Illinois labor market review

Volume 5, No.3
Fall 1999


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Archive Articles:
Declining Unemployment in IL During the 1990s

High-Tech Skill Shortage or Low-Cost Labor Policy?

Mass Layoffs

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MASS LAYOFF STATISTICS IN ILLINOIS DURING THE 3RD QUARTER OF 1999

During July to September 1999, there were a total of 56 mass layoffs in Illinois resulting in 14,839 separations. By comparison, during the 3rd quarter of 1998, there were the same number of  mass layoff events in Illinois (56) but more separations reported: 17,624.

The largest percentage of separations in the 3rd quarter of 1999 (33 percent) was caused by seasonal layoffs. Manufacturing had 41 percent of all separations, the largest share among all industries.

Also, of the mass layoffs during the 3rd quarter of 1999, 8 were as the result of partial or full closures of establishments. These closures produced 1,468 separations or 10 percent of the total quarterly separations.

Among all employers reporting layoffs, 63 percent indicated that they would recall at least half of their displaced workers within six months. There were no recall plans for 3,375 workers or 23 percent of all those separated during the 3rd quarter 1999.

ILLINOIS MASS LAYOFFS DURING THE 3RD QUARTER 1999 - BY PRIMARY REASON
LAYOFFS WORKERS SEPARATED
PRIMARY REASONS # % # %
TOTALS 56 100% 14,839 100%
Seasonal 17 30% 4,920 33%
Contract Completed 13 23% 3,619 24%
Slack Work 9 16% 2,711 18%
Reorganization 7 13% 1,667 11%
All Other 7 13% 1,264 9%
Relocation, Domestic or Foreign 3 5% 658 4%

*Data may not add to 100% due to rounding


Illinois Mass Layoffs By Industry
3rd Quarter 1999

# of Establishments w/Layoffs

Total Layoffs

Workers Separated

INDUSTRY # % # %
TOTALS 56 56 100% 14,839 100%
Mining 0 0 0% 0 0%
Construction 6 6 11% 1,170 8%
Manufacturing
Non-Durable Goods 7 7 13% 1,465 10%
Durable Goods 15 16 29% 4,623 31%
TCPU* * * * * *
Trade 4 4 7% 935 6%
FIRE * * * * *
Services 13 14 25% 3,426 23%
Total Government 7 7 13% 2,640 18%

What Is Mass Layoff Statistics?

Mass Layoff Statistics is a State-Federal cooperative statistical program designed to identify, describe, and track large job cutbacks. The program relies on establishment and unemployment claims data from State Unemployment Insurance (UI) systems, as well as, information from employer interviews.Establishments that have 50 or more initial UI claims filed against them within a five consecutive week period are identified as having potential mass layoffs. Once identified, employers are interviewed by phone or sent a survey form to determine the size and duration of the layoffs. Mass layoffs are defined as layoffs involving at least 50 separations and lasting more than 30 days.



Interested in obtaining layoff data not presented here? Please contact:
Rich Reinhold
Phone: (312) 793-5896
FAX: (312)793-2192
E-Mail RReinho@ides.state.il.us

Please keep in mind that, by law, we are not permitted to disclose the names of employers who have had mass layoffs. We can only provide summary layoff data by industry, geographic area, or displaced worker.




last updated: May 1, 2001