U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
S E P T E M B E R
2 0 1 3 R E P O R T
1 0 4 3
Extended Mass Layoffs in 2012
period, with at least 50 workers separated for more than 30
days. Since 2004, the scope of the layoff data series was
redefined to include only the private nonfarm economy.
(See the technical notes section for additional information
on the concepts and definitions used in this report.)
In 2012, employers initiated 6,500 extended mass layoff
events that resulted in the separation of more than 1.25
million workers. As indicated in table 1, the number of
layoff events in 2012 decreased to its lowest level since
2007, while the number of associated separations
increased to exceed the numbers reported for the 2
previous years. Fifteen of 18 major industry sectors
Contents
Industry distribution of extended mass layoffs ................ .2
T
he U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) conducts
the Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program to
provide information on large-scale layoff events
and the characteristics of the dislocated workers. This
report summarizes data on extended mass layoffs for 2012.
The MLS program defines an extended mass layoff event
as the filing of 50 or more initial claims for unemployment
insurance benefits against an employer during a 5-week
Reasons for layoff and recall expectations ....................... 2
Demographics and characteristics of claimants affected
by extended mass layoffs .................................................. 2
Geographic distribution of extended mass layoffs .………2
Chart 1: Extended mass layoff separations, by reason
categories, 2002–2012 ...................................................... 3
Statistical tables ................................................................ 5
Technical notes ................................................................ 23
Mass Layoffs Data Discontinued
On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the-board spending cuts (commonly referred to
as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order,
the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million (5 percent of the current
2013 appropriation), by September 30, 2013. To help achieve these savings and to protect core programs, BLS eliminated two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all “measuring green jobs” products.
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registered over-the-year increases in the numbers of separations in 2012, with the largest increases coming from the
information, administrative and waste services, and retail
trade sectors. However, layoff events and separations in the
manufacturing sector declined to their lowest levels since BLS
began recording annual MLS data in 1996. (See table 2.)
associated with extended mass layoffs, followed by the
completion of seasonal work (32 percent). The number
of workers separated because of contract completion
increased from 249,227 in 2011 to 357,518 in 2012—the
largest increase among all reasons for layoff. (See table 4
and chart 1.)
In 2012, 35 states had lower numbers of laid-off workers
than they did in 2011. Fifty-seven percent of all private
nonfarm employers reporting an extended mass layoff in
2012 indicated they anticipated some recall of dislocated
workers, up from 55 percent in 2011. In 2012, the average
national unemployment rate was 8.1 percent; in 2011, it
was 8.9 percent. Private nonfarm payroll employment
increased by 2.2 percent (about 2.4 million jobs), from
2011 to 2012.
Fifty-seven percent of the private nonfarm employers
reporting an extended mass layoff in 2012 indicated they
anticipated recalling some dislocated workers, up from 55
percent a year earlier. Of those employers anticipating a
recall, 30 percent indicated the offer would be extended to
all displaced workers and 66 percent anticipated extending
the offer to at least half the employees. Among those
employers expecting to recall laid-off workers, 63 percent
intended to do so within 6 months. Excluding extended
mass layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation
periods, in which employers expected to recall 93 percent
of the workers, employers anticipated recalling the laidoff workers in 38 percent of the events. (See table 12.)
However, in spite of the increasing expectation of recall,
the time-frame for the recall has been trending upward,
while the proportion of workers expected to be recalled has
been trending downward for several years. (See table 12.)
Industry distribution of extended
mass layoffs
Fifteen of 18 major industry sectors registered over-theyear increases in the numbers of separations in 2012,
with the largest increases coming from the information,
administrative and waste services, and retail trade sectors.
Among all sectors, firms in administrative and waste
services accounted for the largest number of separations
due to extended mass layoffs in 2012. This represents the
first occurrence in the Mass Layoffs program history that
an industry other than manufacturing has recorded the
greatest number of worker separations (annual data began
in 1996). (See table 2.)
In 2012, layoff events and separations in the manufacturing sector declined to their lowest levels in program
history. Similarly, the numbers of laid-off workers in 13 of
the 21 manufacturing subsectors decreased from the 2011
levels, with the largest declines occurring in plastics and
rubber products, apparel, and paper. The largest increases
in separations within the manufacturing sector were
reported in food and in petroleum and coal products.
Reasons for layoff and recall
expectations
Among all economic reasons for layoff in 2012, business
demand factors accounted for 37 percent of the separations
2
In 2012, 8 percent of extended mass layoff events were
permanent worksite closures, affecting 10 percent of all
separated workers (121,972 workers in total), with both
figures up slightly from the prior year. Closure-related
worker separations were mostly attributable to financial
issues (53,671), business demand reasons (26,739), and
organizational changes (26,659). (See table 14.) During the
year, the manufacturing and information sectors had the
largest increases in closure-related separations. (See table
15.)
Demographics and characteristics
of claimants affected by extended
mass layoffs
Of the more than 1.3 million initial claimants for
unemployment insurance associated with extended mass
layoff events in 2012, 40 percent were women, essentially
unchanged from the prior year. Thirty-three percent
of initial claimants associated with layoff events were
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Disaster/safety
Chart 1
Extended mass layoff separations, by reason categories, 2002–20121
Year
2012
Disaster/safety
2011
Production specific
Financial issues
2010
Organizational changes
Business demand
2009
Seasonal
2012
2008
2011
2007
2010
2006
2009
2005
2008
2004
2007
2003
2006
2002
-
100,000
2005
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
Separation
600,000
700,000
800,000
900,000
2004 on layoffs due to other/miscellaneous reasons.
chart excludes information
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
1 The
2003
between the ages of 30 and 44, and 20 percent were 55 or
for the weeks that followed the initial claim and included
older; both percentages essentially unchanged from the
the 12th day of the month). Among the 18 major industry
2002
prior year. (See tables 5 and 7.) To put these percentages
sectors, claimants laid off from the finance and insurance
into context, in the total civilian labor force in 2012, 47
sector experienced the longest average duration of insured
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000 (2.8
500,000
600,000
700,000
percent were women, 32 percent were between the ages of
joblessness
months),
unchanged
from 800,000
the prior 900,000
30 and 44, and 21 percent were 55 or older.
year, and claimants laid off from the information sector
1 The chart excludes information on layoffs due to other/miscellaneous reasons.
experienced the shortest period (1.3 months). Claimants in
Source: Bureau of labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics Program.
The average duration of insured unemployment associated
the utilities and management of companies sectors had the
with extended mass layoffs in the private nonfarm sector in largest increases in average duration of joblessness (+0.5
2012 was 1.8 months (as measured by the average number
months), and claimants in the real estate, rental and leasing
of continued claims for unemployment insurance filed
sector had the largest decline (-0.4 months). (See table 9.)
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Of the seven economic reason-for-layoff groups, claimants
who were laid off because of financial issues reported the
longest jobless duration (2.8 months), and the shortest
duration occurred due to disaster and safety factors (1.4
months). Fifteen percent of claimants associated with
extended mass layoff events exhausted their unemployment
insurance benefits in 2012, down slightly from 16 percent
in 2011. (See table 9.)
Geographic distribution of extended
mass layoffs
In 2012, 23 states reported increased numbers of laid-off
workers, led by California (+159,803). (See table 17.)
Among the four Census regions, separations associated
with extended mass layoff events increased in the
Northeast and West and decreased in the Midwest and
4
South. Among the nine Census divisions, the highest
numbers of separations were in the Pacific and Middle
Atlantic. (See table 16.)
Eighty-six percent of the initial claimants associated
with extended mass layoff events in 2012 resided within
metropolitan areas. Among the 372 metropolitan areas, Los
Angeles–Long Beach–Santa Ana, CA, reported the highest
number of initial claimants residing in the area (275,404),
as well as the largest increase in the level of claims from
2011 to 2012 (+72,835). Six of the 10 largest over-theyear increases in residential initial claimants were located
in California. During 2012, the Atlanta-Sandy SpringsMarietta, GA metropolitan area recorded the largest decline
(-3,559) in the number of residential initial claimants
associated with extended mass layoff events. (See table 11.)
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E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Statistical Tables
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5 E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 1. Numbers of extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, private
nonfarm sector, 2004–2012
Year/quarter
Layoff events1
2004
First quarter ………………………………………………………………
Second quarter …………………………………………………………
Third quarter ………………………………………………………………
Fourth quarter ……………………………………………………………
Separations1
Initial claimants for
unemployment insurance1
1,339
1,358
886
1,427
276,503
278,831
164,608
273,967
238,392
254,063
148,575
262,049
5,010
993,909
903,079
2005
First quarter ………………………………………………………………
Second quarter …………………………………………………………
Third quarter ………………………………………………………………
Fourth quarter ……………………………………………………………
1,142
1,203
1,136
1,400
186,506
246,099
201,878
250,178
185,486
212,673
190,186
246,188
Total …………………………………………………………...………
4,881
884,661
834,533
2006
First quarter ………………………………………………………………
Second quarter ……………………………………………………...……
Third quarter ………………………………………………………………
Fourth quarter ………………………………………………………….…
963
1,353
929
1,640
183,089
295,964
160,254
296,662
193,510
264,927
161,764
330,954
4,885
935,969
951,155
1,110
1,421
1,018
1,814
225,600
278,719
160,024
301,592
199,250
259,234
173,077
347,151
5,363
965,935
978,712
1,340
1,756
1,581
3,582
230,098
354,713
290,453
641,714
259,292
339,630
304,340
766,780
8,259
1,516,978
1,670,042
3,979
3,395
2,034
2,416
705,141
651,318
345,531
406,212
835,551
731,049
406,823
468,577
Total ……………………………………………………………………
11,824
2,108,202
2,442,000
2010
First quarter ……………………………………………………………..
Second quarter ……………………………………………………….…
Third quarter …………………………………………………….………
Fourth quarter …………………………………………………………..
1,870
2,008
1,370
1,999
314,512
381,622
222,357
338,643
368,664
396,441
260,077
390,584
Total ……………………………………………………………………
7,247
1,257,134
1,415,766
1,490
1,810
1,393
1,903
225,456
317,546
235,325
334,383
258,220
342,530
291,066
403,457
6,596
1,112,710
1,295,273
1,294
1,959
1,124
2,123
246,956
385,983
199,781
424,492
291,174
383,492
228,818
432,792
6,500
1,257,212
1,336,276
Total ……………………………………………………………………
Total ……………………………………………………………………
2007
First quarter ………………………………………………………………
Second quarter ……………………………………………………….…
Third quarter ………………………………………………………………
Fourth quarter ……………………………………………………………
Total ……………………………………………………………………
2008
First quarter ………………………………………………………………
Second quarter …………………………………………………………
Third quarter ………………………………………………………………
Fourth quarter ……………………………………………………………
Total ……………………………………………………………………
2009
First quarter ………………………………………………………………
Second quarter …………………………………………………………
Third quarter ………………………………………………………………
Fourth quarter ……………………………………………………………
2011
First quarter ……………………………………………………………..
Second quarter …………………………………………………………
Third quarter ………………………………………………………………
Fourth quarter ……………………………………………………………
Total ……………………………………………………………………
2012
First quarter ……………………………………………………………..
Second quarter …………………………………………………………
Third quarter ………………………………………………………………
Fourth quarter ……………………………………………………………
Total ……………………………………………………………………
1
Data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
6
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Table 2. Industry distribution: extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, private nonfarm sector,
2010–2012
Layoff events
Initial claimants for
unemployment insurance
Separations
Industry
1
Total, private nonfarm ..........................................................
