginia .................     16     11     14        3,703    1,613    6,925        2,910    1,436    1,933     
 Washington ...............     23     20     29        5,895    4,095    5,352        3,624    4,232    4,520     
 West Virginia ............     11      -  ( 2 )        1,383        -    ( 2 )        1,267        -    ( 2 )
 Wisconsin ................     82     12     67       17,966    1,357   13,361       19,868    1,770    8,966     
 Wyoming ..................      -      -      -            -        -        -            -        -        -

 Puerto Rico ..............     33     18     14        9,024    2,937    1,344        6,025    2,726    1,359     


    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.