Displaced Worker News Release

Attachment C

News

Bureau of Labor Statistics

United States
Department
of Labor
Washington, D.C. 20212

Technical information:
(202) 691-6378
http://www.bls.gov/cps/

USDL 08-1183

Media contact:

For release: 10:00 A.M. (EDT)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008

(202) 691-5902

WORKER DISPLACEMENT, 2005-2007
From January 2005 through December 2007, 3.6 million workers were displaced from jobs they had
held for at least 3 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.
The number of displaced workers was about the same as the level (3.8 million) recorded in the previous
survey that covered the period from January 2003 to December 2005. (The Worker Displacement 20032005 news release is available online at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/disp_08172006.pdf.)
Since 1984, the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor has
sponsored surveys that collect information on workers who were displaced from their jobs. These
surveys have been conducted biennially as supplements to the Current Population Survey (CPS), a
monthly survey of households that is the primary source of information on the nation's labor force.
Displaced workers are defined as persons 20 years of age and older who lost or left jobs because
their plant or company closed or moved, there was insufficient work for them to do, or their position or
shift was abolished. The period covered in this study was 2005-07, the 3 calendar years prior to the
January 2008 survey date. The following analysis focuses primarily on the 3.6 million persons who had
worked for their employer for 3 or more years at the time of displacement (referred to as long-tenured).
An additional 4.6 million persons were displaced from jobs they had held for less than 3 years (referred
to as short-tenured). Combining the short- and long-tenured groups, the number of displaced workers
totaled 8.3 million from 2005-07, about unchanged from the period covered by the prior survey (200305).
Results from the January 2008 survey included the following highlights:
•

Two-thirds of long-tenured displaced workers were reemployed at the time of the survey,
down from the prior survey.

•

About 45 percent of long-tenured displaced workers cited plant or company closings or
moves as the reason for their displacement.

•

Forty-three percent of displaced workers who had worked for their employer for 3 or more
years had received written advance notification that their jobs would be terminated.

•

Nearly 1 in 4 long-tenured displaced workers lost a job in manufacturing.

Attachment C

•

2

Fifty-five percent of long-tenured workers who were displaced from full-time wage and
salary jobs and who were reemployed in such jobs had earnings that were as much or more
than those on the lost job. One-quarter, however, experienced earnings losses of 20 percent
or more.

Characteristics of the Reemployed
Sixty-seven percent of the 3.6 million long-tenured displaced workers were reemployed when
surveyed in January 2008, down from the proportion in the January 2006 survey—70 percent. The
proportion unemployed at the time of the most recent survey, 18 percent, was higher than the proportion
found in January 2006 (13 percent). Fifteen percent of long-tenured displaced workers were not in the
labor force in January 2008. (See table 1.)
Reemployment rates for workers ages 20 to 24 and 25 to 54 were 68 and 73 percent, respectively.
Reemployment rates for older workers—ages 55 to 64 and 65 years and over—were 61 and 18 percent,
respectively. Among those age 65 years and over, 69 percent were no longer in the labor force when
surveyed.
Among the displaced, men were more likely than women to have found a new job at the time of the
survey in January 2008. The reemployment rate for men (70 percent) declined from the prior survey and
the rate for women (64 percent) was little changed. However, displaced men and women had a similar
likelihood of being unemployed; 19 and 17 percent, respectively. The share of displaced women who
had left the labor force, about 20 percent, was nearly twice that for men—11 percent.
In January 2008, the reemployment rates for long-tenured displaced whites (68 percent) and Asians
(67 percent) were little changed from the rates recorded in the January 2006 survey, while the rate for
blacks (59 percent) declined. The reemployment rate for Hispanics edged up to 68 percent in January
2008.
Reason for Job Loss and Receipt of Advance Notice
Of the 3.6 million long-tenured workers displaced during the January 2005 through December 2007
period, 45 percent lost or left their jobs due to plant or company closings or moves, 31 percent reported
that their position or shift was abolished, and 24 percent cited insufficient work as the reason for being
displaced. (See table 2.) The proportion of displaced workers citing plant closings or moves decreased
from the prior survey and the share reporting insufficient work or an abolished shift or position was
about unchanged.
More than 4 in 10 long-tenured displaced workers in the January 2008 survey had received written
advance notice that their jobs would be terminated, similar to the proportion in the prior survey.
Workers who lost jobs due to plant or company closings or moves were most likely to receive written
advance notice. Of this group, 54 percent received such notice. In contrast, 39 percent of workers who
were displaced because their position or shift was abolished and 29 percent of those who lost jobs due to
insufficient work were notified in advance. For each of these groups, however, receipt of written
advance notice had little impact on the likelihood of being reemployed at the time of the survey in
January 2008. (See table 3.)