2010
2011
2012
2010
2011
2012
2010
2011
2012
7,247
6,596
6,500
1,257,134
1,112,710
1,257,212
1,415,766
1,295,273
1,336,276
Mining ……………………………………………………………
Utilities …………………………………………………………
Construction ……………………………………………………
Manufacturing …………………………………………………
Food …………………………………………………………
Beverage and tobacco products …………………………
Textile mills …………………………………………………
Textile product mills …………………………………………
Apparel ………………………………………………………
Leather and allied products ………………………………
Wood products ………………………………………………
Paper …………………………………………………………
Printing and related support activities ……………………
Petroleum and coal products ………………………………
Chemicals ……………………………………………………
59
17
1,623
1,412
298
26
11
13
39
3
63
33
48
24
53
44
10
1,377
1,196
302
29
18
85
18
1,269
1,050
285
23
5,891
1,593
169,597
198,297
57,118
4,320
5,636
10,717
3,222
167,121
180,352
61,570
2,810
5,713
1,811
209,564
218,976
58,084
6,002
10,915
10,303
4,060
199,811
186,194
62,857
2,687
Plastics and rubber products ………………………………
Nonmetallic mineral products ………………………………
Primary metal ………………………………………………
Fabricated metal products …………………………………
Machinery ……………………………………………………
Computer and electronic products …………………………
Electrical equipment and appliance ………………………
Transportation equipment …………………………………
Furniture and related products ……………………………
Miscellaneous manufacturing ………………………………
Wholesale trade ………………………………………………
Retail trade ………………………………………………………
Transportation and warehousing ……………………………
Information ………………………………………………………
Finance and insurance …………………………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing …………………………
Professional and technical services …………………………
Management of companies and enterprises ………………
Administrative and waste services ……………………………
Educational services …………………………………………
Health care and social assistance ……………………………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation …………………………
Accommodation and food services …………………………
Other services, except public administration ………………
( 2)
26
( 2)
15
22
( 2)
43
38
41
20
43
( 2)
27
18
33
28
35
7,940
2,795
197,437
224,182
57,468
6,811
2,011
1,667
5,800
233
7,468
4,431
5,934
3,187
7,109
44
113
62
76
105
99
35
188
40
39
43
87
33
57
65
74
23
167
37
35
36
67
32
59
80
84
14
132
20
28
149
479
486
220
251
68
298
30
747
87
384
228
564
145
121
409
367
286
182
58
325
27
848
80
397
238
503
126
–
2
Unclassified ……………………………………………………
( 2)
7,519
( 2)
2,052
3,916
( 2)
6,343
6,682
4,657
2,348
6,119
( 2)
3,088
3,104
4,210
4,787
7,024
8,246
3,266
251,696
259,238
60,593
4,767
4,458
2,464
6,743
283
12,035
4,713
7,828
3,801
7,426
4,193
12,843
9,821
9,459
17,774
14,717
4,894
35,809
6,894
5,659
7,241
10,008
4,873
7,294
12,305
11,973
4,254
29,081
4,326
3,910
3,357
8,630
6,598
6,392
13,507
11,611
2,329
25,810
2,453
4,284
146
441
380
307
129
38
318
32
947
97
378
242
484
124
17,274
122,579
95,571
54,082
47,888
10,035
58,798
5,338
150,181
11,817
48,504
48,590
135,178
18,945
15,528
87,589
72,367
75,641
29,490
8,270
60,064
3,245
164,258
9,942
47,763
42,407
105,579
15,005
15
–
184
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.
( 2)
8,685
( 2)
3,115
4,227
( 2)
7,679
5,270
5,884
2,842
6,163
( 2)
2,893
2,314
4,174
3,609
4,546
5,180
15,246
9,676
12,554
22,594
16,467
6,018
43,374
7,848
5,170
5,851
11,443
4,902
8,256
13,402
10,341
4,875
35,948
4,701
4,201
3,155
9,929
6,238
8,124
15,062
10,235
2,669
30,840
2,227
3,822
20,759
107,480
77,347
128,168
25,596
8,537
70,567
4,753
202,435
12,635
55,093
49,655
113,111
17,926
17,328
153,096
105,110
76,269
53,446
9,575
63,328
4,815
173,511
13,284
49,257
34,026
120,809
19,466
15,130
99,627
75,463
124,697
39,434
9,770
75,818
3,918
202,809
11,875
48,463
36,408
98,161
17,390
18,058
115,213
71,038
162,701
26,002
7,488
75,368
4,642
241,941
13,300
47,348
36,313
97,612
17,108
1,738
–
246
1,776
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
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Table 3. Industry distribution: extended mass layoff separations, private nonfarm sector, 50 highest six-digit NAICS industries,
2010–2012
Industry
NAICS code
2010
2011
Separations
Rank
1
2012
Separations
Rank
1
Separations
Rank1
Total, private nonfarm2 .............................................
…
1,257,134
…
1,112,710
…
1,257,212
…
Total, 50 highest industries ...........................................
…
726,587
…
666,592
…
841,500
…
Temporary help services ………………………………………
Motion picture and video production …………………………
Highway, street, and bridge construction ……………………
Food service contractors ………………………………………
School and employee bus transportation ……………………
Hotels and motels, except casino hotels ……………………
Department stores, except discount …………………………
Child day care services ………………………………………
Professional employer organizations …………………………
Fruit and vegetable canning …………………………………
561320
512110
237310
722310
485410
721110
452111
624410
561330
311421
58,669
30,245
50,292
58,360
61,612
29,742
11,360
18,983
33,908
20,421
2
6
4
3
1
7
24
12
5
10
94,114
48,952
46,199
43,387
41,038
25,132
6,538
19,766
16,924
17,840
1
2
3
4
5
6
34
7
10
8
127,284
100,476
49,283
45,828
41,966
26,386
22,763
19,015
18,740
18,712
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Discount department stores …………………………………
Supermarkets and other grocery stores ……………………
Tax preparation services ………………………………………
Payroll services …………………………………………………
Casino hotels ……………………………………………………
Power and communication system construction ……………
Commercial bakeries …………………………………………
Skiing facilities …………………………………………………
Scheduled passenger air transportation ……………………
Oil and gas pipeline construction ……………………………
452112
445110
541213
541214
721120
237130
311812
713920
481111
237120
26,826
19,883
23,971
8,482
7,587
12,643
962
17,154
2,590
11,568
8
11
9
32
33
19
211
14
89
23
16,989
11,153
15,987
13,113
12,738
15,248
1,186
12,620
1,919
12,606
9
21
11
14
15
12
161
16
106
17
18,650
18,615
18,553
17,824
16,568
14,884
12,157
12,126
11,748
11,567
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Telemarketing and other contact centers ……………………
Commercial banking ……………………………………………
Amusement and theme parks …………………………………
Nonresidential plumbing and HVAC contractors ……………
Employment placement agencies ……………………………
Nonresidential electrical contractors …………………………
Industrial building construction ………………………………
Commercial building construction ……………………………
Teleproduction and postproduction services ………………
Full-service restaurants ………………………………………
561422
522110
713110
238222
561311
238212
236210
236220
512191
722511
11,358
13,193
11,799
12,267
4,101
17,476
12,253
14,572
132
14,858
25
18
22
20
59
13
21
16
543
15
8,872
11,391
11,277
11,363
7,387
9,586
9,875
13,867
3,008
9,516
26
18
20
19
29
24
23
13
73
25
11,498
11,440
11,254
10,700
10,031
9,980
9,862
9,477
9,145
8,741
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Mail-order houses ………………………………………………
All other nonresidential trade contractors ……………………
Landscaping services …………………………………………
Convention and trade show organizers ………………………
Seafood product preparation and packaging ………………
Other individual and family services …………………………
Home centers …………………………………………………
General medical and surgical hospitals ………………………
Nonresidential drywall contractors ……………………………
Other technical consulting services …………………………
454113
238992
561730
561920
311710
624190
444110
622110
238312
541690
9,726
5,214
7,482
5,490
10,353
6,089
14,484
10,158
6,852
1,588
30
51
35
46
27
41
17
29
37
135
7,273
5,602
7,920
4,547
10,955
6,535
4,231
5,939
6,268
2,234
30
41
28
53
22
35
55
37
36
94
8,214
7,633
7,610
7,393
7,220
6,991
6,938
6,572
5,977
5,451
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Nonresidential site preparation contractors …………………
Engineering services …………………………………………
General warehousing and storage ……………………………
All other amusement and recreation industries ……………
Commercial machinery repair and maintenance ……………
Managing offices ………………………………………………
Other social advocacy organizations …………………………
Semiconductors and related device mfg. ……………………
Family clothing stores …………………………………………
HMO medical centers …………………………………………
238912
541330
493110
713990
811310
551114
813319
334413
448140
621491
5,730
3,910
1,904
816
3,396
5,208
4,824
1,390
4,706
–
44
63
116
234
70
52
54
150
55
–
6,557
4,128
5,310
1,226
3,585
3,034
4,344
2,218
5,095
–
32
56
43
157
61
72
54
95
46
–
4,909
4,740
4,727
( 3)
4,645
4,603
4,524
4,518
4,491
( 3)
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
1
2
3
Industries are ranked by number of separations in 2012.
Data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia.
Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
8
BLS Reports │ September 2013 • www.bls.gov
E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 4. Reason for layoff: extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, private nonfarm sector, 2010–2012
Layoff events
Reason for layoff1
2010
2011
Separations
2012
Initial claimants for unemployment insurance
2010
2011
2012
2010
2011
2012
Total, private nonfarm, all reasons 1 ................
7,247
6,596
6,500
1,257,134
1,112,710
1,257,212
1,415,766
1,295,273
1,336,276
Business demand ......................................................
2,515
2,343
2,345
384,565
366,040
461,328
510,367
528,899
583,810
Contract cancellation ..............................................
Contract completion ................................................
Domestic competition ..............................................
Excess inventory/saturated market .........................
Import competition ..................................................
Slack work/insufficient demand/nonseasonal
business slowdown ...........................................
148
1,146
8
13
7
117
1,435
5
12
5
114
1,640
17,387
249,227
489
2,974
1,214
23,942
357,518
( 2)
25,207
263,450
2,458
3,359
1,006
20,468
380,441
814
1,410
1,140
18,093
476,180
( 2)
23,861
193,450
2,231
2,055
1,199
1,193
769
565
161,769
94,749
73,880
214,887
124,626
81,865
Organizational changes .............................................
397
313
313
79,784
56,502
71,128
80,334
53,755
51,431
Business-ownership change ...................................
Reorganization or restructuring of company ...........
96
301
75
238
72
241
32,543
47,241
17,581
38,921
27,040
44,088
13,974
66,360
8,840
44,915
8,317
43,114
Financial issues .........................................................
511
415
418
86,637
76,335
85,946
104,848
78,805
77,049
Bankruptcy ..............................................................
Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability .........
Financial difficulty ....................................................
60
291
160
76
211
128
87
187
144
15,157
39,577
31,903
19,301
30,503
26,531
28,971
32,017
24,958
9,062
66,898
28,888
13,030
42,701
23,074
20,561
37,942
18,546
Production specific .....................................................
54
94
75
7,830
16,180
14,313
8,576
18,559
15,179
Automation/technological advances .......................
Energy related .........................................................
Governmental regulations/intervention ...................
Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike ..............
Material or supply shortage .....................................
Model changeover ..................................................
Plant or machine repair/maintenance .....................
Product line discontinued ........................................
9
8
1,002
1,104
1,246
1,258
( 2)
18
7
( 2)
15
10
23
13
14
( 2)
2,971
1,335
( 2)
1,482
2,589
2,756
2,457
3,283
( 2)
2,079
1,281
( 2)
2,737
2,407
3,740
2,876
2,793
2
( )
15
2
( )
3,281
( 2)
5,341
( 2)
( 2)
10
–
18
8
4
9
15
11
( 2)
1,613
–
3,300
2,155
461
3,280
1,475
2,029
( 2)
1,935
–
2,526
1,392
560
4,264
2,787
1,715
Disaster/safety ...........................................................
