Published Jun-21-2011
Though the program's primary focus is on the verified Extended Mass Layoffs and the number of employees caught up in them (separations), most events are not extended events but of shorter duration. Whether brief furloughs, shift rescheduling, maintenance shutdowns, or any of many other possibilities, most MLS Layoff Events are not Extended Events and the total number of all layoff events, extended or shorter, makes a good indicator of the general level of disruptions in the workplace. At the same time, the proportion of Extended Layoffs to all Layoff Events (MLS Realization Rate) can serve as an indicator of the magnitude and duration of job losses occurring due to mass layoff actions.
Mass layoffs in Oregon, at record high levels in 2009 both in the number of mass layoffs and the magnitude of these layoffs, continued a return to pre-recession levels in 2010. Confirmed layoff events, and the subsequent separations of workers from their jobs, fell to near pre-recession levels.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Mass Layoff Statistics program (MLS) reports that in 2010 Oregon experienced 94 confirmed mass layoff events which affected 20,450 workers. Both numbers are slightly higher, about 5 percent, than pre-recession averages.
The numbers in the second quarter were uncomfortably high, with confirmed mass layoff events and the accompanied separation well above average. This increase followed an encouraging period of decline with confirmed layoffs falling from the record levels of the winter of 2008 and 2009.
This jump in layoffs occurred amidst speculation at that time about a possible "double-dip" recession. Some warned the slow and stubborn economic recovery had stalled.
At least in Oregon, these fears faded throughout the fall when Oregon's nonfarm employment numbers began to steadily improve, an improvement that has continued in 2011.
During this period of rising employment, mass layoff activity in Oregon reversed from the shaky mid-year numbers of layoffs and separation and resumed declining. Following an uncomfortable summer, mass layoffs in Oregon returned to levels at, and even below, pre-recessionary averages.
Currently, Oregon has experienced two consecutive quarters where total layoff events are 25 percent below the average for the respective quarters.
| Oregon MLS Events Since 4th Quarter of 2007 | ||||||
| Year | Quarter | Total MLS Events | Extended Events | Separations | Total MLS Events as Percent of Period Average | Realization Rate (Oregon Average 31%) |
| 2007 | 4 | 82 | 24 | 6,535 | 95% | 29% |
| 2008 | 1 | 75 | 11 | 1,913 | 94% | 15% |
| 2008 | 2 | 63 | 27 | 6,541 | 102% | 43% |
| 2008 | 3 | 68 | 19 | 4,494 | 133% | 28% |
| 2008 | 4 | 139 | 73 | 13,668 | 161% | 53% |
| 2009 | 1 | 152 | 73 | 12,897 | 191% | 48% |
| 2009 | 2 | 117 | 57 | 11,445 | 189% | 49% |
| 2009 | 3 | 77 | 26 | 3,001 | 151% | 34% |
| 2009 | 4 | 90 | 33 | 6,407 | 104% | 37% |
| 2010 | 1 | 68 | 22 | 3,736 | 86% | 32% |
| 2010 | 2 | 78 | 30 | 7,966 | 126% | 38% |
| 2010 | 3 | 57 | 19 | 3,122 | 111% | 33% |
| 2010 | 4 | 65 | 23 | 5,626 | 75% | 35% |
| 2011 | 1 | 60 | 19 | 1,898 | 75% | 32% |
| Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Mass Layoff Statistics Program | ||||||
At this time only Arizona appears to be experiencing layoff events at a much higher than average rate, while Washington remains close to the state's pre-recession average (Table 2).
Even high unemployment and hard hit California and Nevada appear to be improving, at least in terms of the number of layoffs occurring. These states, along with Oregon and Idaho, have seen the number of layoff events occurring at rates below their state average, and at a rate much lower than the national average.
As for the various regions of the country, the Western United States along with the Midwest appear to be improving quicker than other parts of the country, with the South and the Northeast still experiencing higher than average numbers of layoff events (Table 3).
| Total MLS Layoff Events as Percent of Period Average | ||||||||
| Year | Period | U.S. | Oregon | Washington | Idaho | California | Nevada | Arizona |
| 2007 | 4 | 99% | 95% | 84% | 91% | 96% | 92% | 56% |
| 2008 | 1 | 99% | 94% | 86% | 88% | 98% | 110% | 52% |
| 2008 | 2 | 109% | 102% | 98% | 124% | 102% | 152% | 114% |
| 2008 | 3 | 122% | 133% | 112% | 114% | 123% | 154% | 126% |
| 2008 | 4 | 162% | 161% | 156% | 199% | 149% | 181% | 225% |
| 2009 | 1 | 210% | 191% | 175% | 165% | 145% | 253% | 385% |
| 2009 | 2 | 195% | 189% | 143% | 124% | 147% | 322% | 227% |
| 2009 | 3 | 152% | 151% | 162% | 114% | 145% | 214% | 230% |
| 2009 | 4 | 119% | 104% | 109% | 122% | 111% | 153% | 188% |
| 2010 | 1 | 130% | 86% | 97% | 106% | 103% | 163% | 200% |
| 2010 | 2 | 118% | 126% | 78% | 108% | 107% | 152% | 192% |
| 2010 | 3 | 99% | 111% | 103% | 103% | 102% | 109% | 96% |
| 2010 | 4 | 99% | 75% | 104% | 99% | 101% | 137% | 188% |
| 2011 | 1 | 110% | 75% | 102% | 73% | 89% | 58% | 170% |
| Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Mass Layoff Statistics Program | ||||||||
| Total MLS Layoff Events as Percent of Period Average | |||||||
| Year | Period | U.S. | Oregon | Northeast | South | Midwest | West |
| 2007 | 4 | 99% | 95% | 108% | 95% | 100% | 95% |
| 2008 | 1 | 99% | 94% | 112% | 102% | 92% | 97% |
| 2008 | 2 | 109% | 102% | 110% | 109% | 117% | 104% |
| 2008 | 3 | 122% | 133% | 113% | 133% | 115% | 124% |
| 2008 | 4 | 162% | 161% | 133% | 195% | 162% | 156% |
| 2009 | 1 | 210% | 191% | 219% | 264% | 217% | 165% |
| 2009 | 2 | 195% | 189% | 195% | 219% | 224% | 159% |
| 2009 | 3 | 152% | 151% | 176% | 142% | 145% | 153% |
| 2009 | 4 | 119% | 104% | 122% | 138% | 106% | 118% |
| 2010 | 1 | 130% | 86% | 150% | 152% | 125% | 108% |
| 2010 | 2 | 118% | 126% | 123% | 133% | 103% | 115% |
| 2010 | 3 | 99% | 111% | 122% | 102% | 77% | 105% |
| 2010 | 4 | 99% | 75% | 99% | 125% | 80% | 104% |
| 2011 | 1 | 110% | 75% | 137% | 138% | 94% | 90% |
| Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Mass Layoff Statistics Program | |||||||
The improvement is obviously welcome, and corresponds with a general improvement throughout the Western region of the United States and compares favorably with other parts of the country.