Attachment C

3

Industry and Occupation
As was the case in prior surveys, manufacturing accounted for a disproportionately large share of
displaced workers. During the 2005-07 period, 876,000 factory workers were displaced from their
jobs—24 percent of all long-tenured displaced workers. Manufacturing displacements were again
concentrated within the durable goods component (566,000), particularly in transportation equipment
and in computers and electronic products. Workers in financial activities (387,000) made up about 11
percent of all long-tenured displaced. (See table 4.)
The reemployment rates for workers displaced from construction (65 percent), financial activities
(65 percent), and manufacturing (64 percent) were about the same as the overall reemployment rate for
displaced workers (67 percent). (Workers were not necessarily reemployed in the same industries from
which they were displaced.) By comparison, reemployment rates for workers displaced from jobs in
education and health services (75 percent), professional and business services (74 percent), and
transportation and utilities (73 percent) were above the overall reemployment rate.
In the January 2008 survey, workers displaced from managerial, professional, and related
occupations accounted for 32 percent of all long-tenured displaced workers. Sales and office
occupations comprised about 27 percent of the long-tenured worker displacements. Workers in
production, transportation, and material moving jobs made up about one-fifth of the long-tenured
displaced. (See table 5.)
Geographic Divisions
Compared to the prior survey period, the number of long-tenured workers displaced during 2005-07
was lower in the East South Central and higher in the Middle Atlantic geographic divisions of the
United States. In January 2008, those residing in the Mountain and New England divisions had the
highest reemployment rates; about three-quarters of the displaced in each of these divisions were
reemployed at the time of the survey. About one-quarter of displaced manufacturing workers lived in
the East North Central division. (See table 6.)
Earnings
Of the 2.2 million reemployed displaced workers who lost full-time wage and salary jobs during the
2005-07 period, 1.7 million had found new full-time wage and salary jobs by January 2008. Of these
reemployed full-time workers who reported earnings on their lost job, 55 percent were earning as much
or more than they did prior to displacement; the proportion was 51 percent in the January 2006 survey.
In the most recent survey, 25 percent reported earnings losses of 20 percent or more, down from 29 percent in the previous survey. (See table 7.)
Total Displaced Workers (With No Tenure Restriction)
The total number of workers displaced between January 2005 and December 2007 (regardless of
how long they had held their jobs) was 8.3 million, little different from the total number in the previous
survey period. Of the total number of workers who lost jobs over the 2005-07 period, 67 percent had
found new jobs and 19 percent were unemployed in January 2008. In the January 2006 survey, 68 percent of the total displaced were reemployed and 16 percent were unemployed. (See table 8.)

Attachment C

4

In January 2008, short-tenured displaced workers were somewhat more likely than their longtenured counterparts to be young and to have lost jobs in construction and in professional and business
services.

Imputed Data for Older Veterans
Due to a programming error in the January 2008 survey instrument, displacement information was
not obtained from respondents who were veterans age 65 and over. Missing data for these individuals
were imputed using information collected from respondents who were veterans age 65 and over in the
January 2006 Displaced Worker Supplement. This imputation had minimal effect on the overall
estimates because older veterans make up a relatively small share of the displaced and because of the
similar employment characteristics of veterans age 65 and over in January 2006 and January 2008.