24
31
45
3,202
5,046
7,900
3,225
5,128
9,484
Hazardous work environment .................................
Natural disaster (not weather related) .....................
Nonnatural disaster .................................................
Extreme weather-related event ...............................
( 2)
5
( 2)
( 2)
1,085
( 2)
( 2)
785
( 2)
( 2)
10
11
( 2)
( 2)
21
( 2)
5
35
( 2)
1,038
1,723
( 2)
( 2)
3,206
( 2)
941
5,838
( 2)
1,209
1,496
( 2)
( 2)
3,421
( 2)
608
7,815
Seasonal ....................................................................
2,417
2,285
2,217
429,847
392,951
402,445
442,818
409,524
390,775
Seasonal .................................................................
Vacation period–school related or otherwise ..........
1,932
485
1,851
434
1,717
500
353,375
76,472
322,645
70,306
320,524
81,921
357,211
85,607
331,680
77,844
303,774
87,001
Other/miscellaneous ..................................................
1,329
1,115
1,087
265,269
199,656
214,152
265,598
200,603
208,548
Other .......................................................................
Data not provided: Refusal .....................................
Data not provided: Does not know ..........................
66
320
943
103
268
744
87
303
697
9,434
80,333
175,502
13,791
63,382
122,483
15,897
67,080
131,175
9,703
80,324
175,571
14,954
63,335
122,314
14,222
66,928
127,398
( 2)
4
9
4
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.
( 2)
795
1,073
385
( 2)
1,214
1,878
463
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
BLS Reports │September 2013 • www.bls.gov9 E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 5. State and selected claimant characteristics: extended mass layoff events and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, private
nonfarm sector, 2011–2012
State
Layoff events
Percent of total
Total initial claimants for
unemployment insurance
Hispanic
origin
Black
People age 55
and older
Women
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
Total, private nonfarm1 ..........
6,596
6,500
1,295,273
1,336,276
14.5
13.7
20.1
22.1
40.2
40.0
20.2
20.4
Alabama .......................................
Alaska ..........................................
Arizona .........................................
Arkansas ......................................
California ......................................
Colorado .......................................
Connecticut ..................................
Delaware ......................................
District of Columbia ......................
Florida ..........................................
Georgia ........................................
Hawaii ..........................................
Idaho ............................................
41
35
67
51
1,868
49
49
20
13
219
129
10
39
44
35
63
45
2,141
64
47
15
12
120
79
9,089
8,125
10,114
10,042
588,039
9,079
6,920
1,915
1,597
18,332
13,529
( 2)
30
10,561
8,604
12,452
9,575
451,374
6,822
6,953
3,391
1,735
36,318
28,526
1,639
5,163
( 2)
3,418
47.0
8.0
8.8
31.0
8.1
4.3
16.7
42.5
69.8
20.5
42.4
.9
.2
48.4
7.2
8.2
25.2
8.7
5.6
14.3
47.4
80.8
29.5
56.1
1.1
.1
2.0
16.1
38.4
7.2
35.3
29.7
16.3
9.3
8.7
27.9
6.0
10.0
10.9
3.1
13.9
43.3
6.0
34.1
26.4
14.3
8.0
5.3
29.2
1.6
12.5
12.3
50.9
29.2
52.1
51.9
39.9
38.8
52.3
44.1
53.3
46.2
47.2
42.1
31.8
55.5
30.6
52.1
43.4
40.1
34.3
46.7
62.3
63.9
54.6
48.1
15.3
35.0
16.3
23.4
17.7
18.8
16.6
19.8
25.0
18.2
21.1
24.8
20.2
20.6
20.2
19.1
24.9
18.7
23.2
16.7
20.0
28.8
26.7
23.5
26.8
21.4
11.6
23.7
Illinois ...........................................
Indiana .........................................
Iowa ..............................................
Kansas .........................................
Kentucky ......................................
Louisiana ......................................
Maine ...........................................
Maryland3 ......................................
Massachusetts .............................
Michigan .......................................
Minnesota .....................................
Mississippi ....................................
Missouri ........................................
430
109
34
41
100
95
29
70
76
160
127
40
122
408
106
27
38
107
78
31
105
74
149
123
30
115
79,988
22,048
7,239
5,173
11,810
14,440
3,930
9,733
10,766
26,185
19,154
5,102
19,079
76,580
19,753
4,440
7,024
13,601
11,527
4,481
14,766
12,005
25,928
16,519
3,432
18,703
18.2
10.3
5.1
12.5
13.1
50.1
1.0
48.9
11.1
12.4
5.6
72.9
21.4
19.9
11.1
7.0
14.3
12.5
54.5
2.7
29.4
13.2
14.8
3.9
59.1
20.6
15.9
3.0
4.4
4.7
.2
4.1
.4
2.3
1.1
5.0
6.8
2.3
1.9
15.0
2.6
6.7
4.0
.1
4.7
.9
1.4
1.1
4.1
7.0
5.0
2.1
36.6
28.1
38.5
45.4
34.5
44.8
35.9
45.6
49.5
39.7
21.2
48.1
54.6
37.1
28.3
38.0
40.3
33.2
50.4
36.4
44.9
48.7
36.4
20.4
43.6
48.8
18.7
18.3
26.1
24.0
16.9
24.3
27.8
22.4
23.5
19.7
19.8
15.3
28.1
19.4
20.0
27.5
23.6
20.2
27.3
26.3
25.7
22.8
21.1
20.6
21.0
28.1
Montana .......................................
Nebraska ......................................
Nevada .........................................
New Hampshire ............................
New Jersey ..................................
New Mexico ..................................
New York ......................................
North Carolina ..............................
North Dakota ................................
Ohio ..............................................
Oklahoma .....................................
Oregon .........................................
Pennsylvania ................................
26
25
60
14
251
43
472
91
13
276
25
103
365
28
15
92
21
231
40
441
54
17
266
23
106
344
2,663
2,895
12,194
2,084
43,843
5,210
89,975
21,336
1,816
47,076
3,108
24,346
66,794
3,036
1,991
20,761
2,650
44,534
4,944
75,860
8,163
2,409
39,849
2,574
21,071
63,295
0.5
8.6
9.6
0.8
20.6
1.8
14.8
40.8
0.8
11.9
14.9
2.3
10.1
0.7
11.7
9.9
0.6
19.1
1.9
17.2
39.9
1.5
13.2
8.4
2.2
9.7
3.8
8.7
27.2
2.5
8.8
49.6
14.5
9.1
4.2
3.7
6.6
22.2
4.6
4.0
7.4
28.3
3.8
12.5
49.6
18.3
7.2
4.4
3.5
7.3
20.7
4.5
30.5
34.1
39.4
45.3
52.8
43.6
41.4
41.4
10.9
29.8
45.5
45.5
39.0
31.4
42.3
41.3
42.8
56.7
39.4
43.4
36.7
9.5
29.6
45.0
44.5
34.6
23.4
28.5
21.3
31.3
27.9
18.2
23.3
21.8
23.1
20.2
21.5
21.3
27.6
26.2
36.9
22.7
31.7
30.4
21.1
24.9
22.9
24.0
21.0
21.8
21.0
27.5
Rhode Island ................................
South Carolina .............................
South Dakota ...............................
Tennessee ...................................
Texas ...........................................
Utah ..............................................
Vermont ........................................
Virginia .........................................
Washington ..................................
West Virginia ................................
Wisconsin .....................................
Wyoming ......................................
18
38
14
38
2,891
6,505
2,234
6,046
2
2
3.5
62.9
4.7
26.7
17.0
1.3
1.0
44.9
5.1
.2
7.9
1.3
3.9
52.3
8.5
21.4
18.9
1.2
.8
43.3
6.7
.3
7.7
2.0
15.1
3.5
11.8
.1
44.4
13.7
.4
4.8
18.8
–
7.3
5.2
16.8
1.8
3.4
–
45.6
13.0
.5
5.0
16.5
.2
8.0
9.4
69.5
56.3
74.8
46.4
33.8
25.9
45.5
47.9
35.2
7.5
34.3
33.5
64.4
50.5
22.0
39.8
31.4
18.5
32.3
45.6
35.1
17.6
37.6
31.6
36.1
19.5
22.0
30.6
16.7
14.4
25.3
19.5
18.6
13.5
23.4
21.2
31.4
21.0
6.8
29.1
15.5
14.7
20.8
21.6
19.2
24.8
25.3
20.7
.1
.1
99.4
99.4
57.5
55.2
9.5
9.5
Puerto Rico ..................................
( )
80
144
37
27
99
137
23
199
2
2
( )
15,711
33,092
4,973
3,926
19,573
25,181
3,251
37,853
( 2)
( )
60
148
30
12
78
154
26
162
7
( 2)
( )
10,887
35,262
4,594
1,942
16,774
23,284
3,291
29,943
1,121
64
56
18,628
14,365
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.
3
Data starting in June 2012 may not be comparable to prior data due to improvements in state MLS data processing.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
10
BLS Reports │ September 2013 • www.bls.gov
E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 6. Claimant race and ethnicity: percent of initial claimants for unemployment insurance, by industry and reason for layoff, private nonfarm sector,
2011–2012
Percent of total race/ethnicity1
Measure
White
Hispanic
origin
Black
American Indian or
Alaska Native
Asian or Pacific
Islander
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
54.6
52.8
14.5
13.7
20.1
22.1
.8
.8
3.4
3.5
Mining ……………………………………………………………………
Utilities ……………………………………………………………………
Construction ………………………………………………………………
Manufacturing ……………………………………………………………
Wholesale trade …………………………………………………………
Retail trade ………………………………………………………………
Transportation and warehousing ………………………………………
Information ………………………………………………………………
80.2
81.9
68.4
53.1
46.8
52.6
54.7
69.9
77.8
62.0
69.0
53.6
49.1
44.7
53.0
71.8
2.1
7.6
6.3
15.0
15.5
18.9
23.3
8.8
2.7
11.2
5.9
13.8
12.6
17.8
21.7
7.8
5.5
4.7
19.3
20.3
26.9
17.5
13.3
10.0
6.8
13.8
19.5
20.2
27.5
22.9
16.7
9.7
3.3
.5
1.0
.7
.3
.7
.5
.5
2.3
.8
1.1
.7
.5
.7
.6
.6
.5
1.9
.8
5.3
3.1
2.6
2.0
3.3
.6
3.6
.9
5.5
3.6
2.8
2.1
3.2
Finance and insurance …………………………………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing ……………………………………
Professional and technical services ……………………………………
Management of companies and enterprises …………………………
Administrative and waste services ……………………………………
Educational services ……………………………………………………
Health care and social assistance ……………………………………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation ……………………………………
Accommodation and food services ……………………………………
Other services, except public administration …………………………
Unclassified establishments ……………………………………………
45.4
55.9
63.0
51.4
37.5
43.6
41.5
59.1
49.9
45.8
41.1
42.6
48.3
62.1
59.3
32.4
39.7
39.7
59.7
47.3
46.8
22.3
17.7
14.5
11.0
15.0
15.7
21.9
22.3
14.5
19.8
26.4
15.4
16.6
14.4
11.3
16.7
15.3
21.0
22.5
13.1
19.3
26.1
6.3
19.8
13.4
12.8
20.0
34.4
19.7
25.3
16.1
18.7
16.8
28.9
21.5
23.5
14.6
12.7
38.7
23.2
25.9
16.6
20.8
16.5
59.9
.5
2.3
.7
.4
.8
.5
.9
.6
.8
1.3
2.4
.5
4.6
.7
.5
.8
.6
.8
.6
.7
1.4
.6
7.5
2.8
4.0
7.5
4.2
5.1
3.3
2.3
3.7
2.4
4.9
7.7
1.8
3.8
5.3
4.0
4.9
2.8
2.7
4.9
2.8
3.2
Business demand ...........................................................................
Contract cancellation ...................................................................
