From the start of the recession in December 2007 through November 2008, the total number of mass layoff events (seasonally adjusted) was 20,712, and the number of initial claims (seasonally adjusted) was 2,108,743.
The national unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in November, season-ally adjusted, up from 6.5 percent the prior month and from 4.7 percent a year earlier. In November, total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 533,000 over the month and by 1,870,000 from a year earlier.
Industry Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
The number of mass layoff events in November was 2,574 on a not sea- sonally adjusted basis; the number of associated initial claims was 241,589. Average weekly layoff events rose from 360 in November 2007 to 644 in November 2008, and average weekly initial claimants increased from 39,644 to 60,397. In 2008, both average weekly events and initial claimants reached their highest November levels in program history (with data available back to 1995). Eight major industry sectors reported program highs in terms of average weekly initial claimants for the month of November - accommodation and food services; construction; finance and insurance; real estate and rental and leasing; retail trade; transportation and warehousing; utilities; and wholesale trade.
The manufacturing sector accounted for 39 percent of all mass layoff events and 45 percent of initial claims filed in November 2008; a year earlier, manufacturing made up 29 percent of events and 38 percent of initial claims. This November, the number of manufacturing claimants was greatest in transportation equipment manufacturing (25,042), followed by wood products manufacturing (9,439). The construction industry accounted for 15 percent of mass layoff events and 12 percent of associated initial claims during the month.
The six-digit NAICS industry with the largest number of initial claims was temporary help services (14,430), followed by highway, street, and bridge construction (12,563). Among the 10 industries with the highest levels of initial claims, 3 of the 10—professional employer organizations, motor vehicle metal stamping, and discount department stores--reached program highs in 2008 for the month of November (with data available back to 1995).
Geographic Distribution (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Of the 4 census regions, the Midwest had the highest number of initial claims in November due to mass layoffs (85,730), followed by the West (70,460) and the South (56,608). Average weekly initial claims associated with mass layoffs increased over the year in all 4 regions, with the Midwest (+9,000) and the West (+5,785) experiencing the largest increases. In 2008, the Midwest and the South regions reported their highest November levels of average weekly initial claims in program history.
Of the 9 divisions, the East North Central (65,287) and the Pacific (59,410) had the highest numbers of initial claims in November due to mass layoffs. All 9 divisions experienced over-the-year increases in average weekly initial claims, led by the East North Central (+5,931) and the Pacific (+4,401). In 2008, the East North Central, East South Central, and West North Central divisions reached their highest November levels of average weekly initial claims in program history.
California recorded the highest number of initial claims filed due to mass layoff events in November with 47,690. The states with the next highest number of mass layoff initial claims were Michigan (14,657), Wisconsin (13,966), and Indiana (13,420). In 2008, 15 states reached program highs in average weekly initial claims for the month of November - Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, and Tennessee. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia registered over-the-year increases in average weekly initial claims associated with mass layoffs, led by California (+3,097), Indiana (+1,827), and Florida (+1,746).