Attachment C

Technical Note
The data presented in this release were collected
through a supplement to the January 2008 Current
Population Survey (CPS), the monthly survey of about
60,000 households that provides the basic data on employment and unemployment for the nation. The CPS is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS). The purpose of this supplement was to
obtain information on the number and characteristics of persons who had been displaced (as defined below) from their
jobs over the prior 3 calendar years.
Data presented in this release are based on Census
2000 population controls that are updated annually in
January. For additional information, see “Population control adjustments to the CPS” available on the Internet at
http://www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#pop.
Information in this release will be made available to
sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone:
(202) 691-5200; TDD message referral phone number:
1-800-877-8339.

Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than
the entire population, is surveyed, there is a chance that the
sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling
error, varies depending on the particular sample selected,
and this variability is measured by the standard error of the
estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of
confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ
by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true" population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are
generally conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.
The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error.
Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including
the failure to sample a segment of the population, inability
to obtain information for all respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct
information, and errors made in the collection or processing
of the data.
For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the

CPS and information on estimating standard errors, see
"Reliability of estimates from the CPS" available online at:
http://www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability.

Concepts
The first question asked of survey respondents to the
CPS supplement was, "During the last 3 calendar years, that
is, January 2005 through December 2007, did (you/name)
lose a job or leave one because: (your/his/her) plant or
company closed or moved, (your/his/her) position or shift
was abolished, there was insufficient work, or another
similar reason?" If the answer to that question was "yes,"
then the respondent was asked to identify which reason,
among the following, best described the reason for the job
loss:
Plant or company closed down or moved
Plant or company operating but lost or left job because of:
Insufficient work
Position or shift abolished
Seasonal job completed
Self-operated business failed
Some other reason
Respondents who provided one of the first three reasons—plant or company closed or moved, insufficient
work, or position or shift abolished—were then asked
questions about the lost job, including how many years it
had been held; the year the job was lost; its earnings,
industry, and occupation; and whether health insurance had
been provided. Other questions were asked to determine
what transpired before and after the job loss, such as: Was
the respondent notified of the upcoming dismissal? How
long did he/she go without work? Did he/she receive unemployment benefits? And, if so, were the benefits used
up? Did the person move to another location after the job
loss to take or look for another job? Information also was
collected about current health insurance coverage (other
than Medicare and Medicaid) and current earnings for those
employed in January 2008.

Attachment C

Table 1. Displaced workers 1 by age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and employment status in
January 2008
Percent distribution by employment status
Age, sex, race, and Hispanic
or Latino ethnicity

Total
(thousands)

Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

3,641
127
2,602
708
204

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

67.1
67.5
72.6
60.8
18.4

18.0
22.8
17.4
20.7
12.6

15.0
9.7
10.0
18.5
69.0

2,024
75
1,490
356
103

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

69.9
66.4
74.4
68.0
14.4

18.8
22.5
19.1
17.9
15.4

11.2
11.1
6.5
14.0
70.2

1,617
53
1,112
352
101

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

63.5
(2)
70.1
53.4
22.4

16.9
(2)
15.1
23.6
9.8

19.6
(2)
14.8
23.0
67.8

3,032
1,684
1,348

100.0
100.0
100.0

67.9
70.8
64.4

16.8
18.2
14.9

15.3
11.0
20.7

408
221
187

100.0
100.0
100.0

58.6
60.5
56.3

28.2
25.7
31.1

13.3
13.8
12.6

122
65
57

100.0
100.0
100.0

67.3
(2)
(2)

11.7
(2)
(2)

21.0
(2)
(2)