Contract completion .....................................................................
Domestic competition ..................................................................
Excess inventory/saturated market .............................................
Import competition .......................................................................
Slack work/insufficient demand/nonseasona
business slowdown ................................................................
56.6
41.3
56.5
51.2
54.5
66.6
53.9
45.2
52.9
63.7
66.5
78.8
11.6
20.2
9.2
33.5
19.2
16.8
10.9
21.0
9.4
15.9
17.6
5.8
21.7
25.9
23.6
11.8
19.4
4.1
23.9
19.6
26.2
15.3
5.2
3.7
.7
1.3
.8
.5
.3
.6
.8
1.2
.8
.1
.7
–
3.0
3.9
3.2
.4
.6
9.6
3.3
4.0
3.4
1.2
.4
–
59.3
60.4
17.3
16.9
15.2
13.1
.6
.7
2.4
2.9
Organizational changes ..................................................................
Business-ownership change ........................................................
Reorganization or restructuring of company ................................
50.2
48.9
50.4
50.9
54.0
50.3
16.7
19.2
16.2
17.3
15.1
17.7
18.4
18.1
18.4
17.2
18.1
17.0
.5
.4
.6
.5
.8
.5
5.9
3.9
6.3
5.7
4.5
6.0
Financial issues ..............................................................................
Bankruptcy ...................................................................................
Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability .............................
Financial difficulty ........................................................................
51.9
56.7
49.5
53.7
47.8
55.5
44.5
46.0
17.8
12.7
19.5
17.6
16.7
18.7
15.5
16.9
15.2
14.3
16.2
13.9
19.7
13.6
21.9
22.0
.6
.6
.7
.5
.8
.6
.8
1.0
5.7
6.5
6.2
4.3
4.6
2.3
6.0
4.6
Production specific .........................................................................
Automation/technological advances ............................................
Energy related .............................................................................
Governmental regulations/intervention ........................................
Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike ...................................
Material or supply shortage .........................................................
Model changeover .......................................................................
Plant or machine repair/maintenance ..........................................
Product line discontinued ............................................................
52.7
50.4
77.5
42.6
79.5
74.3
48.5
24.6
43.0
60.0
69.6
–
68.6
64.4
64.6
61.0
44.4
53.9
17.6
15.6
5.6
13.8
13.8
11.1
14.2
43.1
12.1
17.3
20.7
–
13.7
19.2
5.2
12.6
31.8
9.2
17.4
23.0
3.4
25.1
4.6
3.3
25.9
19.5
27.2
11.1
4.9
–
10.5
8.4
25.7
4.4
14.8
27.5
1.6
.3
1.1
.5
.2
.8
.7
6.6
1.7
.7
.3
–
.8
.2
.7
.7
1.7
.3
4.5
5.2
6.7
8.9
.2
2.2
4.6
3.1
8.2
1.9
1.6
–
1.3
4.5
1.3
1.4
2.0
1.9
Disaster/safety ................................................................................
Hazardous work environment ......................................................
Natural disaster (not weather related) .........................................
Nonnatural disaster .....................................................................
Extreme weather-related event ...................................................
62.3
26.6
71.5
37.9
70.8
45.8
36.8
94.6
83.1
41.4
18.9
13.8
2.2
54.2
20.3
16.1
25.9
.5
9.5
16.5
4.3
9.7
2.2
4.7
3.4
17.1
8.7
.5
6.6
19.4
.5
.9
.6
.7
.4
.4
.1
–
–
.4
2.9
1.0
18.8
–
.5
8.8
10.9
.3
–
9.8
Seasonal .........................................................................................
Seasonal ......................................................................................
Vacation period–school related or otherwise ...............................
58.3
58.5
57.4
56.2
57.4
51.9
15.6
14.0
22.4
15.3
13.2
22.6
17.8
18.8
13.3
20.2
21.1
17.3
.8
.8
.9
.8
.8
.9
2.8
3.1
1.6
2.8
3.0
2.0
Other/miscellaneous .......................................................................
Other ............................................................................................
Data not provided: Refusal ..........................................................
Data not provided: Does not know ..............................................
43.7
46.0
42.4
44.1
45.8
43.4
43.2
47.4
17.4
11.5
20.4
16.6
15.9
16.9
15.7
15.8
23.9
25.4
24.2
23.6
23.4
22.9
26.9
21.6
.7
.6
.7
.8
.7
.8
.8
.7
4.2
2.5
4.5
4.2
4.1
4.5
5.1
3.5
Total, private nonfarm2 .........................................................
Industry
Reason for layoff
1
Because of some nonreporting, sums of percentages within age and gender may not equal 100.0 percent.
2
Data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
BLS Reports │September 2013 • www.bls.gov11 E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 7. Claimant age and gender: percent of initial claimants for unemployment insurance, by industry and reason for layoff, private nonfarm
sector, 2011–2012
Percent of total by age1
Measure
Less than 30 years
30–44
Percent of total by gender1
45–54
55 or older
Men
Women
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
21.3
21.5
33.5
33.4
24.8
24.6
20.2
20.4
59.6
59.9
40.2
40.0
Mining ………………………………………………………
Utilities ………………………………………………………
Construction ………………………………………………
Manufacturing ………………………………………………
Wholesale trade ……………………………………………
Retail trade …………………………………………………
Transportation and warehousing …………………………
Information …………………………………………………
Finance and insurance ……………………………………
14.6
16.4
16.5
13.5
15.3
41.5
12.4
14.4
27.8
19.0
13.3
16.3
12.9
15.1
42.2
11.6
13.1
26.1
34.0
36.7
39.1
31.2
32.4
26.7
28.0
41.6
36.1
35.6
31.8
38.4
29.5
30.5
25.8
27.6
41.7
35.6
28.3
29.2
28.7
30.1
27.3
16.8
25.4
25.8
19.2
24.3
24.2
28.8
30.3
29.1
16.3
26.2
26.3
19.3
23.1
17.4
15.5
24.9
24.8
15.0
33.9
18.1
16.5
21.0
30.0
16.4
27.2
25.2
15.5
34.5
18.8
18.8
94.1
85.1
94.4
63.7
58.4
43.3
47.1
65.3
35.5
96.0
71.7
94.3
65.4
60.4
41.0
47.8
66.9
36.5
5.9
14.7
5.4
36.1
41.6
56.5
52.9
34.6
64.2
3.9
27.9
5.6
34.5
39.5
58.8
52.1
33.1
63.3
Real estate and rental and leasing ………………………
Professional and technical services ……………………
Management of companies and enterprises ……………
Administrative and waste services ………………………
Educational services ………………………………………
Health care and social assistance ………………………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation ……………………
Accommodation and food services ………………………
Other services, except public administration ……………
Unclassified establishments ………………………………
31.9
15.1
17.4
30.9
24.8
19.3
31.8
23.9
20.4
40.2
20.9
16.0
13.7
32.2
24.7
16.6
30.8
21.7
23.2
30.6
33.5
33.3
33.1
33.1
38.8
36.7
24.6
27.9
34.9
32.1
34.2
35.4
33.3
33.6
37.1
36.2
26.9
28.1
34.3
31.3
21.5
23.1
26.7
21.6
18.7
23.7
17.8
25.3
23.7
17.5
26.4
22.7
29.3
20.8
19.2
24.5
18.1
25.9
22.3
26.1
13.0
28.3
22.7
14.2
17.5
20.2
25.6
22.8
20.8
10.2
18.3
25.7
23.6
13.2
18.9
22.6
24.0
24.2
20.0
12.0
66.7
51.1
52.2
59.2
38.9
13.5
56.6
38.4
44.1
52.0
74.5
55.2
49.7
57.2
33.7
14.4
57.8
39.2
44.2
59.8
33.2
48.7
47.8
40.6
60.9
86.3
43.3
61.5
55.8
48.0
25.4
44.6
50.2
42.6
66.1
85.5
42.1
60.7
55.6
40.1
Business demand ........................................................
Contract cancellation ................................................
Contract completion ..................................................
Domestic competition ...............................................
Excess inventory/saturated market ..........................
Import competition ....................................................
Slack work/insufficient demand/nonseasona
business slowdown .............................................
20.0
21.9
20.6
18.4
20.7
8.1
21.0
24.1
21.5
8.1
10.7
12.4
37.2
31.2
38.3
43.9
31.0
26.3
37.2
31.8
38.1
35.0
33.5
29.9
25.4
23.8
25.0
22.4
27.3
33.9
24.9
23.8
24.5
34.9
28.9
28.6
17.2
22.7
15.8
15.2
20.9
31.7
16.8
20.1
15.7
21.8
26.9
29.0
70.2
54.3
73.0
47.2
65.7
61.9
69.0
57.9
69.8
68.1
73.0
46.9
29.6
45.4
26.8
52.5
34.3
38.1
30.9
41.9
30.0
31.8
27.0
53.1
18.0
18.6
34.8
33.1
26.8
26.5
20.2
21.7
64.5
66.5
35.2
33.3
Organizational changes ...............................................
Business-ownership change .....................................
Reorganization or restructuring of company .............
21.6
16.5
22.6
22.5
23.8
22.3
31.4
30.9
31.5
31.3
30.8
31.3
24.5
27.1
24.0
23.4
23.3
23.4
22.2
25.4
21.5
22.6
21.9
22.8
48.9
48.6
48.9
46.7
51.5
45.8
50.9
51.3
50.8
53.1
48.3
54.1
Financial issues ...........................................................
Bankruptcy ................................................................
Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ..........
Financial difficulty .....................................................
23.1
26.7
21.0
24.9
22.0
12.5
27.4
21.6
31.7
30.8
32.1
31.5
30.7
27.8
31.6
32.1
24.0
22.0
25.2
22.9
24.4
31.6
20.8
24.0
21.0
20.2
21.5
20.5
22.6
28.0
19.8
22.2
50.4
49.5
48.8
54.1
55.4
71.7
49.7
49.0
49.3
50.0
50.9
45.8
44.4
28.2
50.1
50.9
Production specific ......................................................
Automation/technological advances .........................
Energy related ..........................................................
Governmental regulations/intervention .....................
Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike ................
Material or supply shortage ......................................
Model changeover ....................................................
Plant or machine repair/maintenance .......................
Product line discontinued .........................................
23.8
14.6
33.7
32.7
17.0
21.6
27.6
21.8
25.9
15.4
11.5
–
21.6
13.6
12.0
5.2
35.2
6.4
31.3
27.7
37.1
33.5
27.5
36.0
30.2
29.4
30.7
33.7
32.8
–
39.1
35.1
32.3
34.8
30.4
28.9
26.2
30.3
15.7
17.2
34.9
26.6
28.7
25.5
23.7
30.1
30.9
–
24.2
26.7
29.5
39.0
20.1
35.1
17.8
27.4
13.5
16.1
20.6
15.8
13.4
18.4
19.2
20.7
24.8
–
15.1
24.5
26.3
20.9
14.4
29.3
56.7
43.5
76.4
47.5
80.4
63.9
57.6
51.0
45.4
65.5
62.3
–
74.1
57.1
32.5
75.9
51.8
70.8
43.1
56.5
23.6
52.1
19.6
35.9
42.3
49.0
54.4
34.4
37.6
–
25.9
42.7
67.5
24.1
48.2
29.0
Disaster/safety .............................................................
Hazardous work environment ...................................
Natural disaster (not weather related) ......................
Nonnatural disaster ..................................................
Extreme weather-related event ................................
18.7
19.0
15.8
15.5
19.4
12.5
10.4
11.1
20.6
12.1
36.4
37.6
29.5
26.0
38.2
25.1
26.9
25.1
27.1
24.8
26.6
27.9
26.2
34.3
25.8
30.2
27.4
26.2
26.8
30.9
18.2
15.2
28.5
23.5
16.5
32.1
35.3
37.6
25.5
32.0
72.9
67.9
79.2
72.9
72.9
49.4
24.7
91.1
94.1
46.1
26.9
31.7
20.8
26.4
27.0
50.6
75.3
8.9
5.9
53.9
Seasonal ......................................................................
