According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, employers took 1,434 mass layoff actions in January involving 129,920 workers (measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits). Each mass layoff involved at least 50 workers from a single employer. While mass layoff events in January increased by 50 from December, the number of associated initial claims decreased by 15,728; the number of mass layoff events in January was 1,705, not seasonally adjusted – resulting in 141,703 initial claims for unemployment insurance. However, over the year, the number of average weekly mass layoff events decreased by 86 to 426, and associated average weekly initial claims decreased by 13,867 to 35,426.
In 2011, annual average unemployment rates declined in 48 states and rose in two states and the District of Columbia. Employment-population ratios decreased in 24 states and the District of Columbia, increased in 19 states, and were unchanged in seven states. The national employment-population ratio continued to trend down to 58.4 percent in 2011, while 30 states posted statistically significant unemployment rate decreases.
States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes, 2010-11 annual averages
Rate
State 2010 2011 Over-the-Year Rate Change
Arizona 10.5 9.5 -1 California 12.4 11.7 -0.7 Colorado 8.9 8.3 -0.6 Delaware 8 7.3 -0.8 Florida 11.3 10.5 -0.8 Illinois 10.5 9.8 -0.7 Indiana 10.1 9 -1.1 Kansas 7.2 6.7 -0.5 Kentucky 10.2 9.5 -0.7 Maine 8.2 7.5 -0.7 Maryland 7.8 7 -0.8 Massachusetts 8.3 7.4 -0.9 Michigan 12.7 10.3 -2.4 Minnesota 7.3 6.4 -0.9 Missouri 9.4 8.6 -0.8 New Hampshire 6.1 5.4 -0.7 New York 8.6 8.2 -0.4 North Dakota 3.8 3.5 -0.3 Ohio 10 8.6 -1.4 Oklahoma 6.9 6.2 -0.7 Oregon 10.7 9.5 -1.2 Pennsylvania 8.5 7.9 -0.6 South Carolina 11.2 10.3 -0.9 South Dakota 5 4.7 -0.3 Utah 8 6.7 -1.3 Vermont 6.4 5.6 -0.8 Virginia 6.9 6.2 -0.7 Washington 9.9 9.2 -0.7 Wisconsin 8.5 7.5 -1 Wyoming 7 6 -1
Source: Bureau of Labor and Statistics