423
270
153

100.0
100.0
100.0

68.4
70.1
65.5

17.4
23.4
6.9

14.1
6.6
27.6

TOTAL
Total, 20 years and over .........................
20 to 24 years .............................................
25 to 54 years .............................................
55 to 64 years .............................................
65 years and over .......................................
Men
Total, 20 years and over .........................
20 to 24 years .............................................
25 to 54 years .............................................
55 to 64 years .............................................
65 years and over .......................................
Women
Total, 20 years and over .........................
20 to 24 years .............................................
25 to 54 years .............................................
55 to 64 years .............................................
65 years and over .......................................
White
Total, 20 years and over .........................
Men .............................................................
Women .......................................................
Black or African American
Total, 20 years and over .........................
Men .............................................................
Women .......................................................
Asian
Total, 20 years and over .........................
Men .............................................................
Women .......................................................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Total, 20 years and over .........................
Men .............................................................
Women .......................................................

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job
they had lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007
because of plant or company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the
abolishment of their positions or shifts.
2 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.

NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African
American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not
presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as
Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

Attachment C

Table 2. Displaced workers 1 by age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and reason for job loss, January 2008
Percent distribution by reason for job loss
Age, sex, race, and Hispanic
or Latino ethnicity

Total
(thousands)

Total

Plant or
Position or shift
company closed Insufficient work
abolished
down or moved

TOTAL
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
20 to 24 years ...............................................................
25 to 54 years ...............................................................
55 to 64 years ...............................................................
65 years and over .........................................................

3,641
127
2,602
708
204

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

45.3
42.4
44.8
45.7
52.2

23.9
39.8
25.2
17.6
19.2

30.8
17.7
30.0
36.7
28.5

2,024
75
1,490
356
103

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

43.6
34.2
42.0
49.7
52.3

27.9
52.6
29.1
18.7
24.3

28.5
13.2
28.9
31.6
23.4

1,617
53
1,112
352
101

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

47.4
(2)
48.5
41.6
52.2

19.0
(2)
20.1
16.5
14.1

33.6
(2)
31.4
41.9
33.8

3,032
1,684
1,348

100.0
100.0
100.0

45.4
43.5
47.9

23.5
27.8
18.1

31.1
28.7
34.1

408
221
187

100.0
100.0
100.0

46.6
41.8
52.4

26.9
31.0
22.1

26.4
27.2
25.5

122
65
57

100.0
100.0
100.0

44.7
(2)
(2)

15.7
(2)
(2)

39.5
(2)
(2)

423
270
153

100.0
100.0
100.0

43.5
41.0
47.9

39.5
47.5
25.4

17.0
11.5
26.6

Men
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
20 to 24 years ...............................................................
25 to 54 years ...............................................................
55 to 64 years ...............................................................
65 years and over .........................................................
Women
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
20 to 24 years ...............................................................
25 to 54 years ...............................................................
55 to 64 years ...............................................................
65 years and over .........................................................
White
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
Men ...............................................................................
Women .........................................................................
Black or African American
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
Men ...............................................................................
Women .........................................................................
Asian
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
Men ...............................................................................
Women .........................................................................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
Men ...............................................................................
Women .........................................................................

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they
had lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007 because of plant or
company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their
positions or shifts.
2 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.

NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African
American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for
all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of
any race.

Attachment C

Table 3. Displaced workers 1 by whether they received written advance notice, reason for job loss, and employment
status in January 2008
Percent distribution by employment status
Characteristic

Total
(thousands)

Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

3,641
1,581
2,009

100.0
100.0
100.0

67.1
68.8
65.8

18.0
17.2
18.6

15.0
14.0
15.6

1,648
892
740

100.0
100.0
100.0

70.0
71.2
68.2

13.5
13.1
14.2

16.5
15.6
17.6

871
252
610

100.0
100.0
100.0

59.7
56.0
61.4

27.8
29.1
26.9

12.5
15.0
11.7

1,121
437
658

100.0
100.0
100.0

68.6
71.2
67.0

16.9
18.6
16.0

14.5
10.2
17.0

TOTAL
Total, 20 years and over 2 ..................................................................
Received written advance notice ............................................................
Did not receive written advance notice ...................................................
Plant or company closed down or moved
Total, 20 years and over 2 ..................................................................
Received written advance notice ............................................................
Did not receive written advance notice ...................................................
Insufficient work
Total, 20 years and over 2 ..................................................................
Received written advance notice ............................................................
Did not receive written advance notice ...................................................
Position or shift abolished
Total, 20 years and over 2 ..................................................................
Received written advance notice ............................................................
Did not receive written advance notice ...................................................

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they had lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007 because of plant or company
closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their positions or shifts.
2 Includes a small number who did not report information on advance notice.

Attachment C

Table 4. Displaced workers 1 by industry and class of worker of lost job and employment status in January 2008
Percent distribution by employment status
Industry and class of worker of lost job

Total
(thousands)

Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

Total, 20 years and over 2 .................................................................
Agriculture and related industries wage and salary workers ..................
Nonagricultural industries wage and salary workers ..............................

3,641
19
3,595

100.0
100.0
100.0

67.1
(3)
67.2

18.0
(3)
18.0

15.0
(3)
14.9

Private nonagricultural wage and salary workers .................................
Mining .............................................................................................
Construction ...................................................................................
Manufacturing .................................................................................
Durable goods manufacturing ..................................................
Primary metals and fabricated metal products ......................
Machinery manufacturing ......................................................
Computers and electronic products .......................................
Electrical equipment and appliances .....................................
Transportation equipment ......................................................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ................................................
Other durable goods industries .............................................
Nondurable goods manufacturing ............................................
Food manufacturing ...............................................................
Textiles, apparel, and leather ................................................
Paper and printing .................................................................
Other nondurable goods industries .......................................
Wholesale and retail trade ..............................................................
Wholesale trade .........................................................................
Retail trade ................................................................................
Transportation and utilities 4 ...........................................................
Transportation and warehousing ...............................................
Information 4 ...................................................................................
Telecommunications ..................................................................
Financial activities ..........................................................................
Finance and insurance ..............................................................
Finance ..................................................................................
Insurance ...............................................................................
Real estate and rental and leasing ............................................
Professional and business services ...............................................
Professional and technical services ..........................................
Management, administrative, and waste services .....................
Education and health services ........................................................
Educational services ..................................................................
Health care and social assistance 4 ..........................................
Hospitals ................................................................................
Health services, except hospitals ..........................................
Leisure and hospitality 4 .................................................................
Accommodation and food services 4 .........................................
Food services and drinking places ........................................
Other services ................................................................................

3,484
9
284
876
566
57
61
107
25
134
77
104
310
32
74
91
113
545
134
411
157
131
177
72
387
313
228
86
73
309
198
112
306
54
252
64
157
251
215
169
180

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

66.9
(3)
64.8
64.3
65.5
(3)
(3)
66.7
(3)
64.9
63.3
69.9
62.2
(3)
(3)
63.8
68.3
61.1
66.1
59.4
72.9
70.9
69.9
(3)
65.2
63.2
60.4
70.6
(3)
73.7
69.3
81.5
74.5
(3)
73.6
(3)
77.3
68.4
70.4
74.3
72.6

18.1
(3)
28.6
18.2
16.6
(3)
(3)
12.6
(3)
19.0
13.5
9.9
21.1
(3)
(3)
26.9
14.9
19.7
12.9
21.9
11.6
12.9
21.4
(3)
22.4
25.2
29.8
13.0
(3)
14.4
15.9
11.6
8.1
(3)
7.7
(3)
10.1
18.0
16.9
13.6
11.0

15.0
(3)
6.5
17.4
17.8
(3)
(3)
20.7
(3)
16.1
23.2
20.2
16.7
(3)
(3)
9.3
16.8
19.3
21.0
18.7
15.5
16.2
8.7
(3)
12.4
11.6
9.8
16.4
(3)
11.9
14.7
6.9
17.4
(3)
18.8
(3)
12.6
13.6
12.7
12.1
16.3

Government workers ............................................................................