Seasonal ...................................................................
Vacation period–school related or otherwise ............
19.9
21.5
12.8
19.7
21.4
13.6
30.0
30.3
28.8
29.9
30.3
28.5
25.2
25.0
26.4
25.1
24.8
26.1
24.8
23.2
31.7
25.3
23.4
31.7
51.9
58.3
24.4
52.1
59.5
26.3
48.0
41.6
75.6
47.8
40.4
73.7
Other/miscellaneous ....................................................
Other .........................................................................
Data not provided: Refusal .......................................
Data not provided: Does not know ...........................
26.7
23.8
29.7
25.6
26.5
31.1
27.5
25.4
32.1
34.7
31.1
32.3
31.3
30.8
31.5
31.3
22.7
23.8
22.0
23.0
22.9
19.9
22.4
23.5
18.2
17.5
16.8
19.0
19.2
17.9
18.5
19.7
53.8
61.6
50.2
54.7
54.1
49.1
53.6
54.9
46.0
38.2
49.6
45.1
45.8
50.7
46.2
45.0
Total, private nonfarm2 .......................................
Industry
Reason for layoff
1
Because of some nonreporting, sums of percentages within age and gender may not equal 100.0 percent.
2
Data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
12
BLS Reports │ September 2013 • www.bls.gov
E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 8. Claimants for unemployment insurance associated with extended mass layoff events, by state, private nonfarm sector, 2012
Continued claims without earnings1
State
Initial claims for
unemployment
insurance
Number
Average number
filed per initial
claimant
Final payments for unemployment
insurance1
Number
Percentage of initial
claimants receiving
final payments
Total, private nonfarm2……………………………………………
1,336,276
2,347,369
1.8
204,518
15.3
Alabama …………………………………………………………………
Alaska ……………………………………………………………………
Arizona ……………………………………………………………………
Arkansas …………………………………………………………………
California …………………………………………………………………
Colorado …………………………………………………………………
Connecticut ………………………………………………………………
Delaware …………………………………………………………………
District of Columbia ………………………………………………………
Florida ……………………………………………………………………
Georgia ……………………………………………………………………
Hawaii ……………………………………………………………………
Idaho ………………………………………………………………………
9,089
8,125
10,114
10,042
588,039
9,079
6,920
1,915
1,597
18,332
13,529
(3)
3,418
16,293
15,360
20,540
21,851
921,476
21,476
19,465
3,762
4,706
42,521
22,326
(3)
6,210
1.8
1.9
2.0
2.2
1.6
2.4
2.8
2.0
2.9
2.3
1.7
2.7
1.8
1,070
1,477
2,204
2,020
86,081
1,838
1,836
312
231
4,843
3,174
(3)
733
11.8
18.2
21.8
20.1
14.6
20.2
26.5
16.3
14.5
26.4
23.5
16.0
21.4
Illinois ……………………………………………………………………
Indiana ……………………………………………………………………
Iowa ………………………………………………………………………
Kansas ……………………………………………………………………
Kentucky …………………………………………………………………
Louisiana …………………………………………………………………
Maine ………………………………………………………………………
Maryland4 …………………………………………………………………
Massachusetts ……………………………………………………………
Michigan …………………………………………………………………
Minnesota …………………………………………………………………
Mississippi ………………………………………………………………
Missouri ……………………………………………………………………
76,580
19,753
4,440
7,024
13,601
11,527
4,481
14,766
12,005
25,928
16,519
3,432
18,703
155,226
35,050
10,119
17,544
4,099
18,803
9,475
35,061
25,825
53,017
35,551
8,876
37,346
2.0
1.8
2.3
2.5
.3
1.6
2.1
2.4
2.2
2.0
2.2
2.6
2.0
11,981
2,438
560
1,674
2,578
1,325
550
2,424
2,471
5,424
2,120
746
1,876
15.6
12.3
12.6
23.8
19.0
11.5
12.3
16.4
20.6
20.9
12.8
21.7
10.0
Montana …………………………………………………………………
Nebraska …………………………………………………………………
Nevada ............................................................................................
New Hampshire ...............................................................................
New Jersey .....................................................................................
New Mexico .....................................................................................
New York…………………………………………………………………
North Carolina ……………………………………………………………
North Dakota ……………………………………………………………
Ohio ………………………………………………………………………
Oklahoma …………………………………………………………………
Oregon ……………………………………………………………………
Pennsylvania ……………………………………………………………
3,036
1,991
20,761
2,650
44,534
4,944
75,860
8,163
2,409
39,849
2,574
21,071
63,295
3,968
2,649
22,909
4,307
91,994
13,043
147,833
19,469
3,969
73,287
7,269
31,765
110,003
1.3
1.3
1.1
1.6
2.1
2.6
1.9
2.4
1.6
1.8
2.8
1.5
1.7
315
101
3,287
123
6,862
1,067
10,863
1,988
668
4,386
620
3,194
7,114
10.4
5.1
15.8
4.6
15.4
21.6
14.3
24.4
27.7
11.0
24.1
15.2
11.2
Rhode Island ……………………………………………………………
South Carolina ……………………………………………………………
South Dakota ……………………………………………………………
Tennessee ………………………………………………………………
Texas ………………………………………………………………………
Utah ………………………………………………………………………
Vermont …………………………………………………………………
Virginia ……………………………………………………………………
Washington ………………………………………………………………
West Virginia ……………………………………………………………
Wisconsin …………………………………………………………………
Wyoming …………………………………………………………………
2,234
6,046
(3)
10,887
35,262
4,594
1,942
16,774
23,284
3,291
29,943
1,121
3,726
11,589
(3)
27,808
76,072
6,912
2,287
30,025
33,120
8,577
48,620
2,141
1.7
1.9
.7
2.6
2.2
1.5
1.2
1.8
1.4
2.6
1.6
1.9
82
1,094
–
3,061
8,056
447
481
2,393
3,155
73
2,702
281
3.7
18.1
–
28.1
22.8
9.7
24.8
14.3
13.6
2.2
9.0
25.1
Puerto Rico ………………………………………………………………
14,365
33,617
2.3
2,937
20.4
1
The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program tracks continued claim activity for initial claimants associated with extended mass layoffs once a month during the Current
Population Survey (CPS) reference week, which is usually the week including the 12th day of the month. Continued claims with earnings are excluded because individuals
who make such claims are classified as employed in the CPS. Final payment information for MLS claimants is collected weekly. (See the technical note for additional
information.)
2
Data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia.
3
Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
4
Data starting in June 2012 may not be comparable to prior data due to improvements in state MLS data processing.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
BLS Reports │September 2013 • www.bls.gov13 E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 9. Claimants for unemployment insurance associated with extended mass layoff events, by industry and reason for layoff, private nonfarm
sector, 2012
Continued claims without earnings1
Measure
Total, private nonfarm2…………………………………………………………………………………
Initial claims for
unemployment
insurance
Number
Average number
filed per initial
claimant
Final payments for unemployment
insurance1
Number
Percentage of
initial claimants
receiving final
payments
1,336,276
2,347,369
1.8
204,518
15.3
Mining …………………………………………………………………………………
Utilities …………………………………………………………………………………
Construction ……………………………………………………………………………
Manufacturing …………………………………………………………………………
Wholesale trade ………………………………………………………………………
Retail trade ……………………………………………………………………………
Transportation and warehousing ……………………………………………………
Information ……………………………………………………………………………
10,303
4,060
199,811
186,194
18,058
115,213
71,038
162,701
16,588
8,575
331,389
370,584
43,739
202,876
106,888
213,591
1.6
2.1
1.7
2.0
2.4
1.8
1.5
1.3
1,241
628
22,990
31,859
3,748
20,932
5,944
17,321
12.0
15.5
11.5
17.1
20.8
18.2
8.4
10.6
Finance and insurance ………………………………………………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing …………………………………………………
Professional and technical services …………………………………………………
Management of companies and enterprises ………………………………………
Administrative and waste services …………………………………………………
Educational services …………………………………………………………………
Health care and social assistance …………………………………………………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation …………………………………………………
Accommodation and food services …………………………………………………
Other services, except public administration ………………………………………
Unclassified establishments …………………………………………………………
26,002
7,488
75,368
4,642
241,941
13,300
47,348
36,313
97,612
17,108
1,776
73,458
12,157
134,823
12,161
442,325
27,589
108,332
62,162
143,637
33,412
3,083
2.8
1.6
1.8
2.6
1.8
2.1
2.3
1.7
1.5
2.0
1.7
7,695
1,082
16,875
1,291
45,263
2,611
7,223
5,027
9,888
2,567
333
29.6
14.4
22.4
27.8
18.7
19.6
15.3
13.8
10.1
15.0
18.8
Business demand ..............................................................................................
Contract cancellation ......................................................................................
Contract completion .......................................................................................
Domestic competition .....................................................................................
Excess inventory/saturated market ................................................................
Import competition ..........................................................................................
Slack work/insufficient demand/nonseasonal
business slowdown ..................................................................................
583,810
18,093
476,180
907,855
40,001
704,049
84,174
4,414
65,657
(3)
14.4
24.4
13.8
10.8
7.3
22.4
Organizational changes ....................................................................................
Business-ownership change ..........................................................................
Reorganization or restructuring of company ..................................................
Industry
Reason for layoff
( )
5,341
( )
4,570
(3)
(3)
1.6
2.2
1.5
1.3
.9
1.5
81,865
156,131
1.9
13,431
16.4
51,431
8,317
43,114
135,841
21,426
114,415
2.6
2.6
2.7
14,612
1,848
12,764
28.4
22.2
29.6
Financial issues .................................................................................................
Bankruptcy .....................................................................................................
Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ................................................
Financial difficulty ...........................................................................................
77,049
20,561
37,942
18,546
217,339
63,583
98,750
55,006
2.8
3.1
2.6
3.0
19,301
3,470
10,225
5,606
25.1
16.9
26.9
30.2
Production specific ............................................................................................
Automation/technological advances ...............................................................
Energy related ................................................................................................
Governmental regulations/intervention ..........................................................
Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike ......................................................
Material or supply shortage ............................................................................
Model changeover ..........................................................................................
Plant or machine repair/maintenance ............................................................
Product line discontinued ...............................................................................
15,179
1,935
–
2,526
1,392
560
4,264
2,787
1,715
35,507
3,176
–
6,230
2,856
701
13,085
3,877
5,582
2.3
1.6
–
2.5
2.1
1.3
3.1
1.4
3.3
2,954
283
–
752
257
39
847
286
490
19.5
14.6
–
29.8
18.5
7.0
19.9
10.3
28.6
Disaster/safety ..................................................................................................
Hazardous work environment ........................................................................
Natural disaster (not weather related) ............................................................
Nonnatural disaster ........................................................................................
Extreme weather-related event ......................................................................
9,484
13,527
( )
(3)
1,413
9,452
1.4
3.8
.2
2.3
1.2
515
( )
(3)
608
7,815
( )
(3)
23
203
5.4
41.2
1.1
3.8
2.6
Seasonal ...........................................................................................................
Seasonal ........................................................................................................
Vacation period–school related or otherwise .................................................
390,775
303,774
87,001
681,182
534,293
146,889
1.7
1.8
1.7
49,498
44,092
5,406
12.7
14.5
6.2
Other/miscellaneous .........................................................................................
Other ..............................................................................................................
Data not provided: Refusal .............................................................................
Data not provided: Does not know .................................................................
208,548
14,222
66,928
127,398
356,118
29,340
104,007
222,771
1.7
2.1
1.6
1.7
33,464
3,146
10,298
20,020
16.0
22.1
15.4
15.7
Other selected measures
Worksite closures ……………………………………………………………………
Recall expected ………………………………………………………………………
No recall expected ……………………………………………………………………
87,314
807,960
220,006
253,249
1,295,484
540,183
2.9
1.6
2.5
24,047
104,511
52,387
27.5
12.9
23.8
3
3
3
3
3
( )
392
3
1
The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program tracks continued claim activity for initial claimants associated with extended mass layoffs once a month during the Current Population
Survey (CPS) reference week, which is usually the week including the 12th day of the month. Continued claims with earnings are excluded because individuals who make such
claims are classified as employed in the CPS. Final payment information for MLS claimants is collected weekly. (See the technical note for additional information.)
2
3
Data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia.
Data do not meet BLS or state agency disclosure standards.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
14
BLS Reports │ September 2013 • www.bls.gov
E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 10. Unemployment insurance benefit exhaustion rates by selected claimant characteristics, private nonfarm sector, 2012
Characteristic
Initial claims for unemployment Final payments for unemployment Percentage of initial claimants receiving
final payments
insurance
insurance1
Total, private nonfarm2 ……………………………
1,336,276
204,518
15.3
287,046
446,303
329,225
272,123
1,579
44,111
66,002
46,869
47,187
349
15.4
14.8
14.2
17.3
22.1
800,520
534,083
1,673
111,467
92,748
303
13.9
17.4
18.1
706,101
182,450
294,958
10,372
46,248
96,147
93,777
35,956
48,837
1,703
8,374
15,871
13.3
19.7
16.6
16.4
18.1
16.5
Age
Under 30 years of age …………………………………
30–44 ……………………………………………………
45–54 ……………………………………………………
55 years of age or over ………………………...………
Not available ……………………………………………
Gender
Male ………………………………………………………
Female ……………………………………………………
Not available ………………………………………...……
Race/ethnicity
White ………………………………………………………
Black ………………………………………………………
Hispanic origin ……………………………………………
American Indian or Alaska Native ……………………
Asian or Pacific Islander …………………………………
Not available ……………………………………………
1
2
Final payment information for Mass Layoff Statistics claimants is collected weekly. (See the technical note for additional information.
.
Data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
BLS Reports │September 2013 • www.bls.gov
15 E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 11. The 50 metropolitan areas with the largest number of initial claimants associated with extended mass layoff events in 2012, by
residency of claimants, private nonfarm sector
2011
Metropolitan area
Total, 372 metropolitan areas 2 …………………………………………………
Initial claimants for
unemployment
insurance
2012
Rank1
Initial claimants for
unemployment
insurance
Rank1
1,068,310
…
1,142,573
…
Total, top 50 metropolitan areas …………………………………………………
780,442
…
897,171
…
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. …………………………………………
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. ………………………
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. ……………………………………………
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. ……………………………………………
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. ………………………………………………
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. ……………………………………………
Sacramento—Arden-Arcade—Roseville, Calif. ……………………………………
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif. ……………………………………………
3
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md. .……………………………
Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev. ……………………………………………………………
202,569
75,115
46,007
38,172
48,548
29,161
17,131
15,718
20,018
9,858
1
2
4
5
3
6
8
9
7
16
275,404
75,621
59,485
48,029
46,420
32,645
21,938
18,655
18,484
18,309
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, Calif. ……………………………………………
Fresno, Calif. ……………………………………………………………………………
Pittsburgh, Pa. …………………………………………………………………………
Modesto, Calif. …………………………………………………………………………
11,822
10,121
13,189
9,011
11
15
10
18
16,512
13,258
12,874
12,004
11
12
13
14
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash. ……………………………………………………
Stockton, Calif. …………………………………………………………………………
St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. ………………………………………………………………………
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas ………………………………………………
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich. …………………………………………………………
Bakersfield-Delano, Calif. ……………………………………………………………
11,379
9,089
11,726
10,688
8,843
6,787
13
17
12
14
20
29
11,749
11,390
11,389
11,180
10,748
10,484
15
16
17
18
19
20
Baltimore-Towson, Md. ………………………………………………………………
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Ore.-Wash. …………………………………………
Visalia-Porterville, Calif. ………………………………………………………………
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Mass.-N.H. ……………………………………………
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, Ariz. ………………………………………………………
6,286
8,791
4,880
6,721
8,031
33
21
38
30
25
10,382
9,210
8,318
7,465
6,756
21
22
23
24
25
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis. ……………………………………
Kansas City, Mo.-Kan. …………………………………………………………………
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wis. ………………………………………………
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas …………………………………………………
Atlantic City-Hammonton, N.J. ………………………………………………………
8,081
3,837
8,736
6,573
6,804
24
46
22
31
28
6,473
6,472
6,177
5,912
5,881
26
27
28
29
30
Vallejo-Fairfield, Calif. …………………………………………………………………
Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio-Ky.-Ind. ………………………………………………
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla. ………………………………………
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Ga. ………………………………………………
3
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va. …………………………
5,225
5,572
8,967
8,725
5,178
36
35
19
23
37
5,615
5,572
5,553
5,166
5,148
31
32
33
34
35
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, Ohio ………………………………………………………
Toledo, Ohio ……………………………………………………………………………
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Va.-N.C. …………………………………
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y. ……………………………………………………………
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas ……………………………………………………
7,123
3,689
6,403
7,763
3,018
27
49
32
26
62
5,078
4,907
4,656
4,272
4,161
36
37
38
39
40
Rochester, N.Y. ………………………………………………………………………
Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind. ……………………………………………………………
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, Pa. …………………………………………………………
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, Calif. …………………………………………………………
Merced, Calif. …………………………………………………………………………
6,219
3,419
3,434
3,396
3,136
34
54
53
57
61
4,143
3,913
3,855
3,756
3,733
41
42
43
44
45
Columbus, Ohio ………………………………………………………………………
Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas …………………………………………………………
Salinas, Calif. …………………………………………………………………………
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pa.-N.J. ……………………………………………
Peoria, Ill. ………………………………………………………………………………
4,287
2,094
3,301
4,145
2,152
43
89
58
44
85
3,695
3,649
3,635
3,594
3,446
46
47
48
49
50
3
1
Metropolitan areas are ranked by the number of initial claims in 2012.
2
Data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia.
Data starting in June 2012 may not be comparable to prior data due to improvements in state MLS data processing.
3
NOTE: The geographic boundaries of the metropolitan areas shown in this table are defined in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget
Bulletin 10-02, December 1, 2009.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
16
BLS Reports │ September 2013 • www.bls.gov
E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 12. Summary of employer expectations of a recall from extended mass layoffs, private nonfarm sector, 2005–2012
Nature of recall
Percent of layoff events1
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
56.2
52.1
49.5
41.4
34.2
49.5
55.2
56.9
87.1
50.1
88.7
53.5
86.5
49.0
77.2
45.0
72.0
44.2
70.2
42.5
68.3
41.8
63.4
39.6
90.6
47.9
92.2
49.4
90.2
49.8
79.6
38.9
73.0
33.9
72.6
35.5
71.8
33.7
66.1
29.9
94.8
93.6
94.7
95.3
94.1
93.1
94.5
92.9
91.5
45.6
91.0
48.2
91.6
46.6
88.8
43.5
88.3
48.8
86.6
48.8
87.3
48.1
85.7
48.7
96.7
55.0
96.8
57.0
96.0
59.1
92.3
51.8
90.8
49.7
91.1
49.2
92.2
47.2
90.5
45.2
Anticipate a recall ………………………………………………………
31.6
29.4
25.1
24.4
20.5
27.7
34.4
38.3
Timeframe
Within 6 months …………………………………………………………
Within 3 months ……………………………………………………
78.5
58.7
84.7
62.7
76.1
53.8
62.9
46.8
54.7
39.4
42.6
31.9
40.6
32.6
35.5
28.2
Size of recall
At least half ……………………………………………………………
All workers …………………………………………………………
78.9
34.3
84.3
36.2
78.3
31.0
63.9
22.9
54.2
17.2
41.7
12.6
42.0
14.2
35.4
10.7
All layoff events
Anticipate a recall ………………………………………………………
Timeframe
Within 6 months …………………………………………………………
Within 3 months ……………………………………………………
Size of recall
At least half ……………………………………………………………
All workers …………………………………………………………
Layoff events due to seasonal work and vacation period
Anticipate a recall ………………………………………………………
Timeframe
Within 6 months …………………………………………………………
Within 3 months ……………………………………………………
Size of recall
At least half ……………………………………………………………
All workers …………………………………………………………
All layoff events, excluding those due to seasonal work and
vacation period
1
Data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
BLS Reports │September 2013 • www.bls.gov17 E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 13. Distribution of extended mass layoff events with expected recall, by industry and reason for layoff, private nonfarm sector,
2005–2012
Percent of layoff events
Measure
2005
Total, private nonfarm1 …………………………………
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
56.2
52.1
49.5
41.4
34.2
49.5
55.2
56.9
Mining ……………………………………………………………
Utilities …………………………………………………………
Construction ……………………………………………………
Manufacturing …………………………………………………
Wholesale trade ………………………………………………
Retail trade ……………………………………………………
Transportation and warehousing ……………………………
Information ………………………………………………………
Finance and insurance ………………………………………
90.9
53.8
80.2
48.2
44.1
31.3
65.3
17.5
8.2
75.0
72.7
58.9
45.6
36.9
29.1
72.3
26.5
5.0
76.9
55.6
53.8
43.1
31.6
29.9
76.0
23.7
.5
67.3
36.4
56.4
36.9
20.5
19.3
51.9
9.8
.2
43.9
52.4
56.4
28.1
14.7
11.7
46.7
4.1
1.3
59.3
41.2
71.2
38.9
32.9
21.3
59.7
19.1
2.4
70.5
80.0
75.9
45.0
38.8
24.9
62.4
37.4
1.6
48.2
44.4
76.3
44.0
30.1
21.3
68.4
42.3
2.3
Real estate and rental and leasing …………………………
Professional and technical services …………………………
Management of companies and enterprises ………………
Administrative and waste services …………………………
Educational services …………………………………………
Health care and social assistance .....................................
Arts, entertainment, and recreation …………………………
Accommodation and food services …………………………
Other services, except public administration ………………
Unclassified establishments …………………………………
31.6
46.8
42.9
42.6
50.0
69.1
77.8
65.8
71.3
–
29.4
52.9
33.3
41.1
60.9
79.7
81.5
73.8
81.5
–
10.7
40.4
42.9
56.2
55.6
77.7
84.2
74.3
69.9
25.0
15.7
31.5
33.3
41.3
51.2
66.5
71.9
53.9
57.8
–
16.8
22.8
22.2
32.0
39.0
62.6
64.6
44.9
43.2
–
25.0
38.6
40.0
45.6
60.9
62.8
73.2
55.7
64.8
–
29.3
46.5
40.7
53.2
41.3
63.5
84.0
64.4
73.0
50.0
44.7
55.7
37.5
62.6
52.6
65.3
81.4
63.8
65.3
46.7
Business demand ..............................................................
Contract cancellation ......................................................
Contract completion ........................................................
Domestic competition .....................................................
Excess inventory/saturated market ................................
Import competition ..........................................................
Slack work/insufficient demand/nonseasonal
business slowdown ...................................................
48.9
15.5
42.8
43.5
14.1
36.6
(2)
(2)
5.4
(2)
(2)
9.4
39.1
21.9
36.3
26.7
34.2
2.7
40.7
17.7
51.1
28.6
37.5
5.6
33.4
17.2
50.2
33.3
42.9
4.5
48.7
11.5
62.2
12.5
38.5
–
57.9
19.7
68.3
20.0
41.7
–
64.9
20.2
74.9
11.1
40.0
–
64.8
63.0
47.6
38.6
29.1
41.0
45.1
46.9
Organizational changes .....................................................