111

100.0

74.9

13.3

11.7

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they had
lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007 because of plant or
company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their
positions or shifts.

2 Total includes a small number of unpaid family workers and persons who
did not report industry or class of worker.
3 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.
4 Includes other industries, not shown separately.

Attachment C

Table 5. Displaced workers 1 by occupation of lost job and employment status in January 2008
Percent distribution by employment status
Occupation of lost job

Total
(thousands)

Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

Total, 20 years and over 2 ...................................................

3,641

100.0

67.1

18.0

15.0

Management, professional, and related occupations ..............
Management, business, and financial operations
occupations ........................................................................
Professional and related occupations ....................................

1,147

100.0

68.6

19.1

12.2

605
542

100.0
100.0

64.2
73.5

23.1
14.7

12.7
11.7

Service occupations ................................................................

319

100.0

70.1

12.6

17.3

Sales and office occupations ...................................................
Sales and related occupations ..............................................
Office and administrative support occupations ......................

987
413
574

100.0
100.0
100.0

65.0
68.6
62.5

16.1
13.8
17.8

18.8
17.6
19.7

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
occupations ........................................................................
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................
Construction and extraction occupations ...............................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................

415
21
218
176

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

69.1
(3)
63.3
75.1

21.2
(3)
31.7
10.0

9.6
(3)
5.0
14.9

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations
Production occupations .........................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ..................

746
536
210

100.0
100.0
100.0

65.1
64.5
66.5

18.8
20.0
15.6

16.1
15.4
17.8

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they
had lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007 because of plant
or company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their

positions or shifts.
2 Total includes a small number who did not report occupation.
3 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.

Attachment C

Table 6. Displaced workers 1 by selected characteristics and area of residence in January 2008
(In thousands)

Characteristic

Total

New
Middle
England Atlantic

East
North
Central

West
North
Central

South
Atlantic

East
South
Central

West
South
Central

Mountain

Pacific

Workers who lost jobs
Total, 20 years and over ...........................
Men ...............................................................
Women .........................................................

3,641
2,024
1,617

184
107
76

519
257
262

775
445
330

301
153
148

613
354
259

168
101
68

304
174
130

213
145
68

564
288
276

1,648
871
1,121

84
46
53

267
114
138

347
157
272

138
55
108

294
130
189

73
49
47

103
75
127

83
78
52

262
167
135

4

3

2

6

1

3

Reason for job loss
Plant or company closed down or moved .....
Insufficient work ............................................
Position or shift abolished .............................
Industry and class of worker of lost job 2
Agriculture and related industries wage and
salary workers ........................................
Nonagricultural industries wage and salary
workers ...................................................

19

2

3,595

178

519

762

296

605

168

298

212

557

Private nonagricultural wage and salary
workers ...................................................
Mining ...................................................
Construction .........................................
Manufacturing .......................................
Durable goods .................................
Nondurable goods ...........................
Wholesale and retail trade ....................
Transportation and utilities ...................
Information ............................................
Financial activities ................................
Professional and business services .....
Education and health services ..............
Leisure and hospitality ..........................
Other services ......................................

3,484
9
284
876
566
310
545
157
177
387
309
306
251
180

175
–
7
48
23
25
23
6
11
22
13
14
23
7

512
–
32
96
54
41
78
22
40
84
55
44
37
24

735
6
45
232
158
73
113
49
28
55
57
59
50
41

285
–
23
88
60
28
58
5
16
34
19
26
7
10

587
–
41
132
76
56
98
28
43
55
56
58
49
28

163
–
4
58
41
18
25
11
7
17
2
13
15
10

285
3
28
60
42
18
54
7
7
22
24
36
20
18

206
–
26
50
38
12
31
4
6
25
33
5
15
11

536
–
78
111
73
38
63
26
19
73
49
52
34
31

Government workers ..................................