Business-ownership change ...........................................
Reorganization or restructuring of company ...................
4.5
1.9
5.2
5.0
4.8
5.1
6.0
3.0
7.1
3.3
3.2
3.3
3.8
3.5
3.9
6.3
12.5
4.3
4.2
5.3
3.8
5.8
9.7
4.6
Financial issues .................................................................
Bankruptcy ......................................................................
4.0
2.2
5.0
1.8
4.4
–
3.8
1.5
6.6
3.4
5.9
1.7
3.9
3.9
2.9
1.1
Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ................
Financial difficulty ...........................................................
(2)
5.2
(2)
6.1
4.0
6.1
4.3
4.4
8.5
4.6
5.8
7.5
3.8
3.9
3.7
2.8
Production specific ............................................................
Automation/technological advances ...............................
Energy related ................................................................
40.2
33.3
–
44.7
12.5
100.0
53.6
12.5
–
44.9
50.0
20.0
38.7
20.0
–
42.6
33.3
100.0
53.2
50.0
–
44.0
30.0
–
Governmental regulations/intervention ...........................
Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike ......................
Material or supply shortage ............................................
Model changeover ..........................................................
Plant or machine repair/maintenance .............................
Product line discontinued ...............................................
(2)
55.6
50.0
71.4
90.0
15.0
(2)
72.2
70.0
66.7
83.3
11.1
7.1
55.6
100.0
66.7
82.4
28.6
19.0
47.4
66.7
66.7
87.5
9.1
26.7
14.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
–
5.6
42.9
100.0
75.0
100.0
25.0
13.3
40.0
69.6
84.6
85.7
10.0
22.2
37.5
100.0
77.8
80.0
–
Disaster/safety ...................................................................
Hazardous work environment .........................................
Natural disaster (not weather related) ............................
Nonnatural disaster ........................................................
Extreme weather-related event ......................................
42.9
100.0
50.0
100.0
42.5
80.6
25.0
60.0
60.0
89.6
84.4
–
66.7
80.0
95.5
37.9
–
100.0
25.0
37.3
68.4
66.7
–
66.7
70.0
75.0
100.0
100.0
60.0
81.8
64.5
40.0
–
–
85.7
68.9
–
–
60.0
80.0
Seasonal ............................................................................
Seasonal .........................................................................
Vacation period–school related or otherwise ..................
94.8
94.5
100.0
93.6
93.3
98.2
94.7
93.5
99.3
95.3
94.3
99.2
94.1
92.9
98.0
93.1
91.5
99.4
94.5
93.6
98.4
92.9
91.4
98.2
Other/miscellaneous ..........................................................
Other ...............................................................................
Data not provided: Refusal .............................................
Data not provided: Does not know .................................
5.0
17.0
–
–
4.8
19.1
–
.9
3.3
46.3
–
.5
2.5
39.3
–
.1
1.4
27.0
–
–
1.4
27.3
–
.1
2.5
27.2
–
–
2.2
27.6
–
–
Industry
Reason for layoff
1
Data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia.
2
Use of this reason began with data from the first quarter of 2007.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
18
BLS Reports │ September 2013 • www.bls.gov
E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 14. Permanent worksite closures: extended mass layoff events and separations by primary reason for layoff, private nonfarm sector,
2008–2012
Layoff events
Separations
Reason for layoff1
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Total, all reasons .....................................................
899
1,099
602
497
544
215,647
237,333
119,234
103,682
121,972
Business demand .......................................................
236
405
186
Contract cancellation ...............................................
Contract completion .................................................
Domestic competition ..............................................
Excess inventory/saturated market ..........................
Import competition ...................................................
Slack work/insufficient demand/nonseasonal
business slowdown ............................................
26
16
4
8
34
40
41
5
10
12
30
24
4
(2)
(2)
118
130
51,480
73,808
33,413
24,055
26,739
21
20
3
6
4
40
19
6
(2)
(2)
8,453
4,259
1,080
2,064
6,046
5,918
7,412
595
1,069
2,237
6,125
4,731
1,384
(2)
(2)
3,870
5,778
279
2,352
1,110
10,111
3,458
1,617
(2)
(2)
148
297
123
64
60
29,578
56,577
20,485
10,666
10,503
Organizational changes ..............................................
223
Business-ownership change ....................................
Reorganization or restructuring of company ............
50
173
193
123
101
110
50,435
41,430
25,179
18,575
26,659
45
148
35
88
33
68
33
77
16,379
34,056
12,902
28,528
10,217
14,962
5,157
13,418
10,795
15,864
Financial issues ..........................................................
373
431
242
218
239
97,787
109,509
52,737
50,296
53,671
Bankruptcy ...............................................................
Cost control/cost cutting/increase profitability ..........
Financial difficulty ....................................................
113
103
157
134
131
166
53
92
97
64
71
83
74
65
100
31,779
18,010
47,998
42,348
24,382
42,779
12,305
16,089
24,343
17,591
12,437
20,268
21,990
13,702
17,979
Production specific ......................................................
26
16
13
16
21
7,145
3,651
2,480
2,901
3,722
Automation/technological advances ........................
Energy related .........................................................
Governmental regulations/intervention ....................
Labor dispute/contract negotiations/strike ...............
Material or supply shortage .....................................
Model changeover ...................................................
Plant or machine repair/maintenance ......................
Product line discontinued .........................................
3
3
12
(2)
–
–
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
–
–
(2)
(2)
(2)
–
–
–
8
–
(2)
–
–
–
1,386
620
–
(2)
2
( )
–
(2)
291
–
(2)
(2)
–
–
2,014
–
–
2
( )
(2)
(2)
7
–
(2)
2
( )
562
510
4,254
(2)
3
–
(2)
(2)
–
–
9
–
–
2
( )
–
(2)
–
(2)
1,558
1,056
(2)
2
( )
( )
Hazardous work environment ..................................
Natural disaster (not weather related) .....................
Nonnatural disaster ..................................................
Extreme weather-related event ................................
–
–
2
( )
(2)
2
( )
–
–
(2)
–
–
2
( )
(2)
Seasonal .....................................................................
(2)
(2)
Seasonal ..................................................................
Vacation period–school related or otherwise ...........
(2)
(2)
–
–
–
Disaster/safety ............................................................
2
2
–
7
(2)
–
–
(2)
9
( )
( )
–
(2)
–
–
–
–
–
2
( )
(2)
2
–
–
(2)
–
–
2
( )
(2)
–
(2)
–
–
–
(2)
3
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
417
(2)
(2)
3
–
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
–
–
–
–
417
–
5
2
( )
(2)
( )
2
( )
2
( )
2
–
–
(2)
2
( )
2
–
1,251
(2)
( )
2
( )
(2)
(2)
–
Other/miscellaneous ...................................................
34
49
33
36
41
6,109
7,768
4,378
6,382
10,713
Other ........................................................................
Data not provided: Refusal ......................................
Data not provided: Does not know ...........................
16
6
12
32
(2)
(2)
15
–
18
27
(2)
(2)
26
(2)
(2)
2,924
1,225
1,960
5,471
(2)
(2)
2,068
–
2,310
5,126
(2)
(2)
4,699
(2)
(2)
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. For additional information see the technical note.
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
BLS Reports │September 2013 • www.bls.gov19 E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 15. Permanent worksite closures: extended mass layoff events and separations by major industry sector, private nonfarm sector, 2008–2012
Layoff events
Separations
Industry
Total, private nonfarm 1 .....................................
Mining ……………………………………………………
Utilities ……………………………………………………
Construction ………………………………………………
Manufacturing ……………………………………………
Wholesale trade …………………………………………
Retail trade ………………………………………………
Transportation and warehousing ………………………
Information ………………………………………………
Finance and insurance …………………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing ……………………
Professional and technical services ……………………
Management of companies and enterprises …………
Administrative and waste services ……………………
Educational services ……………………………………
Health care and social assistance ………………………
Arts, entertainment, and recreation ……………………
Accommodation and food services ……………………
Other services, except public administration …………
Unclassified establishments ……………………………
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
899
1,099
602
497
7
(2)
(2)
24
198
28
84
31
15
28
(2)
20
167
21
104
29
9
20
26
15
5
42
11
21
5
14
(2)
32
981
3,729
1,415
9,073
(2)
(2)
30
382
41
145
50
20
69
7
18
7
37
19
–
33
480
51
214
59
29
49
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
544
215,647
237,333
119,234
103,682
121,972
15
(2)
936
(2)
2,399
(2)
13
178
34
95
23
14
27
(2)
4,783
83,487
6,591
51,381
15,844
3,059
11,367
(2)
4,497
37,711
3,653
19,879
5,384
2,398
8,722
(2)
4,071
33,579
3,779
21,618
4,886
1,370
3,349
(2)
2,621
38,372
6,008
19,251
7,629
5,163
6,610
6,043
2,634
1,241
8,121
1,508
4,719
2,729
2,898
(2)
14,410
(2)
9,337
2,100
10,789
660
2,645
5,211
1,098
9,383
527
4,412
1,529
7,292
1,921
(2)
6,099
1,231
8,882
1,356
(2)
3,896
(2)
5,312
537
(2)
13,498
1,387
6,249
804
4,676
784
–
–
–
–
–
(2)
28
8
44
6
11
28
7
43
5
25
7
29
10
(2)
29
6
48
10
(2)
25
(2)
26
5
(2)
44
10
21
9
33
5
–
–
–
–
–
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.
4,154
–
4,859
91,476
7,881
66,679
12,125
4,838
11,303
NOTE: Dash represents zero.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
20
BLS Reports │ September 2013 • www.bls.gov
E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 16. Census region and division: extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, private
nonfarm sector, 2010–2012
Layoff events
Separations
Initial claimants for unemployment insurance
Census region and division
2010
2011
2012
2010
2011
2012
2010
2011
2012
United States1 ..................................
7,247
6,596
6,500
1,257,134
1,112,710
1,257,212
1,415,766
1,295,273
1,336,276
Northeast ...................................................
1,545
1,301
1,215
238,754
184,422
199,501
286,402
231,162
213,921
New England .........................................
Middle Atlantic .......................................
235
1,310
213
1,088
199
1,016
42,605
196,149
39,025
145,397
34,223
165,278
37,549
248,853
30,550
200,612
30,232
183,689
South .........................................................
1,377
1,278
1,062
247,990
207,852
186,376
285,304
233,767
180,827
South Atlantic ........................................
East South Central ................................
West South Central ...............................
789
275
313
702
261
315
527
241
294
142,963
49,929
55,098
109,965
42,888
54,999
89,534
43,033
53,809
168,175
48,891
68,238
130,368
43,184
60,215
84,413
37,009
59,405
Midwest .....................................................
1,671
1,537
1,427
281,874
261,171
242,490
292,196
268,633
243,198
East North Central .................................
West North Central ................................
1,259
412
1,174
363
1,091
336
211,273
70,601
200,229
60,942
183,361
59,129
226,339
65,857
213,150
55,483
192,053
51,145
West ..........................................................
2,654
2,480
2,796
488,516
459,265
628,845
551,864
561,711
698,330
Mountain ...............................................
Pacific ....................................................
379
2,275
327
2,153
354
2,442
80,584
407,932
69,731
389,534
79,377
549,468
60,455
491,409
50,567
511,144
57,067
641,263
1
Data on layoffs were reported by employers in all states and the District of Columbia.
NOTE: The states (and the District of Columbia) that make up the census divisions are as follows: 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.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
BLS Reports │September 2013 • www.bls.gov21 E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Table 17. State distribution: extended mass layoff events, separations, and initial claimants for unemployment insurance, private
nonfarm sector, 2010–2012
Layoff events
Separations
Initial claimants for unemployment insurance
State
2010
2011
2012
Total, private nonfarm1 .......................... 7,247
6,596
6,500
1,257,134
1,112,710
Alabama ..........................................................