111

3

6

27

11

17

6

14

6

21

2,442
654
545

135
30
19

300
117
101

512
165
99

214
51
36

436
102
75

120
17
31

211
41
52

163
32
18

351
99
114

–

–

Employment status
in January 2008
Employed ......................................................
Unemployed .................................................
Not in the labor force ....................................

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they had
lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007 because of plant or
company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their positions
or shifts.
2 Total includes a small number of unpaid family workers and persons who did
not report industry or class of worker.
NOTE: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,
and Vermont compose the New England Division; New Jersey, New York, and
Pennsylvania compose the Middle Atlantic Division; Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Ohio, and Wisconsin compose the East North Central Division; Iowa, Kansas,

Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota compose the
West North Central Division; Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia,
Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia compose
the South Atlantic Division; Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee
compose the East South Central Division; Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and
Texas compose the West South Central Division; Arizona, Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming compose the Mountain
Division; Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington compose the Pacific
Division. Dash represents or rounds to zero.

Attachment C

Table 7. Displaced workers 1 who lost full-time wage and salary jobs and were reemployed in January 2008 by industry of
lost job and characteristics of new job
(In thousands)
Reemployed in January 2008
Wage and salary workers
Full time
Industry and class of worker of lost job
Total

Earnings relative to those of lost job
Part
time

Total 2

Equal or
20 percent Below, but
20 percent
above, but
or more
within 20
or more
within 20
below
percent
above
percent

Selfemployed
and
unpaid
family
workers

Total who lost full-time wage and salary jobs 3 ........
Agriculture and related industries wage and salary
workers ...................................................................
Nonagricultural industries wage and salary workers ....

2,183

235

1,725

362

283

488

306

224

9
2,170

–
235

5
1,716

1
361

–
279

2
486

3
303

4
220

Private nonagricultural wage and salary workers .......
Mining ...................................................................
Construction .........................................................
Manufacturing .......................................................
Durable goods .................................................
Nondurable goods ...........................................
Wholesale and retail trade ....................................
Transportation and utilities ...................................
Information ............................................................
Financial activities ................................................
Professional and business services .....................
Education and health services ..............................
Leisure and hospitality ..........................................
Other services ......................................................

2,106
3
171
548
364
184
288
103
116
234
208
192
130
113

220
–
23
48
29
19
26
3
3
20
35
35
20
6

1,670
3
128
443
286
157
231
89
103
196
143
143
95
96

351
–
22
110
71
40
42
33
23
40
13
30
15
23

277
–
13
71
50
21
44
13
17
38
40
24
5
11

474
–
66
122
76
46
65
22
26
47
36
53
18
18

296
3
10
68
43
25
46
13
15
23
26
21
35
35

216
–
19
57
48
8
31
12
10
17
30
13
15
11

Government workers ..................................................

64

14

46

10

2

12

7

4

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they had
lost or left between January 2005 and December 2007 because of plant or
company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their
positions or shifts.

2 Includes about 286,000 persons who did not report earnings on lost job.
3 Includes a small number who did not report industry.

NOTE: Dash represents or rounds to zero.

Attachment C

Table 8. Total displaced workers 1 by selected characteristics and employment status in
January 2008
Percent distribution by employment status
Characteristic

Total
(thousands)

Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

Workers who lost jobs
Total, 20 years and over .......................................................
20 to 24 years ...........................................................................
25 to 54 years ...........................................................................
55 to 64 years ...........................................................................
65 years and over .....................................................................

8,250
956
5,893
1,117
285

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

66.6
69.9
69.7
59.2
18.8

19.2
16.8
19.3
22.1
14.5

14.2
13.3
11.0
18.6
66.7

Men .......................................................................................
20 to 24 years ...........................................................................
25 to 54 years ...........................................................................
55 to 64 years ...........................................................................
65 years and over .....................................................................

4,720
600
3,398
582
140

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

69.4
72.4
72.2
62.7
17.5

20.4
20.1
20.6
20.1
16.9

10.2
7.5
7.2
17.1
65.6

Women .................................................................................
20 to 24 years ...........................................................................
25 to 54 years ...........................................................................
55 to 64 years ...........................................................................
65 years and over .....................................................................

3,531
356
2,495
534
145

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

62.7
65.6
66.4
55.5
20.1

17.6
11.3
17.4
24.3
12.2

19.7
23.2
16.2
20.3
67.8

White ........................................................................................
Black or African American ........................................................
Asian .........................................................................................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .......................................................

6,510
1,183
285
1,257

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

68.0
58.4
62.9
67.0

17.6
28.1
14.4
19.6

14.3
13.5
22.7
13.4

3,064
3,028
2,158

100.0
100.0
100.0

69.4
61.5
69.7

14.9
25.1
17.0

15.7
13.4
13.4

2,156

100.0

72.1

17.6

10.4

1,026
1,130
905
2,107
885
1,221

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

69.2
74.7
61.9
66.1
69.8
63.4

20.4
15.0
18.7
16.1
15.1
16.9

10.4
10.3
19.4
17.8
15.2
19.7

1,291
40
840
412
1,552
950
603

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

68.7
(3)
65.3
73.9
62.3
63.3
60.7

22.6
(3)
26.2
16.8
22.1
22.5
21.5

8.8
(3)
8.6
9.3
15.6
14.2
17.8

Reason for job loss
Plant or company closed down or moved .................................
Insufficient work ........................................................................
Position or shift abolished .........................................................
Occupation of lost job 2
Management, professional, and related occupations ..............
Management, business, and financial operations
occupations ........................................................................
Professional and related occupations ....................................
Service occupations ................................................................
Sales and office occupations ...................................................
Sales and related occupations ..............................................
Office and administrative support occupations ......................
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
occupations ........................................................................
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................
Construction and extraction occupations ...............................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations
Production occupations .........................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ..................
See footnotes at end of table.

Attachment C

Table 8. Total displaced workers 1 by selected characteristics and employment status in
January 2008 — Continued
Percent distribution by employment status
Characteristic

Total
(thousands)

Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

Industry and class of worker of lost job 2
Agriculture and related industries wage and salary workers ....
Nonagricultural industries wage and salary workers ................

37
7,985

100.0
100.0

(3)
66.8

(3)
19.1

(3)
14.2

Private nonagricultural wage and salary workers ...................
Mining ...............................................................................
Construction .....................................................................
Manufacturing ...................................................................
Durable goods .............................................................
Nondurable goods .......................................................
Wholesale and retail trade ................................................
Transportation and utilities ...............................................
Information ........................................................................
Financial activities ............................................................
Professional and business services .................................
Education and health services ..........................................
Leisure and hospitality ......................................................
Other services ..................................................................

7,735
28
1,016
1,549
1,004
546
1,206
343
277
694
920
687
635
368

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

66.7
(3)
69.7
65.0
67.3
61.0
61.8
69.5
70.8
69.5
66.5
70.1
65.2
68.3

19.1
(3)
22.6
20.3
18.7
23.3
20.9
13.6
16.1
19.0
19.9
13.9
18.9
13.8

14.2
(3)
7.7
14.6
14.0
15.7
17.3
16.9
13.1
11.5
13.6
16.0
16.0
17.9

Government workers ..............................................................

250

100.0

70.3

17.2

12.5

1 Data refer to all persons (regardless of years of tenure on lost job)
who had lost or left a job between January 2005 and December 2007
because of plant or company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the
abolishment of their positions or shifts.
2 Total includes a small number of unpaid family workers and
persons who did not report occupation, industry, or class of worker.

3 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African
American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not
presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as
Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.