47
Alaska .............................................................
48
Arizona ............................................................
73
Arkansas .........................................................
31
California ......................................................... 1,984
Colorado .........................................................
73
Connecticut .....................................................
64
Delaware .........................................................
15
District of Columbia .........................................
12
Florida .............................................................
264
Georgia ...........................................................
76
Hawaii .............................................................
10
Idaho ...............................................................
31
41
35
67
51
1,868
49
49
20
13
219
129
10
39
44
35
63
45
2,141
64
47
15
12
120
79
(2)
30
10,752
13,681
14,714
4,238
356,179
19,052
14,775
1,990
1,501
66,590
8,542
1,153
5,262
Maryland3 ........................................................
Massachusetts ................................................
Michigan ..........................................................
Minnesota .......................................................
Mississippi .......................................................
Missouri ...........................................................
460
114
33
49
92
89
31
79
82
162
128
41
156
430
109
34
41
100
95
29
70
76
160
127
40
122
408
106
27
38
107
78
31
105
74
149
123
30
115
Montana ..........................................................
Nebraska .........................................................
Nevada ............................................................
New Hampshire ..............................................
New Jersey .....................................................
New Mexico ....................................................
New York ........................................................
North Carolina .................................................
North Dakota ...................................................
Ohio ................................................................
Oklahoma ........................................................
Oregon ............................................................
Pennsylvania ...................................................
31
24
80
18
224
45
642
126
21
318
13
94
444
26
25
60
14
251
43
472
91
13
276
25
103
365
Rhode Island ...................................................
South Carolina ................................................
South Dakota ..................................................
Tennessee ......................................................
Texas ..............................................................
Utah ................................................................
Vermont ..........................................................
Virginia ............................................................
Washington .....................................................
West Virginia ...................................................
Wisconsin ........................................................
Wyoming .........................................................
25
87
Illinois ..............................................................
Indiana ............................................................
Iowa ................................................................
Kansas ............................................................
Kentucky .........................................................
Louisiana .........................................................
Maine ..............................................................
Puerto Rico .....................................................
2010
2011
2012
2010
2011
2012
1,257,212
1,415,766
1,295,273
1,336,276
9,836
14,044
11,423
8,036
333,617
12,925
10,244
2,431
1,764
37,573
17,529
1,699
6,538
8,133
12,508
14,051
8,802
493,420
13,999
6,920
1,403
1,596
21,953
13,475
10,561
8,604
12,452
9,575
451,374
6,822
6,953
3,391
1,735
36,318
28,526
1,639
5,163
9,089
8,125
10,114
10,042
588,039
9,079
6,920
1,915
1,597
18,332
13,529
(2)
4,333
12,741
11,055
12,844
7,586
431,866
9,806
12,011
1,717
1,501
64,522
14,096
1,143
3,989
81,890
12,835
5,832
6,843
15,401
18,259
5,210
13,788
11,917
20,798
18,609
7,077
31,562
80,573
12,423
4,639
5,596
13,893
19,098
5,361
11,084
12,883
21,681
22,348
5,305
23,105
74,252
13,710
3,507
7,191
18,844
13,813
5,612
18,143
13,302
24,058
20,675
5,667
24,117
86,397
20,314
8,545
8,996
11,500
14,075
4,576
11,280
11,831
23,278
18,515
4,979
23,824
79,988
22,048
7,239
5,173
11,810
14,440
3,930
9,733
10,766
26,185
19,154
5,102
19,079
76,580
19,753
4,440
7,024
13,601
11,527
4,481
14,766
12,005
25,928
16,519
3,432
18,703
28
15
92
21
231
40
441
54
17
266
23
106
344
5,411
5,172
13,923
3,627
51,004
8,387
93,181
12,318
2,433
51,466
2,981
20,972
51,964
4,150
3,845
13,647
3,186
44,695
7,508
54,803
10,153
1,289
46,772
3,583
23,168
45,899
5,614
1,561
21,471
3,647
48,205
7,202
69,307
7,187
1,986
42,230
2,840
22,649
47,766
3,336
2,827
16,845
2,789
44,875
6,000
118,151
33,151
3,005
54,566
3,156
22,378
85,827
2,663
2,895
12,194
2,084
43,843
5,210
89,975
21,336
1,816
47,076
3,108
24,346
66,794
3,036
1,991
20,761
2,650
44,534
4,944
75,860
8,163
2,409
39,849
2,574
21,071
63,295
18
38
14
38
4,282
15,974
2,925
8,595
2,254
5,264
4,126
16,608
2,891
6,505
2,234
6,046
( 2 )
95
180
39
15
109
139
21
205
( 2 )
80
144
37
27
99
137
23
199
(2)
16,699
29,620
9,352
2,794
17,947
15,947
4,313
44,284
(2)
13,854
24,282
9,420
4,426
17,095
17,006
3,741
38,780
(2)
15,711
33,092
4,973
3,926
19,573
25,181
3,251
37,853
( 2 )
(2)
(2)
(2)
10,389
28,354
8,818
2,488
14,701
20,247
5,812
29,111
3,889
( 2 )
19,671
43,421
6,482
2,216
21,953
24,967
3,347
41,784
( 2 )
(2)
60
148
30
12
78
154
26
162
7
( 2 )
(2)
(2)
10,887
35,262
4,594
1,942
16,774
23,284
3,291
29,943
1,121
48
64
56
5,353
9,449
7,872
14,154
18,628
14,365
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.
3
Data starting in June 2012 may not be comparable to prior data due to improvements in state MLS data processing.
(2)
3,418
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics program.
22
BLS Reports │ September 2013 • www.bls.gov
E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
Technical Notes
The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program is a federalstate program that uses a standardized, automated
approach to identify, describe, and track the effects
of major job cutbacks, using data from each state’s
unemployment insurance (UI) database. Employers
that have at least 50 initial claims for unemployment
insurance filed against them during a consecutive 5-week
period are contacted by the state agency to determine
whether these separations last more than 30 days; and, if
so, the state obtains information on the total number of
persons separated and the reasons for these separations.
Employers are identified according to industry
classification and location; unemployment insurance
claimants are identified by such demographic factors
as age, race, sex, ethnic group, and place of residence.
The MLS program yields information on an individual’s
entire spell of unemployment, to the point when regular
unemployment insurance benefits are exhausted.
Beginning with data for 2004, the scope of extended mass
layoffs and plant closings was redefined to cover only
the private nonfarm economy. Therefore, extended mass
layoff information for agriculture and government are no
longer collected. With the release of the extended mass
layoff data from the first quarter of 2007, the U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics (BLS) introduced improvements to
the presentation of data by including economic reasons
for extended mass layoffs. Thus, reason-for-layoff data
beginning with the first quarter of 2007 are not strictly
comparable with data from previous quarters. This report
uses the latest metropolitan area definitions as published in
the Office of Management and Budget Bulletin 10-02 and
the 2012 North American Industry Classification System
(NAICS) definitions.
Definitions
Continued claim. A claim filed after the initial claim,
by mail, telephone, or in person, for a waiting-period
credit or payment for a certified week of unemployment.
The MLS program collects continued claims for 1 week
each month—generally the calendar week that includes
the 12th day of the month; this week is referred to as
the reference week because of its use in the Current
Population Survey (CPS) as the basis for monthly
unemployment.
Employer. A firm covered by state unemployment insurance
laws at which one predominant type of economic activity is
conducted.
Extended mass layoff event. A layoff defined by the filing
of 50 or more initial claims for unemployment insurance
benefits against an employer during a 5-week period, with
at least 50 workers separated for more than 30 days. Such
layoffs involve both people subject to recall and those who
are terminated.
Final payment. The last payment received by a person
who has exhausted all of his or her regular unemployment
insurance benefits.
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 people from an employer as part
of a mass layoff event. Such layoffs involve both people
who are subject to recall and those who are terminated.
Mass layoff. Fifty or more initial claims for unemployment
insurance benefits filed against an employer during a
5-week period, regardless of the duration of the layoff.
Movement of work. The work activities performed at a
worksite by the company’s employees are reassigned
in one of the following ways: 1) to another worksite
within the company; 2) to another company under
formal arrangements at the same worksite; or 3) to
another company under formal arrangements at another
worksite.
Movement-of-work separations. The number of separations
specifically associated with movement-of-work actions.
Movement-of-work action. Employer-confirmed relocation
of work within the same company or to other companies,
BLS Reports │ September 2013 • www.bls.gov23 E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
domestically or outside the United States. Because
employers may cite more than one location to which work
is moving, a layoff event may have more than one action
associated with it.
Relocation-of-work action. A movement-of-work action
in which the employer provides information on the new
location of work and/or the number of workers affected
by the movement. Layoff events may involve more than
one action per employer if work moved to more than one
location.
Separations. The number of people who have become
displaced during an extended mass layoff event according
to the employer, regardless of whether they file for
unemployment insurance.
Worksite closure. The complete closure of an employer’s
worksite without regard to whether other worksites
operated by the same employer, if any, remain open.
Movement-of-work concepts and
questions
Because of the employer interview component of the MLS
program, BLS decided to use the program as a vehicle
for collecting additional information on offshoring and
outsourcing associated with job loss, by adding questions
that address movement of work. (Before 2004, “overseas
relocation” and “domestic relocation” were economic
reasons for layoffs and were used in extended mass layoff
news releases. These reasons were eliminated with the
collection of movement-of-work data; therefore, the current
data are not comparable with the data from this earlier
period.)
Questions on movement of work and location are asked for
all identified layoff events when the reason for separation is
other than “seasonal work” or “vacation period.” Seasonal
and vacation layoff events are unlikely to result in work
relocation.
Before questions on movement of work are asked, an analyst
must verify that a layoff has in fact occurred and has lasted
for more than 30 days. An analyst must also obtain the total
number of workers separated from jobs, the date the layoff
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began, and the economic reason for layoff. If the reason for
layoff is other than seasonal work or vacation period, the
employer is asked the following:
“Did this layoff include your company moving work from
this location(s) to a different geographic location(s) within
your company?”
“Did this layoff include your company moving work that
was performed in-house by your employees to a different
company, through contractual arrangements?”
A “yes” response to either question is followed by two
questions: “Is the location inside or outside of the United
States?” and “How many of the layoffs were a result of this
relocation?”
Layoff actions are classified as “overseas relocation” if
the employer responds “yes” to questions 1 and/or 2, and
indicates that the location(s) was outside of the United
States. Domestic relocation is determined if the employer
responds “yes” to questions 1 and/or 2 and indicates that
the location(s) was within the United States.
After asking the movement-of-work questions, the
employer interview continues and responses are obtained
for questions on recall expectations and the open/closed
status of the worksite.
Reliability of the data
The identification of employers, layoff events, and
characteristics of claimants in the MLS program is
based on administrative data for employers and workers
covered by unemployment insurance. Therefore, these
data are not subject to issues associated with sampling
error. Nonsampling errors such as typographical errors
may occur but are not likely to be significant. Although
the employers and layoff events in the MLS program
are not subject to sampling error, and all such private
nonfarm employers are asked the same employer
interview questions, the employer responses are subject
to nonsampling error. A nonsampling error can occur
for many reasons, including the inability to obtain
information for all respondents, inability or unwillingness
of respondents to provide correct information, and errors
BLS Reports │ September 2013 • www.bls.gov
E X T E N D E D M A S S L AY O F F S I N 2 0 1 2
made in the collection or processing of the data. For 2012,
outright refusal to participate in the employer interview
accounted for 4.6 percent of all private nonfarm events.
Additional information
information in this report is available to sensory-impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200;
Federal Relay Service: 1 (800) 877-8339. Email address:
[email protected].
Material in this report is in the public domain and, with
appropriate credit, may be used without permission. The
BLS Reports │September 2013 • www.bls.gov
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